windows cannot start cluster service in local computer

windows could not start the cluster service on local computer error 1297 windows server 2008 R2

The error message can occur if the quorum log file (Quolog.log) cannot be found or read at Cluster service startup. This file must be readable to confirm that the cluster configuration on the local node is current. If the Cluster service cannot read the log, the service is not prevented from loading stale configuration data.

The log file may be corrupted if the time and date stamp of the Chkxxx.tmp file does not match the stamp of the Quolog.log file in the \MSCS folder on the quorum drive. The corruption can occur if you recently performed a restore operation, or if you experienced a power outage.

For troubleshooting steps, checkout this Microsoft Article.

This problem can be solved by modifying a registry setting to match the paired server. So, click on Start and then in the Run box type Regedit. After that go to this following registry key - HKEY Local Machine > Current control set > services > ClusSvc > start reg_dword and change it from 4 to 2 which will usually match the clustered server. After doing this the service will start up properly.

Try to reinstall the Failover Clustering feature. To do that go to every computer that you want to make a cluster node and then use the Server Manager console to remove the Failover Clustering feature. After that restart each computer from which you have removed the Failover Clustering feature and then add the failover clustering feature on all these computers again. Now try to run cluster validation against these computers and then create a cluster.