VMware converter error: Unable to create a VSS snapshot of the source volume

Issue

VMware P2V conversion of Windows 2003 server fails with the below error :

FAILED : Unable to create a VSS snapshot of the source volume(s). Error code:
2147754774 (0x80042316)

Cause

This is a known issue with Microsoft and occurs when there is an issue with Windows Volume Shadow Copy  Service (VSS).

Resolution


Re-register Windows Volume Shadow Copy  Service (VSS) to resolve this issue.

Steps to re-register VSS (From Microsoft article):

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.

2. Type the following commands at a command prompt. Press ENTER after you type each command.

cd /d %windir%\system32
Net stop vss
Net stop swprv
regsvr32 ole32.dll
regsvr32 oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 vss_ps.dll
vssvc /register
regsvr32 /i swprv.dll
regsvr32 /i eventcls.dll
regsvr32 es.dll
regsvr32 stdprov.dll
regsvr32 vssui.dll
regsvr32 msxml.dll
regsvr32 msxml3.dll
regsvr32 msxml4.dll

Note The last command may not run successfully.

3. Rerun the converter.

Note : This article is not for use with Windows Vista, with Windows Server 2008, or with later operating systems. Starting with Windows Vista and with Windows Server 2008, Windows component installation is manifest based. If you try to manually register specific components, such as those that are described in this "Resolution" section, in the operating systems that are mentioned in this note, unexpected results may occur that may require reinstalling Windows to resolve.