Quick Answer
Run fsutil resource setautoreset true C:\ as admin, then restart. That resets the Resource Manager metadata for the C: drive.
What This Error Means
I know this error is infuriating — especially when it locks you out of apps or file operations. The STATUS_RM_METADATA_CORRUPT error (0XC0190006) shows up when Windows' Kernel Transaction Manager (KTM) can't read the metadata for a specific Resource Manager (RM). This happens most often after a sudden power loss, a failed update, or a disk check that went sideways. I've seen it on Windows 10 21H2 and Windows 11 22H2 systems after a hard crash during a database transaction or anti-malware scan.
The RM metadata lives in the NTFS volume's transaction log, and when it gets scrambled, Windows can't track pending transactions. You'll see this error in Event Viewer (source: Kernel-Tm, event ID 2) or as a pop-up in apps like SQL Server, MSMQ, or even the Windows Installer.
Step-by-Step Fix
1. Identify the Affected Volume
First, figure out which drive has the corrupted metadata. Check Event Viewer under Windows Logs -> Application for event ID 2 from Kernel-Tm. It usually says something like "Resource Manager metadata corrupted on volume C:." If you can't find it, run this command in an admin Command Prompt:
fsutil resource info C:\Look for the "Metadata file" entry — if it's missing or shows an error, that's your corrupted drive.
2. Reset the Resource Manager's Metadata
This is the real fix. Open Command Prompt as administrator (search for cmd, right-click, run as admin). Then run:
fsutil resource setautoreset true C:\Replace C:\ with the drive letter from step 1. This flag tells Windows to discard and rebuild the metadata on the next reboot.
3. Restart Your Computer
Restart normally. The metadata gets rebuilt during boot — you might see a disk check (chkdsk) screen, which is normal. Let it finish. If chkdsk finds issues, it'll fix them.
Alternative Fix: Manual Metadata Repair
If the autoreset command didn't work (the error returns), you need to manually delete and recreate the RM metadata. Do this:
1. Take Ownership of the RM Directory
The metadata files live under C:\System Volume Information. Windows hides this folder. Use an admin Command Prompt:
takeown /f "C:\System Volume Information" /r /d y
icacls "C:\System Volume Information" /grant administrators:F /t2. Delete the Metadata Files
Navigate to the folder and delete everything inside:
del /s /q "C:\System Volume Information\*metadata*"Don't delete the entire System Volume Information folder — just the metadata files.
3. Reboot and Check
Restart. Windows recreates the metadata automatically. If the error pops back, you might have a deeper NTFS corruption — see Prevention below.
What If None of This Works?
Rarely, a clean boot or SFC scan helps. Try sfc /scannow from an admin CMD, then DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. If the metadata corruption keeps coming back, your disk might be failing. Check SMART status with wmic diskdrive get status — if it's "Predict Failure," replace the drive.
Prevention Tip
To avoid this, never force shut down your PC during file operations or updates. Use a UPS if you're in an area with unstable power. And run chkdsk /f C:\ once a month — it catches NTFS corruption before it snowballs into RM metadata errors.