ERROR_EXTERNAL_BACKING_PROVIDER_UNKNOWN 0x80070157

Error code 343 · HRESULT 0x80070157

WINDOWS

The external backing provider is not recognized.

Windows troubleshooting diagram: Device Manager warning and a system file scan
Windows errors: check drivers, system files and Event Viewer, in that order.

What it means

ERROR_EXTERNAL_BACKING_PROVIDER_UNKNOWN is a Windows error code (system error 343, returned as HRESULT 0x80070157) reported by Windows. Its official message is: “The external backing provider is not recognized.”

How to fix ERROR_EXTERNAL_BACKING_PROVIDER_UNKNOWN

  1. Reboot once — many one-off system codes disappear with a clean restart
  2. Repair system files: 'sfc /scannow' then 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth'
  3. Find the source in Event Viewer → System: filter for this exact code and open its provider link

Related errors

ERROR_EXTERNAL_SYSKEY_NOT_SUPPORTEDERROR_OBJECT_NOT_EXTERNALLY_BACKEDERROR_COMPRESSION_NOT_BENEFICIALERROR_INVALID_PEP_INFO_VERSIONERROR_MOD_NOT_FOUNDERROR_PROC_NOT_FOUNDERROR_DIR_NOT_EMPTYERROR_BAD_EXE_FORMAT

Source: Microsoft WinError.h

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