Microsoft KB Archive/884055

= Your system stops responding when you continuously create and then delete Volume Shadow Copy Service snapshots in Windows Server 2003 =

Article ID: 884055

Article Last Modified on 7/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)

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SYMPTOMS
Assume the following scenario:
 * 1) You create a Volume Shadow Copy Service snapshot.
 * 2) You copy the snapshot to a storage device.
 * 3) You delete the original snapshot.
 * 4) You immediately repeat this process with a new snapshot in a lengthy series of snapshots.

After approximately 30 minutes of repeating this process, your Microsoft Windows Server 2003-based computer stops responding (hangs).



CAUSE
This issue occurs because of a problem in the Volsnap.sys driver file that implements the process for creating and for deleting snapshots in the Volume Shadow Copy Service. In this scenario, the shadow copy storage area grows every time that you create and then delete a Volume Shadow Copy Service snapshot.



Service pack information
To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

889100 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003

Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement
You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003 64-bit version
Date        Time   Version            Size    File name     Platform -- 21-Sep-2004 12:24  5.2.3790.212      706,048  Swprv.dll        IA-64 21-Sep-2004 11:51  5.2.3790.215      348,672  Volsnap.sys 21-Sep-2004 12:24  5.2.3790.212    1,351,168  Vssapi.dll       IA-64 18-Sep-2004 22:45  5.2.3790.212    1,793,536  Vssvc.exe        IA-64 21-Sep-2004 12:24  5.2.3790.212       28,160  Vss_ps.dll       IA-64 18-Sep-2004 21:13  5.2.3790.212       58,880  Ws03res.dll      IA-64 21-Sep-2004 12:22  5.2.3790.212      544,768  Wvssapi.dll      x86 21-Sep-2004 12:22  5.2.3790.212       18,432  Wvss_ps.dll      x86 18-Sep-2004 23:11  5.2.3790.212       59,392  Wws03res.dll     x86

Windows Server 2003 32-bit version
Date        Time   Version            Size    File name -- 22-Sep-2004 00:52  5.2.3790.212      273,920  Swprv.dll 22-Sep-2004 00:25  5.2.3790.215      116,736  Volsnap.sys 22-Sep-2004 00:52  5.2.3790.212      544,768  Vssapi.dll 19-Sep-2004 10:52  5.2.3790.212      663,552  Vssvc.exe 22-Sep-2004 00:52  5.2.3790.212       18,432  Vss_ps.dll 19-Sep-2004 11:41  5.2.3790.212       59,392  Ws03res.dll



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbbug kbfix kbwinserv2003presp1fix KB884055

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