Error 8004005A when moving or copying files, but only on overwrites

Hello! I've been pulling my hair out with this issue for a bit now, and after extensive searching, I've been unable to find any similar instances. Hoping someone here can help troubleshoot.

Basically, whenever I attempt file operations that would result in an overwrite, i get an error: "an unexpected error is keeping you from moving the file" - the error ID is 0x8004005A. I'm running Windows 11 25H2, recently upgraded from 24H2 in the hope that it might resolve this issue (it didn't). I've had this for at least a couple of months, but I don't know exactly when it started occurring. I'm logged into my system with an account with admin permissions. I can copy and move files around without issue on my system, but as soon as I try to move or copy such that I would be overwriting another file, I get the error. I've been able to easily replicate this on my system by simply copying a file to a folder, and then trying the same copy/move again, thus initiating an overwrite, and the error comes up. I have two SSD drives and three mechanical drives in my system and the issue is not limited to any one drive.

I will note that I don't see this issue when I run my backup software: SyncBackSE v11, and I don't seem to have the issue when I am using Directory Opus. I will also note that the system runs well otherwise, and I have no other issues or complaints.

I do have a recurring error in my event log - Error 219: Kernel-PnP "The driver \Driver\WUDFRd failed to load.
Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A71D&SUBSYS_86941043&REV_01\3&11583659&0&20
Status: 0xC0000365" Other than this one, nothing of concern to report in the Event Viewer.

Things I've done to try to troubleshoot:
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
chkdsk /f on the drives
taken ownership of various folders/files, and ensured my user has full control privileges on files and folders.
temporarily disabled my antivirus (I'm running Eset AV)
Tried launching explorer processes as administrator and moving/copying across windows.
Logged in as a different admin user, but experienced the same error on overwrite.
Updated Windows 24H2 to 25H2 and ensured all Windows updates are installed.
Drivers are up to date.

If it matters, I'm running an i7 14700k on an Asus z690 motherboard. 64 GB DDR5 ram.

I'd prefer not to have to reinstall Windows if I can avoid it. Looking forward to any suggestions folks around here may have.

Thanks!

PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_A71D&SUBSYS_86941043&REV_01\3&11583659&0&20 is the Chipset / Intel Management driver for your motherboard
Download it from your motherboards web site

Thanks! I gathered that it was an ASUS device, but I don't know how to identify which one is misbehaving. I don't have any exclamation points or missing items in the device manager. Any thoughts on this?
I do believe all drivers are up-to-date, but if I can determine which is causing the issue, I can perhaps roll the driver back to an older version.

Do you think this issue is the cause of the overwrite error? Or just something to check off as part of troubleshooting?

The exact model # is in the Bios if you are unsure.
It does no harm to reinstall the Chipset driver.

Sorry if I was unclear - I know the exact motherboard model (ROG Strix z690-E Gaming Wifi) - I'm wondering how to track down the specific item in my device manager that is failing to load.

I've tried reinstalling chipset drivers as well as uninstalling and then reinstalling an older version. The error is still appearing.

Since it involves security, it might explain your weird issue. Upgrade the driver and see if it is fixed.

As noted, the drivers I have installed are the most recent. I've tried rolling back specific devices to older versions, and reinstalling the chipset driver. But none of this has resolved the error. It might be helpful to be able to determine specifically which device is causing the error, But I don't see any clues in the device manager; I am wondering whether this error is being thrown on boot, but perhaps resolving itself on a subsequent retry?

At this point, I am considering trying to roll back to a c: Drive image I have from this past May (the most recent one I have) and seeing if that resolves the issue. I'd prefer to not have to do this, since bringing the system back up to date from there is a fair amount of work, so if this is something I could solve without restoring an old backup, I'd be thrilled. I have a suspicion that either the 23H2 > 24H2 upgrade or a driver update was the thing that caused the initial event log error, but I don't know whether that coincides with the overwrite error or not.

In my system 'WUDFRd' is a Paragon driver.

@PenPusher I am reasonably certain based on the device detailed in the error that I am dealing with something to do with my motherboard. Again, resolving the error may not affect the file overwrite issue I am trying to solve. But I appreciate your input.

I have backed up my c drive and was considering rolling back to my May 2025 backup, but I think I am going to attempt an in-place upgrade to see if it helps. To anyone with experience with such processes, am I better off allowing Windows to try to install drivers and optional components or not? I assume I can run this more than once if needed, so I can try without the first time and if needed, allow drivers and options components on a second go. I figure if things get borked, I can restore my current backup or roll back to the May backup at that point.

Absent any additional ideas on how to resolve the problem otherwise, does this seem like a reasonable course of action that allows me to preserve my current OS state, settings, files, etc.

Thanks!

The 25H2 ISO is now available at Microsoft site, so instead of doing an in-place upgrade/repair using the same version, I would download 25H2 ISO and upgrade to that while repairing any errors. "Two birds with the same stone", as they say.

If planning on doing an In Place Upgrade, here is the link for 25H2 version mentioned

Does Reliability History have any entries ?
To access it,start typing ---reliability ---in the Search box.

Hey Folks! So first I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and tips. My in-place upgrade did resolve the file overwrite issue (second try; I got an inaccessible boot device on the first go). So that's great! FWIW, I am still seeing the "WUDFRd failed to load" error in the event log, so apparently, that's unrelated. I'm going to let it slide since it does not appear to be causing any actual issues, and the system is otherwise running well. Since the in-place upgrade, I've actually determined that the culprit was my application of Rectify 11 - and specifically, the patching of the shell32.dll file. I attempted to reinstall it and the error started recurring. Uninstalling Rectify and reverting the system changes resolved it again. I believe Rectify hasn't been updated in a while and going to conclude that recent changes to Windows 11 are no longer compatible with Rectify.

So thanks to all for your assistance! If anyone has questions or further tips, please feel free to post.

If you want to pursue this further, try Fix #2 from this page
The driver DriverWudfRd failed to load for the device Fix

DrR0Ck said:

WUDFRd failed to load

Click to expand...

The error with the driver \Driver\WudfRd failing to load is associated with the Windows User-Mode Driver Framework (UMDF), which is used by certain drivers to run in user mode. The specific devices mentioned in your error messages point to the problematic device. Look in Device Manager to see if anything is flagged, most likely under Human Interface Devices (like game controller) You should also be able to use the device id listed in the error to find which device is failing to load.

glasskuter said:

The error with the driver \Driver\WudfRd failing to load is associated with the Windows User-Mode Driver Framework (UMDF), which is used by certain drivers to run in user mode. The specific devices mentioned in your error messages point to the problematic device. Look in Device Manager to see if anything is flagged, most likely under Human Interface Devices (like game controller) You should also be able to use the device id listed in the error to find which device is failing to load.

Click to expand...

Nothing in device manager is flagged. From what I can tell based on the ID in the error message, it's an ASUS device (please correct me if I am mistaken here). So that means my motherboard. All drivers installed and up to date and working properly as near as I can tell.

Spunk said:

If you want to pursue this further, try Fix #2 from this page
The driver DriverWudfRd failed to load for the device Fix

Click to expand...

I'll have a look. But I have done quite a lot of searching/research already and no luck. Will report back if anything comes of it.