This article provides information about the error message VSS_E_WRITER_INFRASTRUCTURE error (0x80042318) on volume that may appear in the log files when copying open / locked files. The error indicates a problem communicating with VSS writers on your system.

Solution


1. Restart the following services: COM+ Event System, COM+ System Application, Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider, Volume Shadow Copy

2. Change the startup type of the Volume Shadow copy service to 'Automatic' (right click on Volume Shadow Copy > Properties > set the 'Start type' to 'Automatic') and reboot the computer.

3. Open a command prompt and run the following commands:

cd /d %windir%\system32
net stop vss
net stop swprv
regsvr32 ole32.dll
regsvr32 oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 /i eventcls.dll
regsvr32 vss_ps.dll
vssvc /register
regsvr32 /i swprv.dll
regsvr32 es.dll
regsvr32 stdprov.dll
regsvr32 vssui.dll
regsvr32 msxml.dll
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
regsvr32 msxml4.dll
net start swprv
net start vss

4. Reboot the computer

5. Test the backup