windows 7 backup error "shadow copy could not be created"

Anonymous

I am trying to backup my PC to a USB external mass storage drive using Windows 7 backup feature.

I am getting the following error:

"A shadow copy could not be created. Please check "VSS" and "SPP" application event logs for more information. The specified object was not found. Error code: 0x81000019

appreciate any help on this issue

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

I was able to get windows 7 backup to finally work by doing the following:

The error message which I was receiving after windows 7 backup failed was:

A shadow copy could not be created. Please check "VSS" and "SPP" application event logs for more information. The specified object was not found. Error code: 0x81000019

My hard drive has a C and D partition. I am not sure if it was step 1, 2 or 3 below or a combination of all 3 steps that fixed my problem. I would start with step 1 then try to run backup. If that does not work procede to step 2 and try running backup again. If that still does not work go to step 3. I excecuted all 3 steps prior to attemting my backup so I am not sure which one of the steps actually fixed the problem or if it was a combination of all 3 steps. All these steps together is now allowing me to backup via the windows 7 backup feature. Hopefully the solution will hold up long term.

Step 1:

I ran diskclean on the C and D drive partitions

Step 2:

Right click on computer

Properties

System Protection

Highlight D drive

Click Configure

Click delete all restore points

Step 3:

Right click on computer

Properties

System Protection

Highlight C drive

Click Configure

Click delete all restore points

0 comments

49 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-06-03T02:37:54+00:00

Great information BlueCue. But most of don't have that level of technical knowledge or resources. Do you have any advice for us mortals? When this computer crashes with no back up Microsoft has lost another home user.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2015-05-31T19:00:38+00:00
Thank you for these hints - that solved my problem with these errors reported as both 0x81000037 (Windows Backup failed while trying to read from the shadow copy on one of the volumes being backed up) and '2155348000' (Windows Backup cannot find the shadow copy of the source volume.)

->Try running the command in cmd with admin:-

vssadmin resize shadowstorage

This gave the information I needed, together with people reporting that the backup system may easily need 400MB.

Final resolution was:
1. Start a cmd with admin rights (via start menu);
2. Give the command
vssadmin list shadowstorage

This lists the places where "shadow storage" resides, and how large these places are allowed to grow to. For me, the C: drive that I was trying to backup had only 320MB available, and reports in this forum suggest 400 - 500 MB may be necessary.
1. So give the command:
vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=400MB
1. Running command
vssadmin list shadowstorage /For=C:

a few times during the actual backup shows that indeed the usage did get very close to 320MB, which probably caused the failure.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2015-05-31T18:37:55+00:00

For me, your message helped me by pointing at the role of the shadow copy service.

I needed to resort to a different solution, using vssadmin as suggested further below, by "Bulls eye".
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2013-10-28T08:01:09+00:00

it also didnt work for me... i have a 500gb seagate drive, and i have backed up my whole system for 8 times till now, and this is the 1st time i am experiencing this problem!!
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments