Fixing the Hyper-V Export Error: “Failed to Create Export Directory”

I had to recently perform an export of a bunch of virtual machines off a Windows Server 2008 host running Hyper-V when I came upon an error. [This export process remains functionally similar in Windows Server 2016/2019/2022 and Windows 10/11 with the Hyper-V role enabled.] Out of the many virtual machine guests running on that particular server, I managed to export most of the VMs, however when trying to export 3 of them, I got this error:

An error occurred while attempting to export the virtual machine.

Failed to create export directory.
Failed to create export directory with the name ‘D:BackupOIT2003DEV2 (73) Virtual Hard Disks’ with error ‘The system cannot find the path specified.'(0x80070003): OIT2003DEV2 (73)  (FC56A6B8-2046-4670-9DAA-D72203098CFB)

Note: I have not tested this on an SP2 machine, so it may very well be that this error is fixed in SP2 or even in R2.
Luckily, I have also managed to work around this issue. Read below.

Steps to reproduce the problem:

In Hyper-V Manager, I right-clicked the virtual machine. Note that the VM was in shut-down state, and currently it did not have any snapshots associated with it. [Hyper-V still requires the VM to be off or in a saved state for consistent exports when no checkpoints are used—this applies in newer versions too.]

I chose “Export”, and then browsed for a location for the exported VM. I have made sure that there was plenty of disk space available for the report operation. File path wasn’t complex, and it even did not have spaces in it. [Path complexity and disk space continue to be relevant factors in successful Hyper-V exports on Windows Server 2016 and newer.]


I then clicked on the “Export” button, and behold, the error appeared.

The Solution:

I have searched the Internet for a documented solution, but have yet to find one. Because the VM has worked well and without an error, I was confident that there wasn’t an issue with the VM’s hard disks. So I was just about to grab the VHD files of the VM, and create a new one using the old VHDs of the “bad” VM.


However, since there were other VMs waiting to be exported on the host, I figured that I should somehow mark the “bad” VM and flag it for action after I was done with the other VMs. So, I clicked on the VM’s name, and I simply added a few characters to the VM’s name. In this instance, I added “—” to the name.

After finishing the exporting of the other VMs, I returned to the “bad” VM. Just out of curiosity I tried to export the VM again.
Behold, somehow the addition of the “—” to the VM’s name has somehow “fixed” the export issue.

[This workaround has been reported by users to occasionally work in Windows Server 2016 and 2019 as well, although it’s still not a guaranteed fix.]I do not know why the VM was “bad” in the first place and what has caused it to fail the export operation. I do not know why it got fixed, but it did. I just tried it with 2 more similarly troubled VMs, and it works.
Hope this helps someone.

FAQs

How can I prevent export failures for virtual machines before they occur?

To prevent “export failed for virtual machine” errors, regularly check permissions, ensure sufficient storage space, maintain consistent naming conventions, verify network connectivity, and keep Hyper-V tools updated. Running periodic test exports can help identify potential issues before critical migrations.

Are there specific Windows Server versions where virtual machine exports fail more frequently?

While “export failed for virtual machine” issues can occur on any version, older Windows Server editions like 2008 and 2012 typically experience more export failures compared to newer versions due to outdated components and compatibility issues.

What role does virtual machine configuration play in export failures?

When an “export failed for virtual machine” error occurs, it’s often related to complex VM configurations, including multiple network adapters, special characters in VM names, or corrupted VM configuration files.

How do storage requirements affect virtual machine export success rates?

When handling “export failed for virtual machine” situations, ensuring adequate storage space with at least 1.5 times the VM size, proper disk formatting, and optimized storage paths significantly improves export success rates.