Backup fails with System writer error

Question

Hi,
We have a networker backup solution in place. Backup fails on one of the windows 2012 server. Event log below. I am not sure how to resolve this issue. Can someone please help?
Log Name:      Application
Source:        VSS
Date:          6/17/2014 5:01:41 PM
Event ID:      8193
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      ---
Description:
Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Unexpected error calling routine GetVolumeNameForVolumeMountPoint is now failing on the volume, winerror 0x00000005. .  hr = 0x80070005, Access is denied.
Operation:
   PrepareForSnapshot Event
Context:
   Execution Context: Writer
   Writer Class Id: {e8132975-6f93-4464-a53e-1050253ae220}
   Writer Name: System Writer
   Writer Instance ID: {13f27935-f32a-4e30-bdb6-d87894cecf12}
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="VSS" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">8193</EventID>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2014-06-17T15:01:41.000000000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>4864</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>GetVolumeNameForVolumeMountPoint is now failing on the volume, winerror 0x00000005. </Data>
    <Data>0x80070005, Access is denied.
</Data>
    <Data>
Operation:
   PrepareForSnapshot Event
Context:
   Execution Context: Writer
   Writer Class Id: {e8132975-6f93-4464-a53e-1050253ae220}
   Writer Name: System Writer
   Writer Instance ID: {13f27935-f32a-4e30-bdb6-d87894cecf12}</Data>
    <Binary>2D20436F64653A20565353415049435030303030313131332D2043616C6C3A20565353415049435030303030313035372D205049443A202030303030303434302D205449443A202030303030313539362D20434D443A2020433A5C57696E646F77735C73797374656D33325C737663686F73742E657865202D6B204E6574776F726B53657276696365202020202020202D20557365723A204E616D653A204E5420415554484F524954595C4E4554574F524B20534552564943452C205349443A532D312D352D3230</Binary>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Answer 1

Hi,
in my case, I didn't have "System Writer" shown in the Writers list. I tried everything to put it up and running, but without any luck. I even tried re-registering writers, which was a bit risky, but that didn't help either.
Then I have found this hotfix, installed it, and it worked after it.
Anyway, you can find here on technet few topics about this particular issue. For the others, something else worked. Please, take a look:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/f4c7fb5b-162a-4c75-994c-b75fbd1dece7/vss-system-writer-is-missing
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/4458947a-623e-45c1-b8e4-868aad1e93b0/missing-vss-system-writer-and-capi2-error-in-event-log?forum=winserverfiles
https://kb.acronis.com/content/45776#Win2008 - pay attention what is for 2003 and what for 2008, you can end up with broken system
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/764791ff-ecb5-4716-9f1c-9e22852e0f6b/resolved-backup-failing-on-server-2008-r2-system-writer-missing?forum=windowsbackup
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/7309.backup-fails-with-error-message-writer-missing-or-failed-or-timed-out-or-waiting-for-completion-in-vssadmin.aspx
You can try all of this (I did), but this hotfix saved my day in the end.
Hope this helps.
If this helped you resolve your issue, please mark it Answered, thanks! Kind regards