Troubleshooting
Problem
System State backups of Windows 2016 systems can result in the the error log being filled with high numbers of ANS4251W messages.
Symptom
Entries like the following are seen in the error log file:
MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS ANS4251W System Writer file '\\?\globalroot\device\harddiskvolumeshadowcopy3\windows\servicing\version\10.0.14393.0\amd64_installed': not found.
MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS ANS4251W System Writer file '\\?\globalroot\device\harddiskvolumeshadowcopy3\windows\servicing\version\10.0.14393.0\x86_installed': not found.
Cause
A Microsoft Windows servicing stack update was applied to the system and did not remove references to files that no longer exist on the filesystem from the System Writer.
Diagnosing The Problem
1. Confirm the files / folders reported in the ANS4251W messges do not exist on the filesystem.
2. Run diskshadow /l output.txt, followed by list writers detailed at the diskshadow prompt.
3. Open the output.txt file in a text editor and search for the files reported in the ANS4251W messges.
If the files do not exist on the filesystem and they are being reported in the output.txt file, then this issue is being encountered.
Resolving The Problem
Ignore the ANS4251W messages until the underlying issue is corrected by Microsoft.
The status of underlying issue can be checked via the following Microsoft KB article:
'Third-party backup warnings after you install a servicing update in Windows Server 2016':
http://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4052556/error-the-system-writer-is-not-found-in-the-backup-windows-server-2016
Product Synonym
TSM
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Document Information
Modified date:
19 August 2022
UID
swg22010646