Receiving error > "E000101F6: Error 0x101f6: Unable to create volume snapshot<?xml version."

Rajah, download a copy of the Acronis VSS Doctor tool (link below) and run this to see what issues that reports with VSS (used to create snapshot data).  If the tool offers to fix any issues it finds, then let it do so.

Hi Steve,

Nice to "see" you again.

You'll be glad to know that the above "use of ACRONIS & not Window's VSS" worked without fail.

It ran for more than 3 hours though.  Never took that long before with any version.

I shall try the VSS Doctor tool & report back.

Regs, Rajah..

Hi once more,

Well Steve, here's the report...

2022-06-12 06:04:16 GMT+10:00
AcronisVSSDoctor-net35, 1.1.53.0, v2.0.50727
Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1, 2.0.50727.8806

===========================================================
VSS Services Configuration and Status

Status: OK
Description: All VSS-related services are configured correctly

Services:

Name: swprv
Title: Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider
Status: Stopped
ReferenceStatus:
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Manual
ReferenceStartMode: Manual
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

Name: VSS
Title: Volume Shadow Copy
Status: Stopped
ReferenceStatus:
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Manual
ReferenceStartMode: Manual
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

Name: EventSystem
Title: COM+ Event System
Status: Running
ReferenceStatus: Running
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Auto
ReferenceStartMode: Auto
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

 

===========================================================
VSS Access Control Configuration

Status: OK
Description: Known VSS access control entries are configured correctly

AccessControls:

UserName: NT Authority\NetworkService
EntryExists: True
UserExists: True
IsActive: True
IsOk: True
StatusDescription:

 

===========================================================
VSS Components Availability

Status: OK
Description: VSS components are accessible

 

===========================================================
VSS Writers Status

Status: Error
Description: An error occurred when performing a check

Error occurred:
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: This program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Interop.ProcessLauncher.Execute(String executable, String args)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Interop.VssAdminWrapper.Invoke(String args)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Collectors.WritersStatusCollector.Collect()
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Launching.Launcher.CollectData(Func`1 cancellationChecker)

===========================================================
VSS Shadow Storages Status

Status: Warn
Description: Some VSS shadow storages are misconfigured

Storages:

ForVolume: C:\
OnVolume: C:\
Used: 62 GB
Allocated: 62 GB
Maximum: 69 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
VolumeSize: 465 GB
Available: 272 GB
TargetMaximum: UNBOUNDED
MaximumGreaterThenMinimum: True
MaximumIsEnough: False
MaximumIsNotReached: False
AvailableIsEnoughForMaximum: True
IsOk: False
Description: Maximum storage size is almost reached

 

===========================================================
Disk Free Space Available

Status: OK
Description: All disks have enough free space

Volumes:

Name: C:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{519f2e98-a380-11df-bbbe-806e6f6e6963}\
Size: 465 GB
Available: 272 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

Name: D:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{c3c20323-9f1e-11e0-ab60-eb045ef7e0eb}\
Size: 156 GB
Available: 155 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

Name: F:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{8dbd4ac0-5190-11e6-8646-0040f4756418}\
Size: 309 GB
Available: 309 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

 

===========================================================
Disk I/O Load

Status: Warn
Description: Some disks may be overloaded. VSS may behave incorrectly under such conditions. Stop heavy operations or wait until completion.

Disks:

Name: 0 C:
DiskBytesPersec: 802685
DiskReadBytesPersec: 6554
DiskReadsPersec: 0
DiskTransfersPersec: 169
DiskWriteBytesPersec: 796131
DiskWritesPersec: 168
PercentDiskReadTime: 0
PercentDiskTime: 11
PercentDiskWriteTime: 11
PercentIdleTime: 86
IsOk: False

Name: 1 D: F:
DiskBytesPersec: 0
DiskReadBytesPersec: 0
DiskReadsPersec: 0
DiskTransfersPersec: 0
DiskWriteBytesPersec: 0
DiskWritesPersec: 0
PercentDiskReadTime: 0
PercentDiskTime: 0
PercentDiskWriteTime: 0
PercentIdleTime: 98
IsOk: True

 

===========================================================
NTFS Volume Access Control Configuration

Status: OK
Description: All volumes have correct access control configuration

Volumes:

Name: C:\
SystemHasAccess: True
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: True
Description: "SYSTEM" account has "Full Control" access

Name: D:\
SystemHasAccess: True
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: True
Description: "SYSTEM" account has "Full Control" access

Name: F:\
SystemHasAccess: True
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: True
Description: "SYSTEM" account has "Full Control" access

 

===========================================================
Event Log

Status: Warn
Description: Some VSS-related errors or warnings occurred during the previous day

Events:

Timestamp: 12/06/2022 2:28:40 AM
Type: Error
Source: volsnap
Message: The shadow copies of volume D: were aborted because of an IO failure on volume D:.
InstanceId: -1073348594
SearchLink:   google dot com/#newwindow=1&q=volsnap+event+id+3221618702

Timestamp: 12/06/2022 1:01:02 AM
Type: Error
Source: volsnap
Message: The shadow copies of volume F: were aborted because of an IO failure on volume F:.
InstanceId: -1073348594
SearchLink:   google dot com/#newwindow=1&q=volsnap+event+id+3221618702

Q?....Why the h#%& is it picking up my D & F HDD's?

