NetWorker: Hyper-V VM failed to switch using the new differencing disks during a checkpoint operation.

Summary: Hyper-V Backup fails due to Virtual Machine (VM) failing CheckPoint creation.

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Symptoms

During Hyper-V VM backups, checkpoint creation fails with the following error:

VM could not initiate a checkpoint operation (0x80048102).
Failed to switch using the new differencing disks during a checkpoint operation: The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid. (0x800703EE). (Virtual machine ID XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX)', remove VM from backup object list.

Cause

Manual checkpoint using Windows Hyper-V Manager fails with error 0x800703EE in a Hyper-V cluster environment. The Hyper-V Server failed to switch to using the new differencing disks during checkpoint creation. 0x800703EE The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid.

Resolution

To resolve the VHDX checkpoint creation failure, the steps are the following:

  1. Migrate affected VMs to a different host.
  2. Go to Failover Clustering Manager and migrate the affected VM to a different host using Live migration.
  3. Check if a manual checkpoint can be performed using the Hyper-V manager.
  4. If the manual checkpoint is successful, delete the manual checkpoint and perform the backup.

Affected Products

NetWorker Module, NetWorker Module for Microsoft

Products

NetWorker Family, NetWorker
Article Properties
Article Number: 000368006
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 17 Sept 2025
Version:  1
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