Microsoft has worked to allow customers running Windows 7’s predecessor to resolve issues that caused backups to fail via a fix offered for download. According to the Redmond company, users of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 can experience failures of the backing up process and the logging of Event ID 12293 on their computers. The software giant did not explain the source of the problems or offer any details beyond describing the issue itself; however, it did confirm that Service Pack 1 and SP2 releases of both Vista and Windows Server 2008 could experience backup glitches.

“You try to perform a backup on a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008. However, the backup stops immediately after it starts. Additionally, the following event is logged in the Application log: Event ID: 12293; Source: VSS; Message: Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Error calling a routine on a Shadow Copy Provider,” read the symptoms offered by Microsoft.

While an update is not available to resolve the problem, Microsoft is indeed offering end users a resource designed to prevent further failed backups. In this regard, a hotfix can be grabbed from Microsoft Support that will help customers deal with the issue at hand. As is the case with all Windows hotfixes, the company is emphasizing that the fix is designed to resolve exclusively the problem described above and that unaffected customers need not apply the resolve.

“Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only one of these products may be listed on the “Hotfix Request” page. To request the hotfix package that applies to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, just select the product that is listed on the page,” the company explained.