BA964: VSS timeout set to default - too low¶
| Error code | Product | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| BA964 | BackupAssist | For BackupAssist 15.0.0 or later. |
Description¶
The VSS timeout is the time Windows allows for a Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) snapshot to complete before it gives up. BackupAssist warns when this timeout may be too short for the system - either because it is still at the default value (BA964) or because it has been set to a low value (BA965). A timeout that is too short can cause VSS snapshots to fail on busy servers, or on systems with many VSS writers or large volumes. Increasing it gives the snapshot more time to finish.
Resolution¶
Increase the VSS timeout from the BackupAssist console:
- Open BackupAssist.
- Go to Settings > Windows Settings.
- Find the VSS Timeout setting and increase it - raise it in steps and re-test until VSS snapshots complete reliably.
- Save the settings and re-run the backup.
If VSS snapshots still fail after increasing the timeout, or you need help choosing a value, please contact support - BackupAssist Support page.
| Last updated | Created | Further assistance |
|---|---|---|
| 15th Sep 2026 | 6th Nov 2025 | BackupAssist Support page |