Edit

No VSS writers are listed when you run the vssadmin list writers command in Windows Server

  • Article

This article helps fix an issue where no VSS writers are listed when you run the vssadmin list writers command and events are logged.

Applies to:   Windows Server 2012 R2
Original KB number:   2009550

Symptoms

When you run the vssadmin list writers command in Windows Server, no VSS writers are listed. Additionally, the following events are logged in the Application log:

Log Name: Application
Source: VSS
Event ID: 22
Level: Error
Description:
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: A critical component required by the Volume Shadow Copy service is not registered. This might happened if an error occurred during Windows setup or during installation of a Shadow Copy provider. The error returned from CoCreateInstance on class with CLSID {faf53cc4-bd73-4e36-83f1-2b23f46e513e} and Name VSSEvent is [0x80040154, Class not registered].

Log Name: Application
Source: VSS
Event ID: 8193
Level: Error
Description:
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Unexpected error calling routine CoCreateInstance. hr = 0x80040154, Class not registered.

If you open the Windows Server Backup snap-in, you receive the following error message:

A fatal error occurred during a Windows Server Backup snap-in (Wbadmin.msc) operation.
Error details:
Unknown error (0x80042302).
Close Wbadmin.msc and then restart it

Cause

This problem occurs because the registry path of the Eventcls.dll file is incorrect.

Resolution

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, type regedit in the Search programs and files box, and then press ENTER.

  2. Locate and then click the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EventSystem\\{26c409cc-ae86-11d1-b616-00805fc79216}\EventClasses\\{FAF53CC4-BD73-4E36-83F1-2B23F46E513E}-{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}-{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

  3. Double-click the TypeLib registry value.

  4. In the Value Data box, type %systemroot%\system32\EVENTCLS.DLL, and then click OK.

  5. Exit Registry Editor.

  6. Click Start, type services.msc in the Search programs and files box, and then press ENTER.

  7. Right-click the following services, one at a time. Click Restart for each service.

    • COM+ Event System
    • Volume Shadow Copy

  8. Exit the Services snap-in.

  9. Open an elevated command prompt, type vssadmin list writers, and then press ENTER.

  10. Verify that the VSS writers are now listed.