Event ID 12293 — Volume Shadow Copy Service Operations

  • Article

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.

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 12293
Source: VSS
Version: 6.1
Symbolic Name: VSS_ERROR_CALLING_PROVIDER_ROUTINE
Message: Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Error calling a routine on a Shadow Copy Provider %1. Routine details %2 [hr = %3]. %4

Resolve

Check the operation of the VSS hardware and software providers

The Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) depends on VSS providers to manage running volumes and create shadow copies of them on demand. This event indicates that a VSS hardware or software provider may not be operating correctly.

Possible resolutions include:

  • Open Event Viewer and check for events related to VSS that mention hardware and software providers.
  • Ensure that VSS hardware and software providers are operating properly.
  • Check that the VSS service is enabled.

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

To open Event Viewer and check for events related to VSS hardware and software providers:

  1. 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 Application.
  3. Make a note of any events that mention VSS hardware or software providers.

Ensure that VSS hardware and software providers are operating properly

To ensure that VSS hardware and software providers are operating properly:

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
  2. Type diskshadow at the command prompt, and then press Enter.
  3. Type list providers, and then press Enter.
  4. If a provider is missing from the list, try reinstalling it.
  5. For each provider in the list, use the DiskShadow tool's add and create commands to create a shadow copy of the volume for which the provider is responsible. If a provider is unable to create a shadow copy, contact the provider vendor if it is not Microsoft. If a Microsoft provider is unable to create the shadow copy, 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.

For more information about the DiskShadow tool, including usage examples, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=117722.

Check that the VSS service is enabled

To check that the VSS service is enabled:

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

Verify

To verify that the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is operating correctly, retry the previous VSS operation.

Volume Shadow Copy Service Operations

File Services