Operating System: Windows 8 Enterprise x64
When I run diskpart from an administrator command prompt I receive error:
Virtual Disk Service Error:
The service failed to initialize.
Nothing is logged to the System/Application logs.
From the Computer Management MMC clicking Storage > Disk Management results in the message in the lower status bar:
Unable to connect to Virtual Disk Service.
Nothing is logged to the System/Application logs.
Rebooting the machine restores the ability to use diskpart and disk management. But after an undetermined time the inability to use these tools returns.