Try to set the VSS shadow storage per volume to unlimited:

by using vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage

Reposting my original comments again:

Hi Robert,

This is slightly unrelated to size of disk drive or partition. The VSS shadowstorage size is set to 300 MB by default. VSS snapshoting is also used by other applications which captures snapshots. If such old snapshots are not deleted and new snapshot is tried, it may exceed the defined snapshot storage area causing the VSS error that you observed. The snapshot size in some cases itself bigger than shadowstorage limit resulting in the error.

Please run following command as Administrator to check the shadow storage details

vssadmin list shadowstorage

You can also resize the shadowstorage using

vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage command.

Please check the shadowstorage limit for System Reserved drive as well.

Alternately, you can set the shadowstorage size from System Properties -->Advanced->System Protection

-Thanks,

Pravin

Forgot to mention, but is SSR 2013 requirment re. ShadowStorage fundementally different to Ghost 15?

Ghost 15 works perfectly well on this machine and only reason I am trying SSR is that Ghost 15i s not fully compatible with windows 8 (cannot be registered).

Thanks

Hi Robert,

Have you changed the shadowstorage of System Reserved (BCD) partition?

-Thanks,

Pravin

Have not touched BCD patition.

Thanks

Robert

Can you change the shadowstorage value of BCD partition and set its destination to C: and try backup again?

System Reserved drive now set to full SSD (223GB) on C drive - will change back to 15% tomorrow.  If overly full with existing snapshots I was under impression that any new shot would overwrite earlier info.

No change - fails with same error message.

Perhaps it might be easier to revert to Win7 & Ghost 15!

Can you try this: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&pmv=print&impressions=&viewlocale=&id=TECH200584

Have you been able to sort out the issue ?

Yes, but not with SSR 2013! 

So then mark your solution as solved ;-)

I am receiving a similar message concerning Snapshot but mine is related to Volume Shadow Copy Service. I have just recently installed Symantec System Recovery 2013, upgrading from 2010. I have not been able to back up my server since the install.Error message below:

Snapshot failure while using Volume Shadow Copy Service. Please check application event log for VSS errors. Error code: EndCreateSnapshotSer (-2147212529)

Clicking on more details gives me the following:

-Error E4F3000E: Snapshot failure while using Volume Shadow Copy Service. Please check application event log for VSS errors. Error code: EndCreateSnapshotSer (-2147212529)

(UMI:V-281-1267-14)

I am running this on a server running Windows Server 2008 R2-Standard SP1. Intel Xeon E5520@2.27GHz with 16 GB of memory.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Have you tried suggested solutions in http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?pag...

-Thanks,
Pravin

I also have this problem.  I have upgraded two servers running 2008 and 2008R2 from System Recovery 2011 to System Recovery 2013. 

Both servers are now not backing up with the same VSS error.  I have tried the suggested solutions as above but no success.  About to uninstall 2013 as it looks like a common problem.

From Symantec log

Error EC8F17B7: Cannot create recovery points for job: Drive Backup of System Reserved (*:\), (C:\), Data (D:\).
 Error E4F3000E: Snapshot failure while using Volume Shadow Copy Service. Please check application event log for VSS errors. Error code: EndCreateSnapshotSet (-2147212529). (UMI:V-281-3215-6071)

Details:
Source: Symantec System Recovery

From Windows app log

Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Error calling a routine on a Shadow Copy Provider {b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}. Routine details EndPrepareSnapshots({5122f3d1-50c2-41be-9f4d-c450d74049c0}) [hr = 0x80042302, A Volume Shadow Copy Service component encountered an unexpected error.

Check the Application event log for more information.

dnoordzy

Bit of a shame really; I have run Symantec products for several years but SSR 2013 just will not work on my current setup.  All suggested solutions have been to no avail.  One can waste only so much time.

Still needing backup functionality I have uninstalled SSR 2013 and now use a competitor product (which works just as well, if not better).

Best of luck.

I ended up going back to 2011 on that server. I have three others all running Server 2008 R2 Standard, same as my problem server, that are working fine. All checks of the VSS turn up that it is running properly so the issue has to be with SSR 2013 on that server for some reason.

Hi,

Can you please open a support case and share the logs to analyse the issue here? Please let me know the support case no to expediate the resolution.

-Thanks,

Pravin

Pravin, I have opened a new case number xxxx (edited).  

I have uninstalled 2013 on one server and reinstalled 2011 which is now working.  It is unfortunate as this is the one symantec backup software which I have never had a problem with (we also run backup exec 2012 which has constant problems and basically requires constant hand holding).  I upgraded 4 servers in total and all four have the same vss writer error which I posted above.  Although I opened a case, I have no choice at the moment but to downgrade to 2011.

Hi,

Thanks for opening case. I'll try to get its resolution as fast as I can.

-Thanks,

Pravin

I have this case in my queue and have it as a priority. I'll update this forum as we find a solution.

Some Solutions to get the error resolved as as below

1. Enable the "Shadow Copies" on the drivers you are trying to backup and run the backup , it works

2. Check if there is a Third party software like "Windows Backup" running along with SSR 2013 , which is quising the backup , change the schedule for any of the products and run the backup , it works