Backup Fails "The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error..."

[Guest]

Yesterday I decided it was about time I used Vista backup (after all I
recommend it to all my customers) so I uninstalled NortonGhost 12 and did a
Complete PC Backup to my external hard drive and manually scheduled one to
occur weekly.

Soon after I scheduled daily file backups for 12 noon and did the first one.
When 12 noon came around the scheduled file backup failed, details as follows:

"The backup did not complete successfully. A shadow copy could not be
created for the following reason:
The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error while trying to process the
specified operation. (0x8004230F). "

I thought this may have occurred because I took the first backup a few hours
earlier so I ignored it. However, when 12 noon was reached today the backup
also failed with the same error.

Can anyone help?

 

[Michael Palumbo]

Yesterday I decided it was about time I used Vista backup (after all I
recommend it to all my customers) so I uninstalled NortonGhost 12 and did
a
Complete PC Backup to my external hard drive and manually scheduled one to
occur weekly.

Soon after I scheduled daily file backups for 12 noon and did the first
one.
When 12 noon came around the scheduled file backup failed, details as
follows:

"The backup did not complete successfully. A shadow copy could not be
created for the following reason:
The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error while trying to process
the
specified operation. (0x8004230F). "

I thought this may have occurred because I took the first backup a few
hours
earlier so I ignored it. However, when 12 noon was reached today the
backup
also failed with the same error.

Can anyone help?

Are there any processes running at this time that may need exclusive access
to the hard drive?

I forgot that I had defrag set to run at 1AM and set backup to run at 1AM as
well. They basically "butted heads" and the backup would fail. Once they
were set to different times all worked just as advertised.

I've since switched to Acronis for backup, I like it better than the Vista
backup because it doesn't backup every single file of certain types on the
hard drive like Vistas does. (IE: Vista will backup jpg files in any and
all folders, not just the user folders.)
Vista Backup also ignores all EXE, script and batch files, even the ones in
your User folder(s) and since I write a lot of scripts, and have saved some
stand-alone programs, this practice makes the Vista Backup useless to me.

Mic

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your input Mic. There's nothing running that I'm aware of that
requires exclusive access to the hard drive.

I'm not to 100% about this but I think the error indicates that there is a
problem with creating a shadow copy of the files that are about to be backed
up.

Thanks for the info on the files that aren't backed up.

 

[Michael Palumbo]

Thanks for your input Mic. There's nothing running that I'm aware of that
requires exclusive access to the hard drive.

I'm not to 100% about this but I think the error indicates that there is a
problem with creating a shadow copy of the files that are about to be
backed
up.

Thanks for the info on the files that aren't backed up.

That's the same error I was receiving .

With defrag running, the shadow copy service wasn't able to "lock" the drive
to make the shadow copy it needed to create the backup. (just thought of
this, make sure the shadow copy service isn't disabled, and make sure all of
its dependencies are able to run as well.)

Mic

 

[Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

Hello,

Thank you for using newsgroup!

From your post, I have performed further research but I cannot find any
similar issues reported on Windows Vista. However, I found the same error
reported in Windows Server 2003 in the following article. Also you may try
the steps in the article to see if it can help.
940032: Various issues may occur on a Windows Server 2003-based computer
that is running the Volume Shadow Copy Service
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940032/en-us

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
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[Guest]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your reply. I followed the steps in the article typing in the
commands at an elevated command prompt. All of the regsvr32 commands failed
with the following message;

"The module <dll_name> was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed
with error code 0x80070005."

Note that <dll_name> varied according to the DLL specified in each step in
the article and that the error number was slightly different for a couple of
the DLLs (but most returned the error above).

I've searched the Knowledge Base but haven't been able to get any further
with this, can you help?

