VSS and ViceVersa takes forever...

[perand]

New ViceVersa PRO 2.5 2500 SN219 user on a HP Windows Vista32 fully updated.

My problem running VVPRO using Source alternative "Select VSS Writer/Component..." Running with elevated rights and confirmed that Volume Shadow Copy service is started. The List Windows opens up and the first row happily suggests:
--- Building List... (it may take a few seconds)

The Output windows claims:
Gathering writer metadata...
(Waiting for the asynchronous operation to finish...)

Then nothing happens (tried a few times for half an hour). Still possible to just cancel everything and exit VVPRO. But that is not what I want.
Any suggestions or must I use my different Paragon Backup Solutions to solve my my backup needs?
_________________
Per A

[TGRMN Software]

Hello

can you please type this command on a cmd window:

vssadmin list writers

and paste the output here please.

Also, can you please paste the entire content of the ViceVersa PRO output window when the list is building: main menu -> view -> output window

thanks,
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TGRMN Software Support
http://www.tgrmn.com
http://www.compareandmerge.com

[perand]

Requested feedback below:
Text from Cmd Window (translated from Swedish because of a Swedish OS):

"
C:\vssadmin list writers
vssadmin 1.1 - Command-line tool for administration of the service Volume Shadow Copy
<C> Copyright 2001-2005 Microsoft Corp.

Waiting for answer.
This can be delayed if a Shadow Copy is being prepared.
"
My comment: Then nothing happens in the Cmd Window except the cursor is blinking and waiting for a reply still after 30 minutes.

The Output Window OF VVPRO also "freezes" after the following initial lines:
"
Welcome to ViceVersa Pro
ViceVersa PRO 2.5 Build 2500 (SN219)
Gathering writer metadata...
(Waiting for the asynchronous operation to finish...)

"
I ran the Cmd Windows directly after a cold start of Windows, no jobs involving VSS, to my knowledge, are initiated.
A few days ago I made a clone of my C drive using Paragon Drive Backup 9 Pro without problems. I know that they are using a "Hot Processing technology" using a mix of their own hotcore3.sys to intercept and control disk write activities. This technique works in parallel with MS VSS.
But that was a few days ago and no Paragon utilities have been used since then and should not be active now.
Though, hotcore3.sys driver is probably always started with my OS and sitting there and waiting for the Paragon utilities to ask it to intercept when open files are to be copied.

Maybe is hotcore3.sys interfering with VVPRO using VSS. When not VSS VVPRO is working like charm.
This is my humble guess what could be happening.
_________________
Per A

[TGRMN Software]

Something is not right with the VSS service on your Vista PC if you can't get a list of writers using the "vssadmin list writers" command. That windows command is trying to do the same thing that ViceVersa PRO does when "Gathering writer metadata..."

I would recommend to stop / restart the Volume Shadow Service, re-register the VSS dll if possible, and even uninstall any utility that you think could be causing the problem.
_________________
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TGRMN Software Support
http://www.tgrmn.com
http://www.compareandmerge.com

[perand]

A little step further...

Thanks for your info so far. Maybe I didn´t make sure to check that the VSS service was running before I posted my reply earlier. But now I manually started the sevice (the default setting; assuming VVPRO starts the service when needed).

The reply from vssadmin list providers now is (with the VSS started):
"
"Name of provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'
Type of provider: System
Provider-ID: {b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}
Version: 1.0.0.7
"
My comment: end of list, no more provider but I guess VVPRO only needs the MS VSS service to run.

Before I uninstall/reinstall my Paragon utilities, which I like to keep, to test if VVPRO "is working in VSS mode" I like to share this info with you to see if you can come up with some suggestions for corrrction of the problem.
_________________
Per A

[TGRMN Software]

Ah! Is ViceVersa PRO also working properly now?
_________________
--
TGRMN Software Support
http://www.tgrmn.com
http://www.compareandmerge.com

[perand]

Nope, I'm sorry.

VVPRO is working OK when just comparing folders. But when trying to use VSS it just doesn't finish according to my first post here.

For your information I have tested some other commands under vssadmin.
List shadows reports 6 different shadows during the last 3 days.

List volumes reports one volume each on drive c: and d: (disk 0) and g: disk 1, i.e. a total of three.

List writers "hangs" like when I first tested list providers without having VSS running. But now it is really running. But no writers in vssadmin and consequently VVPRO takes forever and does not finish in "a few seconds"

Greatful for any suggestions
_________________
Per A

[TGRMN Software]

Hi, it's not normal to have no VSS writers listed with the command vssadmin ; at least the Windows system writer should be present. There is nothing to list, so ViceVersa hangs. Maybe a Google search will help ....
_________________
--
TGRMN Software Support
http://www.tgrmn.com
http://www.compareandmerge.com