Event ID 12291 — Volume Shadow Copy Service Operations

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Applies To: Windows Server 2008

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.

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 12291
Source: VSS
Version: 6.0
Symbolic Name: VSS_ERROR_UNEXPECTED_WRITER_ERROR
Message: Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Error on creating/using the COM+ Writers publisher interface: %1 [%2]. %3

Resolve

Check that the COM+ Event System and VSS services are enabled and check writer operation

To resolve this issue, first check that the COM+ Event System and Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) services are enabled, and then make sure that the VSS writers are operating properly.

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

Check that the COM+ Event System service is enabled

To check that the COM+ Event System service is enabled:

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
  2. In the results pane, double-click COM+ Event System.
  3. Make sure Startup type is set to Automatic.
  4. Click OK.

Check that the Volume Shadow Copy service is enabled

To check that the Volume Shadow Copy service is enabled:

  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
  2. In the results pane, double-click Volume Shadow Copy.
  3. Make sure Startup type is set to Manual.
  4. Click OK.

Make sure that the VSS writers are operating properly

To make sure that the VSS writers are operating properly:

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
  2. Type vssadmin list writers, and then press Enter.
  3. Check that all writers that are listed are operating without errors.

Verify

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

To verify that the Volume Shadow Copy Service is started:

  1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Services.
  2. In the results pane, double-click Volume Shadow Copy.
  3. In Service status, make sure that the status is Started. If the status is not Started, click Start.
  4. Make sure Startup type is set to Manual.
  5. Click OK.

Volume Shadow Copy Service Operations

File Services