NTbackup hangs - Preparing to Backup using Shadow Copy...

I am usng Windows 2003 SBS SP2 Server with Exchange SP2. When I try to run a system state backup or any file type backup, then I am getting the below error in the log that states:

Backup Status
Operation: Backup
Active backup destination: File
Media name: "System_State.bkf created 6/11/2008 at 6:47 PM"

Volume shadow copy creation: Attempt 1.
Timeout before function completed

Error returned while creating the volume shadow copy:0xffffffff.

Error returned while creating the volume shadow copy:ffffffff
Aborting Backup.

The operation did not successfully complete.

I am also getting the below events logged in application log of the event viewer:


EventID: 215
certsrv.exe (1628) The backup has been stopped because it was halted by the client or the connection with the client failed.

2nd-
EventID: 6013
Sqllib error: OLEDB Error encountered calling IDBInitialize::Initialize. hr = 0x80004005. SQLSTATE: 08001, Native Error: 18
Error state: 1, Severity: 16
Source: Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server
Error message: [DBNETLIB][ConnectionOpen (SECDoClientHandshake()).]SSL Security error.

I have tried a lot of things to solve this error but nothing helps, any suggestions would be welcome.

You can try to re-register regsvr32 ole32.dll and then set the volume shadow copy service to Automatic. Also check the VSS service is automatic.

Even I am facing the same problem, the only thing that resolves it temporarily is disabling Shadow Copies from the Disk Properties and then enabling it. We are running Server 2003 SP1 and it worked for years and just recently it started to have this error. I have followed the way to re-register the .dll files but it is also not working for me. Any ideas?

**Circumventing the issue:

Backing up data and System State: Under ‘Advance Backup Options’ uncheck feature ‘Automatically backup System Protected Files with System State’

Backing up data only: Under ‘Advance Backup Options’ the option to disable ‘volume shadow copy is active, your call.

Backing up System State: In the main window check ‘System State’ only and under ‘Advance Backup Options’ feature uncheck ‘Automatically backup System Protected Files with System State’.

Here is the solution (a least for me) even if the kb is for w2003 it work well for XP pro too

http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;EN-US;940032

Here is an extract from this KB with my comments in red:

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. Type the following commands at a command prompt. Press ENTER after you type each command.
* cd /d %windir%\system32
* Net stop vss (may use procexp.exe to kill the service if it don't stop
* Net stop swprv
* regsvr32 ole32.dll
* regsvr32 oleaut32.dll
* regsvr32 vss_ps.dll
* vssvc /register
* regsvr32 /i swprv.dll
* regsvr32 /i eventcls.dll
* regsvr32 es.dll
* regsvr32 stdprov.dll
* regsvr32 vssui.dll (missing in xp pro)
* regsvr32 msxml.dll
* regsvr32 msxml3.dll
* regsvr32 msxml4.dll (missing in xp pro)
Note The last command may not run successfully.
3. Perform a backup operation to verify that the issue is resolved.

I have tried to resolve the issue of windows backup utility hanging at the point of "preparing to backup using shadow copy" to no avail, I have tried registering the dll's twice but to avail. I am running Windows XP pro SP3. I have tried a work around by trying other backup softwares but most of them rely on VSS working properly. Many of the backup softwares I tried also hang, I suspect they are waiting for the VSS services. On windows 98 I used to use seagate backup exec, I really liked the program but doesn't run on XP. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what else I could try.

You can check for some similar kind of thread and its suggestions from here - http://forums.techarena.in/windows-s...help/15066.htm