Event ID 8193: Volume Shadow Copy Service error

This post features solutions to fix the Event ID 8193, Volume Shadow Copy Service error. VSS or Volume Shadow Copy Service facilitates conversations between server components. It also coordinates actions required to create consistent shadow copies or snapshots of data to be backed up. But recently, some users have complained about Event ID 8193, Volume Shadow Copy Service error on their Windows devices. Fortunately, you can follow these methods to fix it.

What causes VSS to fail?

The VSS error usually occurs when a user restarts cryptographic services after installing the DHCP role on a device. When this happens, the network service account is disabled, and it initializes the system writer under the network service account. However, other reasons this may occur are:

• Insufficient Disk Space
• Corrupted or Missing VSS Components
• Interference from other applications and Services using VSS

Fix Event ID 8193, Volume Shadow Copy Service Error

To fix the Event ID 8193 Volume Shadow Copy Service error, firstly, restart your device. Also, check if your device has enough disk space on the volume where the shadow copy is being created. However, if that doesn’t help, follow these tested fixes:

1. Run SFC to check for corrupted or missing VSS components
2. Allow permissions to Network Service Account via Registry Editor
3. Delete Temporary Internet Files
4. System Restore to a point before the problem started
5. Repair Windows Installation

Now let us see these in detail.

1] Run SFC and DISM to check for corrupted or missing VSS components

Event 8193 may occur due to corrupted/damaged VSS components or system image corruptions. Run SFC and DISM to scan and repair these. Here’s how:

• Click on the Windows key and search for Command Prompt.
• Click on Run as Administrator.
• Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter:

  For SFC:
  sfc/scannow

  For DISM:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Restart your device once done and check if the Volume Shadow Copy Service error is fixed.

Read: How to restore missing or deleted Services

2] Allow permissions to Network Service Account

The Event ID 8193, Volume Shadow Copy Service Error can also occur if the Network service account doesn’t have appropriate permissions in the Registry Editor. To fix it, allow all permissions to the Diag key. Here’s how:

Via Registry Editor

Open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following path:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VSS\Diag

Right-click on the Diag key and select Permissions.

Under Permissions allow full control and click on OK to save the changes.

Via Powershell

Open Windows Powershell as an Administrator.

Type the following command and hit Enter.

$path = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VSS\Diag\'

$sddl = 'D:PAI(A;;KA;;;BA)(A;;KA;;;SY)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPSDRC;;;BO)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPSDRC;;;LS)(A;;CCDCLCSWRPSDRC;;;NS)(A;CIIO;RC;;;OW)(A;;KR;;;BU)(A;CIIO;GR;;;BU)(A;CIIO;GA;;;BA)(A;CIIO;GA;;;BO)(A;CIIO;GA;;;LS)(A;CIIO;GA;;;NS)(A;CIIO;GA;;;SY)(A;CI;CCDCLCSW;;;S-1-5-80-3273805168-4048181553-3172130058-210131473-390205191)(A;ID;KR;;;AC)(A;CIIOID;GR;;;AC)S:ARAI'

$acl = Get-Acl -Path $Path

$acl.SetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($sddl)

Set-Acl -Path $Path -AclObject $acl

Close the Command Prompt and see if the error gets fixed.

3] Delete TemporaryInternetFiles

VSS errors can occur if the disk in which the shadow copy is being created is running low on space.

To fix this, clear the contents of the TemporaryInternetFiles folder and see if the error gets fixed. Here’s the location of the folder:

C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727\TemporaryInternetFiles

4] System Restore to a point before the problem started

In case of an install failure or data corruption, System Restore can make your device to working condition without reinstalling the operating system. Doing so will repair the Windows environment by installing the files and settings saved in the restore point. Here’s how you can perform a System Restore.

Note that this can be done only if you’ve created a System Restore Point earlier.

5] Repair Windows Installation

If none of these methods were able to help you, repair the Windows OS using the Installation media. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Download Windows ISO and create a Bootable USB or DVD drive
2. Boot from the media and choose Repair your computer.
3. Under Advanced Troubleshooting, select Advanced Options > Troubleshoot.
4. Now click on Startup Repair and follow the instructions on-screen.

I hope this helps.

How to fix Registry Writer was preparing the registry for a shadow copy?

To fix this error: Volume Shadow Copy Error: An error 0x00000000c000014d was encountered while Registry Writer was preparing the registry for a shadow copy. Check the Application and System event logs for any related errors, take the following steps:

1] Re-register VSS Components by executing the following commands one after the other:

regsvr32 ole32.dll
regsvr32 vss_ps.dll
regsvr32 es.dll
regsvr32 stdprov.dll
regsvr32 vssui.dll
regsvr32 msxml.dll
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
regsvr32 msxml4.dll

2] Ensure that Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) is not disabled but set to Manual.

3] Run vssadmin list writers in CMD and see if the VSS Writers show any errors.

Hope this helps.