By "previous day"...That is just last night at 11.30 PM on the 11th. Had to try 3 times this early AM on the 12th.

My back ups all go to my external G drive.

&...What's with the Group Policy reference?

I'm running WIN 7 Home.....hence no access to the Group Policy options.

(I had to modify both the entries for https google dot com (above ^ ^^ ) coz the forum dis allowed live links or whatever.)

PLUS...Don't forget that I changed the options in ATI ADVANCED options section.

I now have all 3 version 14's & one FULL version 15 on my external "G" HDD.

Weird goingzon. :)

Rajah, couple of immediate thoughts!

First, allow the tool to fix any issues it can, i.e. VSS shadow storages.

Next, do a full Windows restart and re-run the tool to see if the VSS writer issue is resolved or not?

The reference to I/O failures on drives D: and F: would suggest doing a CHKDSK on those volumes to ensure that there are no latent issues.

Beyond the above, then I would suggest running the System File Checker tool (SFC /SCANNOW) from an Administrator level command prompt to see if this finds & fixes any issues caused by corrupt system files etc.

Hi Steve,

re; The VSS Shadow Storage result...

I still get the Group Policy message. Not able to proceed any further with it.

(I just performed a full format of both the "D" & "F", HDD's before restarting the PC. All it did was to reduce the "USED" space/s a tad.)

Nothing bad was found on either HDD.

Results of the last run...

2022-06-13 01:11:42 GMT+10:00
AcronisVSSDoctor-net35, 1.1.53.0, v2.0.50727
Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1, 2.0.50727.8806

===========================================================
VSS Services Configuration and Status

Status: OK
Description: All VSS-related services are configured correctly

Services:

Name: swprv
Title: Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider
Status: Stopped
ReferenceStatus:
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Manual
ReferenceStartMode: Manual
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

Name: VSS
Title: Volume Shadow Copy
Status: Stopped
ReferenceStatus:
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Manual
ReferenceStartMode: Manual
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

Name: EventSystem
Title: COM+ Event System
Status: Running
ReferenceStatus: Running
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Auto
ReferenceStartMode: Auto
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

 

===========================================================
VSS Access Control Configuration

Status: OK
Description: Known VSS access control entries are configured correctly

AccessControls:

UserName: NT Authority\NetworkService
EntryExists: True
UserExists: True
IsActive: True
IsOk: True
StatusDescription:

 

===========================================================
VSS Components Availability

Status: OK
Description: VSS components are accessible

 

===========================================================
VSS Writers Status

Status: Error
Description: An error occurred when performing a check

Error occurred:
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: This program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Interop.ProcessLauncher.Execute(String executable, String args)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Interop.VssAdminWrapper.Invoke(String args)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Collectors.WritersStatusCollector.Collect()
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Launching.Launcher.CollectData(Func`1 cancellationChecker)

===========================================================
VSS Shadow Storages Status

Status: Warn
Description: Some VSS shadow storages are misconfigured

Storages:

ForVolume: C:\
OnVolume: C:\
Used: 62 GB
Allocated: 62 GB
Maximum: 69 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
VolumeSize: 465 GB
Available: 271 GB
TargetMaximum: UNBOUNDED
MaximumGreaterThenMinimum: True
MaximumIsEnough: False
MaximumIsNotReached: False
AvailableIsEnoughForMaximum: True
IsOk: False
Description: Maximum storage size is almost reached

 

===========================================================
Disk Free Space Available

Status: OK
Description: All disks have enough free space

Volumes:

Name: C:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{519f2e98-a380-11df-bbbe-806e6f6e6963}\
Size: 465 GB
Available: 271 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

Name: D:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{c3c20323-9f1e-11e0-ab60-eb045ef7e0eb}\
Size: 156 GB
Available: 156 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

Name: F:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{8dbd4ac0-5190-11e6-8646-0040f4756418}\
Size: 309 GB
Available: 309 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

 

===========================================================
Disk I/O Load

Status: Warn
Description: Some disks may be overloaded. VSS may behave incorrectly under such conditions. Stop heavy operations or wait until completion.

