The volume shadow copy operation failed with error 0x800423F0

This message showed up in the Windows Server backup console when the backup job is initiated. In the cmdlet when you run the command vssadmin list writers the SPSearch4 VSS Writer shows in a failed state.

Writer name: ‘SPSearch4 VSS Writer’
Writer Id: {35500004-0201-0000-0000-000000000000}
Writer Instance Id: {34a1fd6e-667d-4671-a551-2d4689c4e508}
State: [8] Failed
Last error: Inconsistent shadow copy

More Symptoms:

Event Viewer

Log Name: Application
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Backup
Date: 5/5/2012 12:36:46 AM
Event ID: 521
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords:
User: SYSTEM
Computer: xxx.xxx.local
Description:
The backup operation that started at ‘‎2012‎-‎05‎-‎05T04:36:27.540000000Z’ has failed because the Volume Shadow Copy Service operation to create a shadow copy of the volumes being backed up failed with following error code ‘2155348129’. Please review the event details for a solution, and then rerun the backup operation once the issue is resolved.

Screenshot from the Windows Server Backup Console

Solution:

The SharePoint services writer is waiting for completion.  Did you install any SharePoint updates lately?  (It could be due to the Sharepoint SP 1). If this is installed, then you need to fix SharePoint before your backup will work.

1. Open an Administrative command prompt.
2. Change directory to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\14\BIN
3. Run PSConfig.exe -cmd upgrade -inplace b2b -force -cmd applicationcontent -install -cmd installfeatures

Try to run a backup after running this command. Exceptionally the server might be needed a restart otherwise we are good to after running this command.

OR

The second solution is to run these command. Make sure to copy n paste as in the exact these are pasted here and rename it to .BAT and execute it as Run As Administrator

rem FILENAME: FIXVSS08.BAT
rem
net stop “System Event Notification Service”
net stop “Background Intelligent Transfer Service”
net stop “COM+ Event System”
net stop “Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider”
net stop “Volume Shadow Copy”
cd /d %windir%\system32
net stop vss
net stop swprv
regsvr32 /s ATL.DLL
regsvr32 /s comsvcs.DLL
regsvr32 /s credui.DLL
regsvr32 /s CRYPTNET.DLL
regsvr32 /s CRYPTUI.DLL
regsvr32 /s dhcpqec.DLL
regsvr32 /s dssenh.DLL
regsvr32 /s eapqec.DLL
regsvr32 /s esscli.DLL
regsvr32 /s FastProx.DLL
regsvr32 /s FirewallAPI.DLL
regsvr32 /s kmsvc.DLL
regsvr32 /s lsmproxy.DLL
regsvr32 /s MSCTF.DLL
regsvr32 /s msi.DLL
regsvr32 /s msxml3.DLL
regsvr32 /s ncprov.DLL
regsvr32 /s ole32.DLL
regsvr32 /s OLEACC.DLL
regsvr32 /s OLEAUT32.DLL
regsvr32 /s PROPSYS.DLL
regsvr32 /s QAgent.DLL
regsvr32 /s qagentrt.DLL
regsvr32 /s QUtil.DLL
regsvr32 /s raschap.DLL
regsvr32 /s RASQEC.DLL
regsvr32 /s rastls.DLL
regsvr32 /s repdrvfs.DLL
regsvr32 /s RPCRT4.DLL
regsvr32 /s rsaenh.DLL
regsvr32 /s SHELL32.DLL
regsvr32 /s shsvcs.DLL
regsvr32 /s /i swprv.DLL
regsvr32 /s tschannel.DLL
regsvr32 /s USERENV.DLL
regsvr32 /s vss_ps.DLL
regsvr32 /s wbemcons.DLL
regsvr32 /s wbemcore.DLL
regsvr32 /s wbemess.DLL
regsvr32 /s wbemsvc.DLL
regsvr32 /s WINHTTP.DLL
regsvr32 /s WINTRUST.DLL
regsvr32 /s wmiprvsd.DLL
regsvr32 /s wmisvc.DLL
regsvr32 /s wmiutils.DLL
regsvr32 /s wuaueng.DLL
sfc /SCANFILE=%windir%\system32\catsrv.DLL
sfc /SCANFILE=%windir%\system32\catsrvut.DLL
sfc /SCANFILE=%windir%\system32\CLBCatQ.DLL
net start “COM+ Event System”
net start “System Event Notification Service”
net start “Background Intelligent Transfer Service”
net start “Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider”
net start “Volume Shadow Copy”

After running the above commands, try to execute the SystemState backup, I am sure the issue will be resolved.

For running systemstate here is the command
wbadmin start systemstatebackup -backupTarget:<VolumeName>

For example: wbadmin start systemstatebackup -backupTarget:G:

All the Best..!!
~SG~