Service 'SQL Server VSS Writer' failed to start

Question

Service 'SQL Server VSS Writer' failed to start

Jikke 26

So I am trying to install Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Express LocalDB for days now, but I am running in to the same error over and over again.

I tried everything I could think of:

upgrading windows by using iso (while I was on the latest version already)
assigning both my self as the administrators group permissions to "start system services"
starting the service by hand (il come back to this below)
reinstalling it multiple times
trying it on another pc (vm)

So I tried to install it on a VM which did work.
I also tried running the service manually which resulted in this error:

I contacted Microsoft support tons of times, but they also can't help. So this is really my last chance.
Anyone knows how to fix this without needing to reinstall windows and losing all my files?

Huge thanks in advance!

Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-13T21:44:14.857+00:00

As I asked in the thread you hi-jacked: are there any errors in the Windows Event Log from the attempt to start the service?
Jikke 26 Reputation points

2021-08-14T07:02:58.047+00:00

let's move the conversation to this topic then, so to answer all your questions:

This is my home PC;
Yes the Windows event log does log an error, however it's the exact same as the popup which displays the error

@Erland Sommarskog
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-14T08:32:09.433+00:00

That seems to be the error from when you ran the installer. What happens if you try to start it manually?

My reaction to the error message is that you may have to run the install with "Run as Administrator".
Jikke 26 Reputation points

2021-08-14T08:48:07.883+00:00

The installer always asks already if you want to run it as an administrator, which I accept of course.

123197-image.png

That is the error which logs when I try to start it manually

Accepted answer

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Your answer

Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-13T21:44:14.857+00:00

As I asked in the thread you hi-jacked: are there any errors in the Windows Event Log from the attempt to start the service?
Jikke 26 Reputation points

2021-08-14T07:02:58.047+00:00

let's move the conversation to this topic then, so to answer all your questions:

This is my home PC;
Yes the Windows event log does log an error, however it's the exact same as the popup which displays the error

@Erland Sommarskog
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-14T08:32:09.433+00:00

That seems to be the error from when you ran the installer. What happens if you try to start it manually?

My reaction to the error message is that you may have to run the install with "Run as Administrator".
Jikke 26 Reputation points

2021-08-14T08:48:07.883+00:00

The installer always asks already if you want to run it as an administrator, which I accept of course.

123197-image.png

That is the error which logs when I try to start it manually

Answer 1

Erland Sommarskog 121.4K MVP Volunteer Moderator

That error is not particularly helpful.

You could try to open a command-line window as Administrator and run this:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlwriter.exe"

Maybe you get some useful error message here. Although, when I tried it on my machine, the program returned immediately without any error message, so I don't have any big hopes.

I googled a little, and I found https://stackoverflow.com/questions/16160310/sql-server-vss-writer-refuses-to-start, which suggests using Process Explorer to troubleshoot. The posts also suggests that a VC distributable is missing, and includes a link.

Jikke 26 Reputation points

2021-08-14T09:18:24.6+00:00

aa so I checked this again and this time I did actually find an error.
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-14T09:39:03.16+00:00

I checked my system (where sqlwriter runs without problems), and I don't have that file. More precisely, there is no folder WindowsApps in C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft.

Why it goes to look for the VC runtime in that folder - I have absolutely no clue.

You could try to put a copy of MSVCR100.DLL (which you most likely have in C:\Windows\System32) at that location), but I'm not sure that is the correct solution. Or if it is a solution at all.
Jikke 26 Reputation points

2021-08-14T09:48:51.5+00:00

I saw that to, there is no windowsapps folder in there, I am also running the 64 bit installer wile it looks in system32.

When I make a folder and put it inside the error in Process monitor disappears, but it still gives the same errors
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-14T10:15:59.353+00:00

I saw that to, there is no windowsapps folder in there, I am also running the 64 bit installer wile it looks in system32.

Welcome to Windows! :-) C:\Windows\system32 is 64-bit for 64-bit Windows, and the 32-bit stuff is in C:\Windows\SysWOW64.

When I make a folder and put it inside the error in Process monitor disappears, but it still gives the same errors

Since this is way beyond my expertise, I am really out of ideas. I found that there is a log file in "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\SqlWriterLogger.txt", but it is not starting due a missing DLL, it probably nevers comes as far as creating the file.
Jikke 26 Reputation points

2021-08-14T10:20:03.247+00:00

the logg file isn't there in the first place :/

I also don't know it anymore, on a new system it just works but on my main PC it doesn't,
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-14T10:44:48.937+00:00

the logg file isn't there in the first place :/

I am not surprised.

Another desperate action is to copy the sqlwriter.exe from the other machine to your PC.

Or try to install a later version of SQL Server first and hope that that will give you a working SQL VSS Writer.
Jikke 26 Reputation points

2021-08-14T11:26:05.88+00:00

mate you are an absolute hero. Got it by using the MSVCR100.ddl file from my other pc! Thanks!
Erland Sommarskog 121.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-14T11:51:03.277+00:00

You got it working? Absolutely great news! I am only glad to have helped.
cheong00 3,486 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2021-08-15T13:56:17.453+00:00

FYI, that path is the "AppData\Local" folder for all process running as LocalSystem account.

And MSVCR100.DLL is the Microsoft Visual C++ runtime for VS2010 (i.e.: Visual Studio version 10),

Answer 2

Tom La 0

Old post but thought i'd chime in since there are no other answers. i had the same issue and it seems i was trying to upgrade from sql 2005 to 2014 using 64bit media when 2005 was 32 bit. so i downloaded sql 2014 32bit and it installed and upgraded perfectly.

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Service 'SQL Server VSS Writer' failed to start

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