Disks:

Name: 0 C:
DiskBytesPersec: 687762
DiskReadBytesPersec: 6670
DiskReadsPersec: 0
DiskTransfersPersec: 156
DiskWriteBytesPersec: 681092
DiskWritesPersec: 156
PercentDiskReadTime: 1
PercentDiskTime: 14
PercentDiskWriteTime: 13
PercentIdleTime: 82
IsOk: False

Name: 1 D: F:
DiskBytesPersec: 0
DiskReadBytesPersec: 0
DiskReadsPersec: 0
DiskTransfersPersec: 0
DiskWriteBytesPersec: 0
DiskWritesPersec: 0
PercentDiskReadTime: 0
PercentDiskTime: 0
PercentDiskWriteTime: 0
PercentIdleTime: 98
IsOk: True

 

===========================================================
NTFS Volume Access Control Configuration

Status: Warn
Description: Some volumes have incorrect access control configuration

Volumes:

Name: C:\
SystemHasAccess: True
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: True
Description: "SYSTEM" account has "Full Control" access

Name: D:\
SystemHasAccess: False
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: False
Description: "SYSTEM" account has no "Full Control" access

Name: F:\
SystemHasAccess: False
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: False
Description: "SYSTEM" account has no "Full Control" access

 

===========================================================
Event Log

Status: Warn
Description: Some VSS-related errors or warnings occurred during the previous day

Events:

Timestamp: 12/06/2022 2:28:40 AM
Type: Error
Source: volsnap
Message: The shadow copies of volume D: were aborted because of an IO failure on volume D:.
InstanceId: -1073348594
SearchLink: https  google dot com/#newwindow=1&q=volsnap+event+id+3221618702

Will try the latter tests now...

Hi Steve,

Results are as follows...

The CHKDSK Scan of both "F" & "D" HDD's = nil errors found.

But, the SFC /SCANNOW of my "C" drive found some errors that it could not repair.

The log file is huge. Well over 1.x Meg.

Had trouble finding the latest dated result & could not understand a thing.

The VSS tool appears to give confusing info. though.

Where to now?

See webpage: How do I repair the corrupted files found by sfc /scannow? "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them."

Hi Steve,

Thanks. Will do some reading. Pity that it's a tad old.

:)

Rajah, if your Win 7 PC is up to date on Windows Updates, then you can use the following command to check & repair system files (from an Admin command prompt).

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Hi Steve,

I haven't updated WIN7 for months as I cannot receive any more updates.

Windows refuses to do so & I ain't about to pay for them.

-------------------------------------------

I just finished running the Window's repair procedure (about 3 hours.....), & re-ran the VSS test.

It found & repaired a quite a lot of the data files...plus others...but it could not produce a log file.  (#50 error or something.)

Results are as follows...

2022-06-13 06:01:48 GMT+10:00
AcronisVSSDoctor-net35, 1.1.53.0, v2.0.50727
Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1, 2.0.50727.8806

===========================================================
VSS Services Configuration and Status

Status: OK
Description: All VSS-related services are configured correctly

Services:

Name: swprv
Title: Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider
Status: Stopped
ReferenceStatus:
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Manual
ReferenceStartMode: Manual
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

Name: VSS
Title: Volume Shadow Copy
Status: Stopped
ReferenceStatus:
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Manual
ReferenceStartMode: Manual
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

Name: EventSystem
Title: COM+ Event System
Status: Running
ReferenceStatus: Running
NeedToFixStatus: False
StartMode: Auto
ReferenceStartMode: Auto
NeedToFixStartMode: False
IsOk: True
ExpectationDescription:
Exception:

 

===========================================================
VSS Access Control Configuration

Status: OK
Description: Known VSS access control entries are configured correctly

AccessControls:

UserName: NT Authority\NetworkService
EntryExists: True
UserExists: True
IsActive: True
IsOk: True
StatusDescription:

 

===========================================================
VSS Components Availability

Status: OK
Description: VSS components are accessible

 

===========================================================
VSS Writers Status

Status: Error
Description: An error occurred when performing a check

Error occurred:
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: This program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithCreateProcess(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
   at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Interop.ProcessLauncher.Execute(String executable, String args)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Interop.VssAdminWrapper.Invoke(String args)
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Collectors.WritersStatusCollector.Collect()
   at Acronis.Utilities.VSSDoctor.Launching.Launcher.CollectData(Func`1 cancellationChecker)

===========================================================
VSS Shadow Storages Status

Status: Warn
Description: Some VSS shadow storages are misconfigured

Storages:

ForVolume: C:\
OnVolume: C:\
Used: 60 GB
Allocated: 62 GB
Maximum: 69 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
VolumeSize: 465 GB
Available: 271 GB
TargetMaximum: UNBOUNDED
MaximumGreaterThenMinimum: True
MaximumIsEnough: False
MaximumIsNotReached: False
AvailableIsEnoughForMaximum: True
IsOk: False
Description: Maximum storage size is almost reached

 

===========================================================
Disk Free Space Available

Status: OK
Description: All disks have enough free space

Volumes:

