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Third-party backup warnings after you install a servicing update in Windows Server 2016

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This article provides a solution to the third-party backup warnings that occurs after you install a servicing update in Windows Server 2016.

Applies to:   Windows Server 2016
Original KB number:   4052556

Symptom

Consider the following scenario:

  • On a computer that is running Windows Server 2016 (Version 1607, build 14393.693), you install a servicing stack update. For example, the March 14, 2017 Servicing Stack Update (KB 4013418).
  • The folder C:\Windows\servicing\Version\10.0.14393.1051 is automatically created, and the amd64_installed and x86_installed files are saved to this folder
  • The older-version folder under C:\Windows\servicing is emptied. For example, the following files are removed:
    C:\Windows\servicing\Version\10.0.14393.0\amd64_installed
    C:\Windows\servicing\Version\10.0.14393.0\x86_installed
  • You run diskshadow /l output.txt, and then list writers detailed at the diskshadow prompt.

In this scenario, when you examine the system writer metadata in output.txt, you find the amd64_installed and x86_installed files are listed in the old version folder path that no longer exists.

As a result, third-party backup applications may return warnings like the following:

Date/TimeANS4251W System Writer file '\\?\globalroot\device\harddiskvolumeshadowcopy3\windows\servicing\version\10.0.14393.0\amd64_installed': not found. Date/TimeANS4251W System Writer file '\\?\globalroot\device\harddiskvolumeshadowcopy3\windows\servicing\version\10.0.14393.0\x86_installed': not found.

This issue does not occur with Windows Server 2016 RTM version.

Note

This issue does not affect System State backup with Windows Server backup.

Resolution

To fix the issue, create new placeholder files with the same name for the files that are reported as not found.
C:\Windows\servicing\Version\10.0.14393.0\amd64_installed
C:\Windows\servicing\Version\10.0.14393.0\x86_installed

More information

The files are no longer needed. However, they are still listed as needing to be backed up. The content of the file is irrelevant and can be empty.