Backup failure, VSS WMI Writer unregistered

Written By Tami Sutcliffe (Super Administrator)

Updated at August 3rd, 2021

Purpose

Re-register WMI Writer in VSS. 

Applies To                                                                           

Exchange

SQL

Windows Server

Symptoms / Description

Backup jobs fail due to the VSS WMI Writer being in a failed state.  Run "vssadmin info" at the command prompt on the client and look for the following State and Last Error on the WMI Writer.  The VSS WMI Writer may have become unregistered.

 

Writer name: 'WMI Writer'
...

State: [9] Failed
Last error: Retryable error

 

Resolution

To register the VSS WMI Writer:

  1. Open an commandline console
  2. cd %windir%\system32\wbem
  3. for /f %s in ('dir /b *.dll') do regsvr32 /s %s
  4. wmiprvse /regserver
  5. winmgmt /regserver
  6. net stop replibit
  7. net start replibit
  8. Check the backups