From 15654dda6b525a8da9e58b07b465a78ae1322106 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Andreas Heck Date: Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:55:48 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] Document FSCTL_EXTEND_VOLUME read-only issue (#22902) ## Description Document FSCTL_EXTEND_VOLUME read-only issue ## Related issues or tickets https://docker.atlassian.net/browse/CSESC-714 ## Reviews - [ ] Technical review - [ ] Editorial review - [ ] Product review --------- Co-authored-by: Allie Sadler <102604716+aevesdocker@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: aevesdocker --- .../troubleshoot/topics.md | 32 +++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+) diff --git a/content/manuals/desktop/troubleshoot-and-support/troubleshoot/topics.md b/content/manuals/desktop/troubleshoot-and-support/troubleshoot/topics.md index 356db9f4ed..17d946d1a8 100644 --- a/content/manuals/desktop/troubleshoot-and-support/troubleshoot/topics.md +++ b/content/manuals/desktop/troubleshoot-and-support/troubleshoot/topics.md @@ -462,6 +462,38 @@ The Virtual Machine Management Service failed to start the virtual machine 'Dock Try [enabling nested virtualization](/manuals/desktop/setup/vm-vdi.md#turn-on-nested-virtualization). +### Docker Desktop with Windows Containers fails with "The media is write protected"" + +#### Error message + +`FSCTL_EXTEND_VOLUME \\?\Volume{GUID}: The media is write protected` + +#### Cause + +If you're encountering failures when running Docker Desktop with Windows Containers, it might be due to +a specific Windows configuration policy: FDVDenyWriteAccess. + +This policy, when enabled, causes Windows to mount all fixed drives not encrypted by BitLocker-encrypted as read-only. +This also affects virtual machine volumes and as a result, Docker Desktop may not be able to start or run containers +correctly because it requires read-write access to these volumes. + +FDVDenyWriteAccess is a Windows Group Policy setting that, when enabled, prevents write access to fixed data drives that are not protected +by BitLocker. This is often used in security-conscious environments but can interfere with development tools like Docker. +In the Windows registry it can be found at `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FVE\FDVDenyWriteAccess`. + +#### Solutions + +Docker Desktop does not support running Windows Containers on systems where FDVDenyWriteAccess is enabled. This setting interferes with the +ability of Docker to mount volumes correctly, which is critical for container functionality. + +To use Docker Desktop with Windows Containers, ensure that FDVDenyWriteAccess is disabled. You can check and change this setting in the registry or through Group Policy Editor (`gpedit.msc`) under: + +**Computer Configuration** > **Administrative Templates** > **Windows Components** > **BitLocker Drive Encryption** > **Fixed Data Drives** > **Deny write access to fixed drives not protected by BitLocker** + +> [!NOTE] +> +> Modifying Group Policy settings may require administrator privileges and should comply with your organization's IT policies. If the setting gets reset after some time this usually means that it was overriden by the centralized configuration of your IT department. Talk to them before making any changes. + ### `Docker Desktop Access Denied` error message when starting Docker Desktop #### Error message