 

[Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. Please try the following steps:

Step 1
============
Apply the latest version of VSS KB931312 as below:
931312: Windows Server 2003 may not start when the Volume Shadow Copy
Service is enabled
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931312

Step 2
============
I know you have register some VSS related DLLs. However, I still suggest
you try to re-register all VSS-related DLL files with a batch file
including the following lines (A reboot is required)

%systemdrive%
cd %SYSTEMROOT%\system32
net stop vss
net stop swprv
REGSVR32 /i SWPRV.DLL
regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\vss_ddu.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\ES.DLL
regsvr32 /I %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\EVENTCLS.DLL
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\vssui.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\wbem\vsswmi.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\Cluster\vsstask.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\Cluster\vsstskex.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\vss_ps.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\vssui.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\ole32.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\msxml.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\msxml2.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\msxml3.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\msxml4.dll
%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\Vssvc.exe /Register
Net Start vss
Net Start swprv

Note:
If "Regsvr32 eventcls.dll" doesn't run in C:\WINDOWS\system32, Ntbackup may
fail.

Hope that helps!

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
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[Guest]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your last posting on 20/11 PST.

After my last posting on 18/11 I noticed that when the backup failed both
the Microsoft Shadow Copy Software Provider service and the Volume Shadow
Copy service were both set to Manual and were in the Stop state when the
backup failed. I started both services and changed them to Automatic and the
backups ran successfully on 19/11 and 20/11.

The backup failed again today (21/11) and I've noticed that both of the
above services are again in the Stop state. I restarted them but the backup
still failed.

I downloaded the Windows 2003 Server KB931312 patch you linked to in your
last post and tried to install it. It failed with a "Not enough storage"
error.

I also created a batch file as you suggested and ran it. The majority of the
DLLs failed to register, most with this error....

"The module "C:\Windows\system32\vss_ddu.dll" failed to load.
Make sure the binary is stored at the specified path or debug it to check
for problems with the binary or dependent .DLL files.
The specified modules could not be found."

(Note: I couldn't find this DLL on my Vista Ultimate system anywhere)

.... and a couple with the error that I gave in my previous post.

However, a small number of DLLs did register so I rebooted. When my machine
came up the Volume Shadow Copy service was set to Automatic and had Started
but the Microsoft Shadow Copy Software Provider service was Manual and
Stopped (I'm not sure if this is normal for these services?). I set the
Microsoft Shadow Copy Software Provider service to Automatic and started it
and the backup ran fine.

I'll post again if it fails again.

Many thanks,
Malcolm

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. Please try the following steps:

Step 1
============
Apply the latest version of VSS KB931312 as below:
931312: Windows Server 2003 may not start when the Volume Shadow Copy
Service is enabled
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931312

Step 2
============
I know you have register some VSS related DLLs. However, I still suggest
you try to re-register all VSS-related DLL files with a batch file
including the following lines (A reboot is required)

%systemdrive%
cd %SYSTEMROOT%\system32
net stop vss
net stop swprv
REGSVR32 /i SWPRV.DLL
regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\vss_ddu.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\ES.DLL
regsvr32 /I %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\EVENTCLS.DLL
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\vssui.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\wbem\vsswmi.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\Cluster\vsstask.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\Cluster\vsstskex.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\vss_ps.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\vssui.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\ole32.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\msxml.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\msxml2.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\msxml3.dll
regsvr32 %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\msxml4.dll
%SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\Vssvc.exe /Register
Net Start vss
Net Start swprv

Note:
If "Regsvr32 eventcls.dll" doesn't run in C:\WINDOWS\system32, Ntbackup may
fail.

Hope that helps!

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
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that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
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[Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

Ok no problem. If any updates, please feel free to let us know.

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
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[Dell Boy]

Ken, backup failed again yesterday and the Microsoft Shadow Copy Software
Provider service and the Volume Shadow Copy service were both stopped.

Looks to me as if something is messing about with these services but this is
my main machine and I really don't have time to start uninstalling apps and
seeing if it improves things. Any ideas on how I could track down what's
interfering?

 

[Dell Boy]

Correction, I should have said I don't have time to start disabling services
and/or startup programs.

