Problem: The following occurs when running the VSSadmin list writers command: 

1. Running vssadmin list writers command and SqlServerWriter is missing.
2. There is no error message in Application event logs
3. SQLserver VSS writer service is running

Cause: SQLServerWriter is missing from the target device.

Solution: Follow the steps below to resolve the issue:

1. First, the user will need to check if there are any spaces in the databases names. please run the query:select '#' + name +'#'  from sys.databases

   If the user notices any space in database names e.g. #test  # , the user will need to make sure we remove the space from the database name. Please follow this article to rename the database name : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345378.aspx. Once the space in the database name has been removed, then issue vssadmin list writers command and check if the SQLwriter is there or not.

2. If still SQLwriter is not there then the user will need to check the service logon. This is typically  an NT authority/system or any user which has been mentioned as service logon and is added in SQL server as sysadmin privileges. If the logon is a sysadmin, then the user will need to change user accounts or make the current user account a sysadmin. Finally, run the VSSadmin list writers command once more.