applehfs.sys causes Windows 10 VSS backups to fail

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Level 1

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applehfs.sys causes Windows 10 VSS backups to fail

Presence of applehfs.sys causes VSS backups (system images, recstore points and recimg) to fail with error id 12289 seen in Windows Event Viewer when running Windows 10 Preview in bootcamp.

Disabling the driver allows these functions to work. Enabling the driver deletes all existing restore points, prevents the creation of new ones and stops the creation of system images or custom refresh points.

This happens with bootcamp version 3.2 (driver creation date 10/15/2010) and 5.1 (creation date 1/31/2014).

If the driver is disabled through Autoruns for Windows then after reboot system image, recimg and restore points all work. I've tested this on 2006 core 2 duo MBP running the old driver version and 2012 MBP running the new one and in both cases disabling this one driver is sufficient.

Posted on Mar 13, 2015 3:18 PM

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Answer 1

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Mar 13, 2015 4:17 PM in response to halaszYx

I have the 5.0.0.1 driver (1/31/2014) on W8.1 64-bit and I can create restore points and maintain file history and execute backups without any issues. W10 is not officially supported by Bootcamp yet. When W10 is released and Bootcamp supports it, you may get a newer set of drivers which may work better.

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Answer 2

halaszYx Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 14, 2015 1:50 AM in response to Loner T

Thanks, indeed the driver does work in 8.1. I know Windows 10 is not released yet and hopefully Apple will fix the driver in due course. However at this point whether you clean install Windows 10 and install bootcamp drivers or upgrade to windows 10 you will be unable to make backups which is a pretty major shortcoming.

In the mean time if HFS access is important to you can use Paragon HFS+. It doesn't cause this issue but it isn't free. You still need to disable the applehfs.sys driver.

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Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Mar 14, 2015 6:38 AM in response to halaszYx

All third-party NTFS software interferes with the System Preferences -> Startup Disk. It is a trade-off. VSS has some additional APIs in Exchange Server 2013 and W10. Apple may not release updated drivers for older Macs to support W10, and may have the users buy 2015+ Macs.

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Answer 4

halaszYx Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 14, 2015 6:55 AM in response to Loner T

We'll have to see. There are no drivers at all to access corestorage so perhaps they'll do nothing.

The Paragon HFS+ Driver is Windows software though to access HFS+ volumes - not the OSX software to access NTFS so I'm not sure what you mean about that bit..

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Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Mar 14, 2015 7:27 AM in response to halaszYx

Paragon also has the NTFS read/write software, which interferes with the Startup disk. Tuxera, NTFS-3g and Parallels also interfere. The native Apple drivers are capable of read-write, but Apple has chosen to consider it an unsupported configuration.

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