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Docker Desktop with Windows Containers failed because the media is write protected

FSCTL_EXTEND_VOLUME \\?\Volume{GUID}: The media is write protected

Docker Desktop could not start or run Windows Containers because a Windows policy mounted required volumes as read-only.

The media is write protectedstartup

Observed message

FSCTL_EXTEND_VOLUME \\?\Volume{GUID}: The media is write protected

Why it happens

  • A Windows policy such as FDVDenyWriteAccess mounted fixed drives as read-only.
  • Docker Desktop could not obtain read-write access to the virtual machine volumes needed for Windows Containers.

How to fix it

  1. Review the Windows policy configuration affecting fixed-drive write access.
  2. Disable or adjust the policy so Docker Desktop can access required volumes as read-write.
  3. Restart Docker Desktop after the storage policy has been corrected.

Official reference

Docker Docs: Docker Desktop with Windows Containers fails with "The media is write protected"

Related errors

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Docker The media is write protected with Windows Containers: fixes | Error Atlas