This is a known problem that happens when some Microsoft "automatic updates" 
are applied. This article has some details on how to repair the problem. You 
will need to take ownership of some files and repair ACLs.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsbackup/thread/bb760434-de80-4cb6-ae9e-bd253e4b037c

After doing this you can run "vssadmin list writers" and the System Writer 
should be included in the list.


-----Original Message-----
From: EMC NetWorker discussion [mailto:NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU] On 
Behalf Of Michael Leone
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 7:59 AM
To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Subject: [Networker] Error backing up DISASTER_RECOVERY: on Win2008 client

I am seeing this error, when backing up one of my Win2008 clients: (NW 
7.6.2)

* admnsam004:DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ 1 retry attempted
  admnsam004:DISASTER_RECOVERY:\: No full backups of this save set were 
found in the media database; performing a full backup
* admnsam004:DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ 82435:save: Ignoring global directives 
for the Disaster Recovery backup.
* admnsam004:DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ 82720:save: Disaster Recovery backup is 
enabling hard link and 8.3 shortname settings.
* admnsam004:DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ 83241:save: ERROR: No System Writer 
present for DR processing. Cannot continue.
* admnsam004:DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ 77775:save: Processing completed for 
disaster recover backup.
* admnsam004:DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ 80520:save: ASR Backup..Critical error 
creating snapshot of ASR critical volumes and cannot continue.
* admnsam004:DISASTER_RECOVERY:\ 83449:save: Error occured while saving 
critical volumes.
     * <ERROR> :  Failed with error(s)

How can there be no System Writer present for DR processing? Isn't the 
System Writer that it is trying to use a built-in writer?

The other savesets backup fine:

* admnsam004:ALL savefs admnsam004: succeeded.
  admnsam004: D:\                   level=1,       180 MB 00:01:21    134 
files
  admnsam004: C:\                   level=1,       344 MB 00:01:18    971 
files

Anyone seen anything like this? My other Win2008 clients (a couple dozen) 
do not exhibit this error).

-- 
Michael Leone
Network Administrator, ISM
Philadelphia Housing Authority
2500 Jackson St
Philadelphia, PA 19145
Tel:  215-684-4180
Cell: 215-252-0143
<mailto:michael.leone AT pha.phila DOT gov>

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