Macrium Reflect Free 7.1.3317 not installing after W10 v1709 updates

I tried to make this first post earlier but maybe it went to the wrong location. Try again...

Macrium Reflect Free version 7.1.3317 (64-bit) will not install correctly in my Windows 10 Pro Fall Creators Update (version 1709). There were no problems installing Reflect V6.3 before the Windows Fall Creators Update, but after that update I cannot fully install Reflect 7.1.3317.

The first attempts always stall part way with the error message 1909:
"Could not create Shortcut MacriumReflect.lnk. Verify that the destination folder exists..."
Continuing seem to complete the install but no desktop icon is created.

Next, Reflect can then be started from its folder, but disk images cannot be created and fail with error message:
"Backup aborted! Failed to create volume snapshot. Failed - 0x8004230f "
So, Reflect was not fully functional.

There are numerous comments on the web saying a fix to allow installing is to clear the Read-only attribute from the Macrium folder, but Windows 10 does not now allow that despite having Administrator permission.

The error 0x8004230f seems to relate to Microsoft's Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), and running "Fix VSS Problems" in Macrium Reflect's "Other Tasks" menu works to the point of allowing disk images to be made; however, making backups takes about 2 to 3 times longer than before, and there doesn't seem to be any data compression even though the default of medium is set: e.g. - backing up 3 GB of used space in a partition results in a 3 GB image file (Reflect 6.3 made smaller 2-something GB images).

Repeated installation attempts with new downloads/uninstalling/re-booting/re-installing etc. does not change anything. I don't find any operating system corruption or viruses, and everything else functions normally.

Next attempt was to install Reflect in Safe Mode (using SafeMSI to enable Windows Installer service in Safe Mode): that proceeds to the point of creating a desktop icon, but then fails with the error message:
"Service 'Macrium Service' failed to start".
No progress beyond that is possible, and no error number or details are given; I can't find any explanations for this error on the Web.

Could it be that Microsoft's W10 updates have now stymied new Macrium installations, or is there a bug in the Macrium 7.1.3317 installer that will be resolved soon?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I can't find a Macrium address to report bugs for the free version.

Thanks.

Thanks for your reply. I don't think so - Windows Defender may be activated but I never turned on Controlled Access - I wonder if it's on by default. I'll check and get back to you in a while, as soon as I can drag out that PC again. Windows 10 has been so nerve-wracking that I keep it in a closet. In this rural area connection speed is so slow that their huge updates can take days.

Anyway, Microsoft says Windows Defender will turn off automatically if another another antivirus is installed, and I do, but there's no telling what happened after the latest W10 updates - it may have gotten turned on again, as Microsoft has a history of undoing previous settings. I didn't think of checking Windows Defender again. I'll let you know.

Caledon Ken said:

Hi Sparks.

You my chance would not being using Windows Defender Controlled access would you?

Add Protected Folders to Controlled Folder Access in Windows 10

or Bit defenders version of controlled access?

Update:
You're a genius - Windows Defender Controlled Access had been turned on without my knowing it. After turning it off, Macrium Reflect 7.1.3317 installed quickly and now runs normally. I had tried different things and searched the Web for hours, finding all kinds of suggestions except the one that worked. Didn't think of of Defender. Well, that's what happens when you get old.
Now I don't know whether or not to leave Controlled Access off.

Thanks again.

Sparks said:

Thanks for your reply. I don't think so - Windows Defender may be activated but I never turned on Controlled Access - I wonder if it's on by default. I'll check and get back to you in a while, as soon as I can drag out that PC again. Windows 10 has been so nerve-wracking that I keep it in a closet. In this rural area connection speed is so slow that their huge updates can take days.

Anyway, Microsoft says Windows Defender will turn off automatically if another another antivirus is installed, and I do, but there's no telling what happened after the latest W10 updates - it may have gotten turned on again, as Microsoft has a history of undoing previous settings. I didn't think of checking Windows Defender again. I'll let you know.