Event ID 1 — Volume Shadow Copy Service Initialization

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

The Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) provides the ability to create a point in time image (shadow copy) of one or more volumes that can be used to perform backups. The service is also used during restores of applications. After the VSS service is initialized, VSS requester applications can perform backups and restores in cooperation with VSS writers that manage application data to be backed up and VSS providers that create and manage shadow copies.

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 1
Source: VSS
Version: 6.1
Symbolic Name: VSS_ERROR_STARTING_SERVICE_CTRL_DISPATCHER
Message: Volume Shadow Copy Service initialization error: the control dispatcher cannot be started [%1]. %2

Resolve

Review Service Control Manager events in Event Viewer and take appropriate action

This event indicates that the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) could not register its dispatcher function with the Service Control Manager during VSS service initialization.

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in Administrators, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To view the VSS events in the Windows System event log:

  1. Open Event Viewer. Click Start, click Run, type eventvwr.msc, and then click OK. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, ensure that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
  2. In Event Viewer, expand Windows Logs, and then click System.
  3. To create a filtered view of just the Service Control Manager events, click Action, click Create Custom View, choose By source, and in the Event sources drop-down list, select Service Control Manager, and then click OK.
  4. In Save Filter to Custom View, provide a name and description.
  5. In the left pane, expand Custom View, right-click the name of the custom view that you created, and then click Find.
  6. To find all the Service Control Manager Eventlog Provider events for VSS, in Find what, type: Shadow Copy.
  7. To examine an event, double-click the event, and then click Event Log Online Help for more information about how to resolve the issue.
  8. If you cannot resolve the issue, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support. For more information, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=102491. You should provide the entire event log message as it appears in the Event Viewer.

Verify

To verify that the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS service) is available, perform the following procedure, and then retry the previous Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) operation.

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in Administrators, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To verify that the VSS service is available:

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window by clicking Start, pointing to All Programs, clicking Accessories, right-clicking Command Prompt, and then clicking Run as administrator.
  2. At the prompt, type: net start vss.
  3. View the text message to verify that the service starts or is already started.

Volume Shadow Copy Service Initialization

File Services