When Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) performs a parallel backup operation on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2), Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008, the operation may fail. When this issue occurs, the VSS writers are in a “corrupted” state, and the VSS writers return the following error message:

0×80042319
VSS_E_WRITER_NOT_RESPONDING

For example, you may encounter this issue when you use System Center Data Protection Manager to perform a parallel backup operation.

You try to perform a backup on a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008. However, the backup stops immediately after it starts. Additionally, the following event is logged in the Application log:

Event ID: 12293
Source: VSS
Message:
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Error calling a routine on a Shadow Copy Provider.

On a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Vista with Service Pack 1, you try to perform a system backup operation. However, the backup process fails immediately after it starts, and you receive the following error message:

Catastrophic failure (0×8000FFFF)

The backup process fails when the shadow copy creation is in progress. If you change the backup configuration, the same issue occurs.

Windows Backup for Windows Vista backs up files by creating multiple backup files in a .zip format and then saves those files to the selected backup location. This article describes how to manually restore files that were backed up using Windows Backup in instances where you are looking for specific files or don’t have access to a computer running the same Operating system used for the original backup.

This content is intended for advanced users.

Windows Vista Backup and Restore Center requires the user to have administrator-level permissions to configure or run a backup on the local computer. By default, standard users are not permitted to configure or run a backup because they have restricted access to resources on the local computer. Most enterprise users may have alternative file backup solutions that are provided by their IT organization. However, if standard users of the local computer are required to back up personal files in Windows Vista, they may choose to download Microsoft Windows NT Backup for Windows Vista. Windows NT Backup is a supplemental utility for Windows Vista.

On a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, you use the built-in backup application to back up data to a removable USB cartridge disk drive. However, your removable USB cartridge disk drive is not recognized as an available backup destination. Depending on your operating system, you experience the following symptoms.

On a Windows Vista-based computer
If you use the Backup and Restore Center tool or the Back Status and Configuration tool on a Windows Vista-based computer, the removable USB cartridge disk drive does not appear in the On a hard disk, CD, or DVD list.

On a Windows Server 2008-based computer
If you use Windows Server Backup tool on a Windows Server 2008-based computer, the removable USB cartridge disk drive is mistakenly recognized as a DVD drive. You can continue the backup process by using the removable USB cartridge disk drive. However, some backup and restore functionality is restricted for DVD media. For example, you receive the following error message when you try to restore individual files or folders from removable media:

Recovery of individual files, folders or application data from DVD or removable media is not supported.

These symptoms occur even though the removable USB cartridge disk drive appears in Windows Explorer as a disk drive. This problem occurs only with some removable USB cartridge disk drives that are manufactured by certain vendors.

Consider the following scenario:

• You have a computer that is running Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2008.
• You use the built-in backup application to back up data to a slim-slot optical disc drive.
• The backup data requires multiple discs to save.
• After the first disc is full, you press the eject button to eject the disc.

In this scenario, you receive a “Preparing to eject” message in the notification area. However, the disc does not eject. When you press the eject button again, the disc ejects. However, when you put the disc back into the drive, the disc may be unreadable.

When you try to perform a full backup on a Windows Vista-based computer, you may receive one of the following error messages before the backup of the first drive is complete:

The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error (0×8007045D)
Please rerun backup once issue is resolved.
The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error (2147943517)
Please rerun backup once issue is resolved.

Note: Error codes 2147943517 and 0×8007045D both represent the same “ERROR_IO_DEVICE” error.

Consider the following scenario:

• On a Windows Vista-based computer (computer A), you perform a full backup to an external drive.
• You connect the external drive to another Windows Vista-based computer (computer B).
• On computer B, you try to restore from the full backup on the external drive.

In this scenario, you receive the following error message:

Windows was not able to find any backup sets on [DRIVE] for the following reason:
The system cannot find the file specified. (0×80070002)
Verify that this location is valid and contains backups or try a different location.

Note: For example, the external drive may be a universal serial bus (USB) disk drive or a file share.

When you try to perform a backup operation on a Windows Vista-based computer, you may experience the following symptoms:

• You may receive the following error message:
  

  Windows could not find backup devices on your computer. The following information might explain why this problem occurred:

  Incorrect function. (0×80070001)

  Please close the backup application and try again.

  This issue occurs when you click Complete PC Backup in the Backup and Restore Center dialog box and then you click Create a backup now.

• You may receive the following error message:
  

  Your backup configuration is not valid. Review your backup settings. (0×81000029).

  This issue occurs when you click Back Up Files in the Backup and Restore Center dialog box and then you select the hard disk as the location to save the backup.