SQL VSS writer not listed in VSSAdmin

• roberto.dutoit

  SSC Veteran

  Points: 235

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  January 3, 2014 at 5:38 am

  #286692

  I am trying to fix an issue where the backup software is not finding the SQL server. From the information that I have received I believe that I need to do something with SQL Server. I am having trouble following the steps as I know nothing about SQL Server.

  I was told to run "vssadmin list writers" to see if SQL VSS Writer is listed there. Its not. We determined that the cause could be "spaces in the database name".

  Here is where I start running into problems. The instructions on various websites start their instructions at say step three, missing out step one and two. I need to get something called t-sql I think to do this.

  https://blogs.msdn.com/b/batala/archive/2011/08/01/sqlserverwriter-missing-when-vssadmin-list-writers-command-is-run.aspx?Redirected=true This article tells me what to do, but does not tell me how to go about doing it as I don't have the software to run the select command.

  Can someone tell me what software I need to download as in a link to what exactly I need to download, secondly can you tell me if there is any other cause for the SQL VSS writer not being listed in VSSAdmin. I don't think that there is a space in the name according to the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio program that is installed. Secondly, I am not sure what "name" I am supposed to be looking at - would that be master, model, mdb and tempdb?

  Also the article talks about checking the service logon but it doesn't say where I am checking the service logon so I don't know if thats for VSS Writer Service in Services or if I need to be checking something in SQL Server Management Studio?

  Unfortunately the people who maintain the SQL Server database are not much help as they just say that there are no spaces in the name, which doesn't help me fix the backup problem which is failing because the SQL VSS writer is not listed. However the SQL Server VSS Writer service in services is listed and running!

  You will have to explain this step by step as I know nothing about SQL Server. Thank you.

  Edited question due to spell checker messing up a few words!