 

[Unistall service pack2]

The best thing to do is uninstall vista & put xp back on

Correction, I should have said I don't have time to start disabling services
and/or startup programs.

Ok no problem. If any updates, please feel free to let us know.

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
====================================================
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[Frank]

The best thing to do is uninstall vista & put xp back on

Best thing is for you to get lost as*hole!
Frank

 

[Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

Hello,

I am sorry to hear that the issue still occurs and the two VSS related
services have been stopped. Generally, register all VSS DLLs will help us
resolve this similar issue. However, from your post, the two services
always stop. I suspect if you have installed any third party backup
software on the machine. If so, I suggest you remove them and test the
issue again.

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.





--------------------
| Thread-Topic: Backup Fails "The shadow copy provider had an unexpected
error
| thread-index: Acgt1jThMwKjIQG5TTSVXE1ykoc5oQ==
| X-WBNR-Posting-Host: 207.46.192.207
| From: =?Utf-8?B?RGVsbCBCb3k=?= <Dell (e-mail address removed)>
| References: <[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<WC#[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
| Subject: Re: Backup Fails "The shadow copy provider had an unexpected
error
| Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 05:39:01 -0800
| Lines: 25
| Message-ID: <[email protected]>
| MIME-Version: 1.0
| Content-Type: text/plain;
| charset="Utf-8"
| Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| X-Newsreader: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000
| Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
| Importance: normal
| Priority: normal
| X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.2992
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
| Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
| Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:209351
| NNTP-Posting-Host: tk2msftibfm01.phx.gbl 10.40.244.149
| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
|
| Correction, I should have said I don't have time to start disabling
services
| and/or startup programs.
|
| ""Ken Zhao [MSFT]"" wrote:
|
| > Ok no problem. If any updates, please feel free to let us know.
| >
| > Thanks & Regards,
| >
| > Ken Zhao
| >
| > Microsoft Online Support
| > Microsoft Global Technical Support Center
| >
| > Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
<http://www.microsoft.com/security>
| > ====================================================
| > When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader
so
| > that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
| > ====================================================
| > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
| >
| >
| >
| >
| >
|

 

[Ken Zhao [MSFT]]

Hi,

If you have any updates or need any further assistance on this issue,
please feel free to let me know.

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.




--------------------
| X-Tomcat-ID: 79305099
| References: <[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<WC#[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
| MIME-Version: 1.0
| Content-Type: text/plain
| Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| From: (e-mail address removed) ("Ken Zhao [MSFT]")
| Organization: Microsoft
| Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:36:20 GMT
| Subject: Re: Backup Fails "The shadow copy provider had an unexpected
error
| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
| Message-ID: <[email protected]>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
| Lines: 80
| Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
| Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:211115
| NNTP-Posting-Host: TOMCATIMPORT1 10.201.218.122
|
| Hello,
|
| I am sorry to hear that the issue still occurs and the two VSS related
| services have been stopped. Generally, register all VSS DLLs will help us
| resolve this similar issue. However, from your post, the two services
| always stop. I suspect if you have installed any third party backup
| software on the machine. If so, I suggest you remove them and test the
| issue again.
|
| Thanks & Regards,
|
| Ken Zhao
|
| Microsoft Online Support
| Microsoft Global Technical Support Center
|
| Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
<http://www.microsoft.com/security>
| ====================================================
| When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
| that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
| ====================================================
| This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
|
|
|
|
|
| --------------------
| | Thread-Topic: Backup Fails "The shadow copy provider had an unexpected
| error
| | thread-index: Acgt1jThMwKjIQG5TTSVXE1ykoc5oQ==
| | X-WBNR-Posting-Host: 207.46.192.207
| | From: =?Utf-8?B?RGVsbCBCb3k=?= <Dell (e-mail address removed)>
| | References: <[email protected]>
| <[email protected]>
| <[email protected]>
| <WC#[email protected]>
| <[email protected]>
| <[email protected]>
| <[email protected]>
| <[email protected]>
| | Subject: Re: Backup Fails "The shadow copy provider had an unexpected
| error
| | Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 05:39:01 -0800
| | Lines: 25
| | Message-ID: <[email protected]>
| | MIME-Version: 1.0
| | Content-Type: text/plain;
| | charset="Utf-8"
| | Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
| | X-Newsreader: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000
| | Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
| | Importance: normal
| | Priority: normal
| | X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.3790.2992
| | Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
| | Path: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
| | Xref: TK2MSFTNGHUB02.phx.gbl
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:209351
| | NNTP-Posting-Host: tk2msftibfm01.phx.gbl 10.40.244.149
| | X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
| |
| | Correction, I should have said I don't have time to start disabling
| services
| | and/or startup programs.
| |
| | ""Ken Zhao [MSFT]"" wrote:
| |
| | > Ok no problem. If any updates, please feel free to let us know.
| | >
| | > Thanks & Regards,
| | >
| | > Ken Zhao
| | >
| | > Microsoft Online Support
| | > Microsoft Global Technical Support Center
| | >
| | > Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
| <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
| | > ====================================================
| | > When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader
| so
| | > that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
| | > ====================================================
| | > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
| rights.
| | >
| | >
| | >
| | >
| | >
| |
|
|

