Vss not installed on Windows Server 2012 R2

support 96 Reputation points
2021-07-13T21:07:01.67+00:00

I have this Windows server 2012 R2 Essentials, after try to perform a backup of it using third party backup apps, shows an error that the Vss is not installed. Even occur after try to install an agent of one of this programs. The vss service is totally absent, not disabled. How could I install the service?

Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
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Windows Server Backup
Windows Server Backup
Windows Server: A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.Backup: A duplicate copy of a program, a disk, or data, made either for archiving purposes or for safeguarding valuable files from loss should the active copy be damaged or destroyed.
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  1. support 96 Reputation points
    2021-07-19T13:44:01.497+00:00

    Hi,

    I executed on a command window as administrator:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth

    after that,

    sfc /scannow

    Now, the Vss service shows description, dependencies, etc.

    Thank you very much for your support

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  1. JiayaoZhu 3,911 Reputation points
    2021-07-14T06:37:37.423+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for posting on our forum!

    Basically, VSS is a inbuild service that has been introduced since Windows XP, so I am not sure what do you mean it is absent? When you right click the volume that you would like to take VSS, can you see Configure Shadow Copies?

    Besides, I need some time to download 2012 R2 Essential to test if this version can use VSS.

    Thanks for your support!

    BR,
    Joan

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  2. support 96 Reputation points
    2021-07-14T14:19:32.593+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for the quick answer.

    If I right click in the volume I would like to take VSS, and clik on "configure shadow copies", a message box pops up that says:

    "Initialization failed

    Error 0x80070424: The specified service does not exist as an installed service"

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  3. JiayaoZhu 3,911 Reputation points
    2021-07-15T03:29:36.34+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for your reply!

    Based on your error message, it seems that your VSS service may be missing from the list on the Services MMC (services.msc) console. You can first try to restart VSS service:
    Step 1: Click Start, type services.msc (without quotation marks) in the Search bar and press Enter.
    Step2: Double click Volume Shadow Copy Service and switch to General tab.
    Step 3: Change the Startup type to Automatic and click Apply.
    Step 4: Click Start and click OK.

    You then can do other general troubleshootings for this problem:
    https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-sg/000139498/windows-server-troubleshooting-volume-shadow-copy-and-windows-server-backup-errors

    Secondly, there might some System File corruptions, you may perform System File checker [SFC] scan on the computer, the scan replaces the corrupted system files with the original Windows version files.

    Please feel free to give us feedback from the above troubleshooting, so that we can help you move on to the correct direction.

    Thanks for your support!

    BR,
    Joan

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  4. JiayaoZhu 3,911 Reputation points
    2021-07-16T02:36:13.077+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for your reply!

    Don't worry, we can re-register VSS service if needed. Follow the steps to check:

    1. Can you see the service under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\VSS?
    2. What is the output of following command: vssadmin list writers?
    3. Please run DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth from CMD
    4. If you cannot see VSS service under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\VSS, and vssadmin list writers show nothing, try to reinstall VSS service:
      http://www.freetechanswers.com/2010/04/how-to-reinstall-or-fix-volume-shadow.html

    Please note: Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.

    If you can see VSS service under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\VSS and the output of vssadmin list writers show certain information of VSS writers, then check if you could see swprv.dll inside c:\Windows\system32\swprv.dll and re-register it "regsvr32 swprv.dll." from cmd.

    Thanks for your support! Feel free to give me feedback.

    BR,
    Joan

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