This article applies to Windows XP, 7 and Server 2003. It also works in Server 2008 R2 SP1 when trying to uses Windows Backup with Exchange 2010.
Having trouble running Windows Backup on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 with Exchange 2010 Installed? Do you keep getting errors with Backup Failed? See the following URL and the following instructions.
Open a command prompt selecting “Run As Administrator”
Run the command line command:
vss list writers
Write down each writer service that shows an error. Then, match each writer with an error to each Service Name shown in the table at the above URL.
Then, open Administrative Tools, Services, and find each service that you have in your error list, and restart each service that shows an error after you ran the command vss list writers.
Re-run the command vss list writers. Repeat the service restart of each writer with an error.
Reboot if you can’t get rid of all errors.
Run the command vss list writers.
If no error, run Windows Backup.