When should I run VSS service?

Topic

New Reply

[Susan Bradley]

I’m trying to eliminate unnecessary Windows services and would like to know if VSS (Volume ShadowCopy Service) is one of them? Essentially, what is the downside to permanently stopping the VSS service and only starting it when necessary?

Thanks in advance to all who reply.
Dan

• This topic was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by Susan Bradley.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by bromberg.

Reply | Quote

Replies

It’s used by backup software. Generally speaking I don’t turn it off ever and in fact if it is turned off (like in the case of a file server) it’s a sign that ransomware attackers are lining up trying to nail me.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

Reply | Quote

Thanks, Susan. You’re spot on since I think my Macrium Reflect clone was failing because I had it shut off (MANUAL mode). There’s probably a way I can measure my PC’s performance with it ON versus OFF – I’ll have to look into that.

Reply | Quote

As of four years ago, Black Viper suggests that Manual is adequate.
If ‘permanently stopping’ or ‘turned off’ means Disabled, then better not.
My Win 7 system presently is happy at Manual.

Reply | Quote

Paul,

Thanks for that Black Viper link. I printed their Services recommendation spreadsheet and will have to remember to turn on VSS whenever I run my Macrium Reflect clone.

Dan

Reply | Quote

You may not need explicitly to Start it. I understand that services set to Manual normally are Started by the program that needs them. Try it?

Edit: Just read your previous comment re: Manual and a failure. I haven’t tried it.
But when a Service is Manual, and the status is Not Started, it won’t have any processing impact. Possibly, in the should-not-occur situation of thrashing, the minimal storage that it is occupying may be a critical problem.

Reply | Quote

Paul,

The few times I ran a Macrium Reflect clone I always got an 0x8004230f error and was advised by MR Support to go into OTHER TASKS | FIX VSS PROBLEMS, etc…for the clone run without issues (which it did).

But then I was totally in the dark about VSS. Now that I am more familiar with it, I am hoping that starting VSS before MR will produce a clean run.

Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts.

Dan

Reply | Quote

The “default” setting for VSS is Manual (which allows a “program” to start the service as needed without user interaction.)

It’s normal for backup S/W to require VSS be started before it can make a backup, it’s not normal for a user to have to start VSS before running the backup S/W.

So, if your Macrium Reflect clone is failing with a VSS error, it’s most likely something else is interfering with VSS starting up correctly and I’d suggest Macrium’s Troubleshooting Microsoft VSS errors page for help in resolving it.

BTW, my VSS has been at the “default” Manual setting since day one and none of the various backup programs I used over the years (currently using Paragon Backup & Recovery Community Edition) has ever failed to work.

1 user thanked author for this post.

PaulK

Reply | Quote

Alejr,

The few times I ran a Macrium Reflect clone I always got an 0x8004230f error and was advised by MR Support to go into OTHER TASKS | FIX VSS PROBLEMS, etc…for the clone run without issues (which it did).

But then I was totally in the dark about VSS. Now that I am more familiar with it, I am hoping that starting VSS before MR will produce a clean run.

I’ll look into your MR VSS Troubleshooting link and thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Dan

Reply | Quote

Here’s the link for that specific error from their T/S page.

• VSS Error: 0x8004230F

It includes a link at the bottom to download Macrium’s VSS fix tool (both 32 & 64 bit) that might help.

Reply | Quote

My Volume Shadow Copy service is set to manual (always has been on every computer I’ve ever looked at in 20 years of support) and Macrium works perfectly.

VSS is also used for restore points and should not be disabled.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

windbg

Reply | Quote

Paul,

Thanks for pointing out how the restore point depends on VSS. I wasn’t aware of that.

With VSS not running, I attempted to create a restore point and sure enough, VSS was started (presumably by my restore point request) and the restore point was successfully created.

So now I’m wondering why MR can’t do the same (without causing a ‘0x8004230f’ error?)

Dan

Reply | Quote

If I’m not mistaken, I think File History also uses VSS.
And backup programs like MR use it to allow you to make a System image from within a running machine where files are open and in use.

Reply | Quote

Pretty sure you’re right about MR and wouldn’t be surprised if FILE HISTORY uses VSS as well.

Dan

Reply | Quote

Don’t mean to intrude on this thread (feel free to ket me know to start a new one), but it caught my eye as I had a VSS error on a MR backup few mos ago, and a Win vss event, didn’t know what to do thus created a fresh new full backup on same ext drive, new .xml.  Reading that it impacts restore points, I have 17 manual ones from a troubleshooting scenario, one ‘orphan’, maybe to do with that, wondering whether I can simply delete all restore points except for last without it affecting VSS or M/R? Or if orphan is to do with vss & MR. VSS is on manual.

Don’t know how to link this thread if I were to create new post. (Timely post Bromberg, thx!)

Reply | Quote

I’m not sure if your issue is the same as mine. I actually received error code ‘0x8004230f’ from MR and their support was good enough to tell me how to fix it (see previous parts of this thread for details).

You’re welcome to tag along on this thread where hopefully someone will offer you a suggestion or start your own thread.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Deo

Reply | Quote

Deo wrote:

whether I can simply delete all restore points except for last without it affecting VSS or M/R?

Restore points are really just backup files. Deleting them won’t change anything.
If you have a VSS error it may have corrupted one or more of the restore points / MR backups.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

Deo

Reply | Quote

Using Macriun 8 free, hence no access to support. Error shows up in MR log as ‘90’ for one backup set. So I just delete those backups, delete restore pts, create a brand new backup on ext drive?

Reply | Quote