Symptoms
Consider the following scenario:
You run a Windows Server 2003-based virtual machine on a Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V-based computer.
The virtual machine has files that reside on the array disk volume.
You try to back up the virtual machine by using Windows Server Backup.
Note Windows Server Backup uses the Microsoft Hyper-V VSS writer to create a hardware snapshot.
In this scenario, the Hyper-V VSS writer crashes. Therefore, the snapshot is not created. Additionally, you may receive following error message:
Note
GetWriterStatus FAILED for Selected writer [Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer], writer is in state [9] [VSS_WS_FAILED_AT_FREEZE]. hrWriterFailure [80042319]
When this issue occurs, the following VSS error is logged in the Application log: If you run the vssadmin list writers command in Windows Server 2008, "Microsoft Hyper-V VSS Writer" is not listed in the output. Therefore, you have to restart the Hyper-V Management service so that the Hyper-V VSS writer works correctly.
Resolution
Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.
If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.
Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.
Important Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only one of these products may be listed on the “Hotfix Request” page. To request the hotfix package that applies to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, just select the product that is listed on the page.
Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows Server 2008 installed on the computer.
Restart requirement
You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.
Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.
Registry information
To use this hotfix, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.
File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.
Windows Server 2008 file information note
The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and MUM files (.mum) installed for each environment are
listed separately. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The security catalog files (attributes not listed) are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vssvc.exe | 6.0.6001.22308 | 1,055,744 | 13-Nov-2008 | 04:50 | x86 |
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vssvc.exe | 6.0.6001.22308 | 1,433,600 | 13-Nov-2008 | 06:05 | x64 |
For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vssvc.exe | 6.0.6001.22308 | 2,438,144 | 13-Nov-2008 | 05:51 | IA-64 |
Status
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
More Information
For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
958662 How to back up Hyper-V virtual machines from the parent partition on a Windows Server 2008-based computer by using Windows Server Backup
956697 Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V VSS writer is not used during a backup job because of corrupted or invalid virtual machine configuration files
824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
Additional file information for Windows Server 2008
Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_client_1~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum |
|---|---|
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,367 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_client~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,430 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,421 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,422 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,425 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_server~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,430 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | X86_ddc150dd456bdf85417a2815f6e50364_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22308_none_bfbf624f15fb72f6.manifest |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 698 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | X86_microsoft-windows-vssservice_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22308_none_5b5e715e30edd897.manifest |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 33,700 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 05:36 |
Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | Amd64_55ca5f33bdfeab171de68b98c3045883_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22308_none_bcb90319ec327b31.manifest |
|---|---|
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 702 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Amd64_microsoft-windows-vssservice_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22308_none_b77d0ce1e94b49cd.manifest |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 33,990 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 08:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_client_1~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,375 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_client~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,438 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,429 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,430 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,433 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_server~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,438 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
Additional files for all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | Ia64_0032b668dba227cbe1de504335f0b92a_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22308_none_d27eadd71694e84a.manifest |
|---|---|
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 700 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Ia64_microsoft-windows-vssservice_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22308_none_5b60155430ebe193.manifest |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 33,970 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 06:41 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,425 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,426 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,429 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |
| File name | Package_for_kb959978_server~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum |
| File version | Not Applicable |
| File size | 1,434 |
| Date (UTC) | 13-Nov-2008 |
| Time (UTC) | 18:38 |