Seeking Help - Error Code 0x800703EE on Zorin OS with Intel Core i5 vPro External Drive Connection

Hello Everyone

I hope this message finds you all in good spirits. I am reaching out to the community with a puzzling issue that has me stumped. I am encountering Error Code 0x800703EE when trying to connect an external drive to my Zorin OS system, which is powered by an Intel Core i5 vPro processor.

Despite my efforts in checking cable connections, rebooting the system, and ensuring the external drive works on another system, the problem persists. I have also delved into system logs to gather more information about the error, but I'm still unable to find a resolution.

In this context, I have a few specific questions for the community:

Has anyone else faced Error Code 0x800703EE on Zorin OS, especially with an Intel Core i5 vPro processor?

Are there recommended logs or diagnostic tools that might provide more insights into the root cause of the error?

Are there known compatibility issues between Zorin OS and certain external drives or Intel processors that might be contributing to this problem?

I would greatly appreciate any tips, tricks, or workarounds that community members might have in their arsenal. If you've successfully navigated a similar issue in the past, your shared solution could prove invaluable.

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. Together, let's troubleshoot and overcome this challenge!

Best regards,

This is a Windows System Error. What is displaying this error?

1 Like

What I found for that error is this:

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/e99daf5e-a275-4506-a64a-1d75574a134b/error-code-0x800703ee-on-windows-10?forum=messageanalyzer

There is also an issue with USB in general. For example, I have a MultiSystem USB memory stick/thumb drive/pen drive (whatever you want to call it). If I have had it present in GNU/Linux, then put it in eldest's Windows machine, it reports that there are errors on it (which is a lie!) Windows does not like GNU/Linux, despite Steve Ballmer having once said "I love Linux" - elsewhere he has stated Linux is a cancer on proprietary software! Oh and have also just discovered when I was trialling Windows 11 from a memory stick formatted on Eldest's drive and Windows 11 boot media installed on it, it tracks the machine that it was installed on. When I was just playing around with it to see if I could add KDE Plasma to it it prompted "Have you changed your hardware?" So clearly, Microsoft is even tracking where installation media is being used without the user's knowledge, which means you need a separate USB for other machines you wish to upgrade to Windows 11 (not for me though!)

Open Disks and run a diagnostic to see if there are issues with the drive. Ensure the cable is connected securely (loose cables cause all sorts of trouble).

You can attempt to use a different kernel (rollback to a previous one that didn't have the issue or forward to a newer version). This could be the usb controller.

Check your hardware manufacturer for a bios update.

Ensure windows fast boot is turned off and so is windows hibernate. Either of these could lock drives and other hardware from use by linux.