Applies ToWindows Server 2008 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 Standard

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:

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=supportNote 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

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