Name: C:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{519f2e98-a380-11df-bbbe-806e6f6e6963}\
Size: 465 GB
Available: 271 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

Name: D:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{c3c20323-9f1e-11e0-ab60-eb045ef7e0eb}\
Size: 156 GB
Available: 156 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

Name: F:\
DeviceId: \\?\Volume{8dbd4ac0-5190-11e6-8646-0040f4756418}\
Size: 309 GB
Available: 309 GB
Minimum: 320 MB
IsOk: True
Description:
IsMounted: True

 

===========================================================
Disk I/O Load

Status: OK
Description: All disks are currently not overloaded

Disks:

Name: 0 C:
DiskBytesPersec: 63229
DiskReadBytesPersec: 6720
DiskReadsPersec: 0
DiskTransfersPersec: 13
DiskWriteBytesPersec: 56509
DiskWritesPersec: 13
PercentDiskReadTime: 0
PercentDiskTime: 2
PercentDiskWriteTime: 1
PercentIdleTime: 97
IsOk: True

Name: 1 D: F:
DiskBytesPersec: 0
DiskReadBytesPersec: 0
DiskReadsPersec: 0
DiskTransfersPersec: 0
DiskWriteBytesPersec: 0
DiskWritesPersec: 0
PercentDiskReadTime: 0
PercentDiskTime: 0
PercentDiskWriteTime: 0
PercentIdleTime: 98
IsOk: True

 

===========================================================
NTFS Volume Access Control Configuration

Status: OK
Description: All volumes have correct access control configuration

Volumes:

Name: C:\
SystemHasAccess: True
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: True
Description: "SYSTEM" account has "Full Control" access

Name: D:\
SystemHasAccess: True
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: True
Description: "SYSTEM" account has "Full Control" access

Name: F:\
SystemHasAccess: True
SystemSid: S-1-5-18
IsOk: True
Description: "SYSTEM" account has "Full Control" access

 

===========================================================
Event Log

Status: Warn
Description: Some VSS-related errors or warnings occurred during the previous day

Events:

Timestamp: 13/06/2022 5:38:12 AM
Type: Error
Source: Ntfs
Message: The file system structure on the disk is corrupt and unusable. Please run the chkdsk utility on the volume Spare1.
InstanceId: -1073479625
SearchLink: https google dot com/#newwindow=1&q=Ntfs+event+id+3221487671

Timestamp: 13/06/2022 5:38:12 AM
Type: Error
Source: Ntfs
Message: The default transaction resource manager on volume Spare1 encountered a non-retryable error and could not start.  The data contains the error code.
InstanceId: -1073479543
SearchLink: https google dot com/#newwindow=1&q=Ntfs+event+id+3221487753

Both the Writer's Status & the VSS Shadow Storages Status cannot be "fixed", coz of the Group Policy. re; Writer's Status.

Status: Warn
Description: Some VSS shadow storages are misconfigured

Both Spare1 & Spare2 HDD's are clean with no errors found.

I'm going to try changing the ADVANCED options in ATI to VSS...NO WRITER (or whatever it's called)

& do an out-of-sequence back-up.

Thanks for the assistance.

Well....That all went well enough.

No errors & was a fairly quick INCREMENTAL B/Up as well.

So....Where to from here?

Still can't fathom the conflicting messages though.

Do I worry about the VSS errors?

What caused them in the 1st place?

Never had any before. Maybe due to the "mandated" update changed something?

Anyway, thanks for the help & for any more ideas you may have, Steve.

Regs, Rajah..

Rajah, I guess that there are only two real options available to you at this point.

Forget VSS and use the older Acronis Snapshot feature.

Do an in place repair install of Windows 7 to try to sort out the VSS issues.

One other option would be to revert back to an earlier point in time where the VSS issues didn't exist, assuming that you have a backup to do so?  If doing this, then perhaps would be safest to do the restore to a spare disk drive rather than the original.

Is there a reason why you are still running Windows 7 and haven't upgraded to 10? (The free upgrade from 7 to 10 is still working!).

Hi Steve,

You asked...

"Is there a reason why you are still running Windows 7 and haven't upgraded to 10? (The free upgrade from 7 to 10 is still working!)."

I tried to upgrade a long time ago but struck a few glitches/bumps in the road.

Was going to lose a few of my long time programs & my stand-alone (very old), CANON scanner was not supported.

Besides which...my PC specs didn't match up with their minimum specs.

So, I decided to stay with WIN7 & run "0patch."

Seems to work O.K.

I can't do a System Restore or use an Acronis back-up.

Only keep 3 current & 1 or 2 previous weeklies.

ATI seems to be functioning fine with the VSS Writer option turned off, so I'll call it a day.

Spent many hours on it already.

Got my moderators job to do over at the mozillaZine fora.

Thanks again, Steve.

Stay safe.

Regs, Rajah..