Error message when you use the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to back up SQL Server 2000 database files or SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) database files: "'MSDEWriter' has reported an error 0x800423f4"

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SYMPTOMS

When you use the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to back up Microsoft SQL Server 2000 database files or Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) database files, you may receive the following error message:

Volume shadow copy creation: Attempt 1.
"MSDEWriter" has reported an error 0x800423f4. This is part of System State. The backup cannot continue.

Additionally, the following event is logged in the Application log:

sqllib error: Failed to create VDS Object. hr=0x80770005.

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CAUSE

This problem occurs because the SQL Server service is running under a startup account that has the format .\UserName. In this case, the VSS cannot identify the service account of SQL Server.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, configure the startup account of the SQL Server service to use the LocalSystem account. Alternatively, use a startup account that has the full name of the domain account instead of a period (.) to start the service. For example, use the startup account DomainName\UserName to start the service.

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MORE INFORMATION

The problem that is described in this article may also occur when you use a SQL Server Virtual Device Interface (VDI) application to back up SQL Server 2000 database files or SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE) database files.

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