 

[MarkW]

Hello Ken

I get exactly the same in Vista (Vista Ultimate 6.0.6000 Build 6000)

My computer only successfully completes a backup about 1 in every 2 attempts
(if that).

My event log shows a VSS error first then the backup error:

Log Name: Application
Source: VSS
Date: 05/12/2007 03:00:21
Event ID: 12293
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: Nova
Description:
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Error calling a routine on a Shadow Copy
Provider {b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}. Routine details
PreFinalCommitSnapshots({f540543d-21e7-4aaf-bc46-0729bccc16f0}, 1) [hr =
0x8000ffff].

Operation:
Executing Asynchronous Operation

Context:
Current State: DoSnapshotSet
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="VSS" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">12293</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-12-05T03:00:21.000Z" />
<EventRecordID>6742</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>Nova</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>{b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}</Data>
<Data>PreFinalCommitSnapshots({f540543d-21e7-4aaf-bc46-0729bccc16f0},
1)</Data>
<Data>0x8000ffff</Data>
<Data>

Operation:
Executing Asynchronous Operation

Context:
Current State: DoSnapshotSet</Data>

<Binary>2D20436F64653A20434F52534E50534330303030313134322D2043616C6C3A20434F52534E50534330303030313038332D205049443A202030303030343438302D205449443A202030303030353035362D20434D443A2020433A5C57696E646F77735C73797374656D33325C76737376632E6578652020202D20557365723A204E5420415554484F524954595C53595354454D20202020202D205369643A2020532D312D352D3138</Binary>
</EventData>
</Event>
===========================================
Log Name: Application
Source: Windows Backup
Date: 05/12/2007 03:00:22
Event ID: 4100
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: Nova
Description:
File backup failed because a shadow copy could not be created. The system
might be low on resources. The error is: The shadow copy provider had an
unexpected error while trying to process the specified operation.
(0x8004230F).
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Windows Backup" />
<EventID Qualifiers="0">4100</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2007-12-05T03:00:22.000Z" />
<EventRecordID>6743</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>Nova</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error while trying to
process the specified operation. (0x8004230F)</Data>

<Binary>0F230480C0040000EC06000008070000420ED1665C2BEE174B64529CB14610EA71000000</Binary>
</EventData>
</Event>
===================================================



--
My Computer made me do it....

Hello,

Thank you for using newsgroup!

From your post, I have performed further research but I cannot find any
similar issues reported on Windows Vista. However, I found the same error
reported in Windows Server 2003 in the following article. Also you may try
the steps in the article to see if it can help.
940032: Various issues may occur on a Windows Server 2003-based computer
that is running the Volume Shadow Copy Service
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940032/en-us

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security <http://www.microsoft.com/security>
====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.