A P2V conversion fails at 1% on Windows Server 2003

 

VMware Converter fails at 1% on Windows Server 2003 with the error code 2147754774

Symptoms

• A P2V conversion fails at 1% on Windows Server 2003
• You see these error:
  
  • VSS error 'FAILED: Unable to create a VSS snapshot of the source volume(s). Error code:2147754774 (0x80042316)
  • Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Error calling a routine on the Shadow Copy Provider {24602736-bed9-4619-91b0-243447c6409c}. Routine returned E_INVALIDARG. Routine details DeleteSnapshots ({addec3ed-3a00-4cdc-9afe-0dc3c2dd23d6}, 2, 1, [0],[{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}]) failed.
    
• The Converter-server.log contains entries similar to:
  
  [2011-02-25 14:36:51.359 02624 error 'App'] [task,344] [LRO] Unexpected Exception: converter.fault.VSSSnapshotFault
  [2011-02-25 14:36:51.360 02624 info 'App'] [task,373] [task-7] -- ERROR -- Convert: converter.fault.VSSSnapshotFault
  (converter.fault.VSSSnapshotFault) {
     dynamicType = <unset>,
     faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null,
     errCode = "2147754774 (0x80042316)",
     msg = "", 

Resolution

This issue occurs if Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) has problems performing a snapshot of disks, which can occur if multiple providers are associated with the operating system.

 

To check if there are multiple providers and delete the second provider:

1. Click Start > Run, type cmd, and press Enter.
2. Run the command:
   
   vssadmin list writers
   
   This command should not return errors.
   
   
3. Check the providers associated with the operating system with the command:
   
   vssadmin list providers
   
   
4. If the command returns more than one provider, remove the key of the second provider from the Windows registry: 
   
   Note: Ensure to take a backup of the Windows Registry before proceeding.
    
   1. Click Start > Run, type regedit, and press Enter.
   2. Browse the registry toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VSS\Providers.
   3. Back up the registry location. Right-click on the key and choose Export.
   4. Remove the key for the second provider. It appears similar toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VSS\Providers\<GUID>.
      
      Note: Keep the Microsoft provider key. It appears similar toHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VSS\Providers\{b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}.
      
      
   5. Reboot the physical host.