Question : VSS Quit Working

We've got ten machines running Vista SP1.  Last week they all reported errors in creating their backups; shadow copy failures.  Vssadmin list writers just hangs there and does nothing.  So do the rest of the commands except resize shadowstorage, which does come up.  Can't do backups, can't install SP2.  Found the oft-published solution about using regsvr32 to re-register the modules, and I get the following errors on the PDF attached.  All the rest of the commands worked fine.  I've run sfc /scannow which reports no errors.  I've also run chkdsk /f, and again no errors.  I did a repair install on one of the machines and still have the problem.  I REALLY don't want to have to do a clean install and reinstall all of the programs unless it's mandatory.  Whatever help you can give me would be most appreciated.  I've researched this for hours and found nothing that's helped.

 

vss-errors.pdf (1.2 MB) (File Type Details) 

Error Messages for Regsrv32

Answer : VSS Quit Working

Hi Smugdad,

I found the following steps(I know you have done part of this already). However, there are some additional files listed that you might not have re-registered. The full link is here:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistaperformance/thread/684c2b7e-5b21-484f-993d-e53e48a52f25



Method 1: -

Perform SFC scan on your computer to check system files integrity, as you said two windows system files are missing. SFC stands for System File Checker, which is a utility to check the integrity of files on your operating system.

1.     To do this, start “Command Prompt” from an elevated mode by doing a right click on it and choosing “Run as Administrator”.

2.     Enter “sfc scannow” which will check for any system file integrity issues on your computer.

3.     For more information please visit the link,

4.     http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833 discussing how to use and troubleshoot using it.

Method 2: -

Open services running on your computer through an elevated user account and check if the Volume shadow copy service and windows backup service is enabled and set to automatic.

·          If it is not enabled, please start the two services and check if you are able to resolve the issue.

·          To open services from an elevated user account, please click on Windows Pearl button and type services.msc.

·          Right click on it and choose “Run as Administrator”, which will open services window.

·          Under services, scroll down the menu and check for the two services discussed above.

Method 2: -

If the services has been enabled and set to automatic and still the issue persists. I suggest you to disable the two services discussed above “Volume shadow copy” and “Windows backup” service and perform the steps suggested by the previous technician (Savan) by starting command prompt from an elevated user account.

·          Click on Windows Pearl, type command prompt and right click on it and choose the option “Run as administrator” to open it in an elevated user account.

·          And check if now you are able to perform the instructions suggested in the article below,

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940032

Method 3: -

If the above method fails, check to see if the backup files is not corrupt and you have the permissions on C: and L: drive. Please see the link below for more information.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/What-to-know-before-applying-permissions-to-a-file-or-folder What to know before applying permissions to a file or folder  

 

Method 4: -

If all the above methods fail check if the drives you are restoring from (C: drive) and backing up (L: drive) is not corrupt and does not have any bad sectors, by performing check disk.

Follow the steps below to perform check disk individually on each drive.

1.     Click on Start -> type “Command Prompt” -> Right click and choose “Run as administrator”

2.     In command prompt, type “chkdsk (drive letter) /f /r” and schedule disk checking at next reboot.

3.     For example, if you are performing check disk on L: drive, in command prompt type “chkdsk L: /f /r”.

For more information, please see the link below,

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Check-a-drive-for-errors Check a drive for errors

Hope it helps!