VDI error 1000 caused by improperly installed VDI interface

Category: Troubleshooting & error messages
Date: 13 Jul 2009
Product: SQL Backup
Versions: Any
Platforms: 64-bit Editions of Microsoft Windows

When backing up or restoring a database on SQL Server, the operation may fail. Upon examining the backup log created by SQL Backup, the following is shown:
VDI Error 1000: Failed to recognize the SQL Server instance name

This may be caused by an inconsistent installation of sqlvdi.dll, the component that SQL Server provides for an interface to the server's backup capability. We recommend the following steps to troubleshoot and fix the problem:

- Using regedit.exe, locate the following value:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{40700425-0080-11d2-851f-00c04fc21759}\InproServer32
- Note the path to sqlvdi.dll.
- Using Windows Explorer, open the containing folder and right-click sqlvdi.dll, select Properties, then the version tab. Make a note of the version number.
- Next, open the 64-bit version of the registry:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{40700425-0080-11d2-851f-00c04fc21759}\InprocServer32
- Using Windows Explorer, open the containing folder and right-click sqlvdi.dll, select Properties, then the version tab. Make a note of the version number.
- If there is a difference in the version numbers between the two files, open a command prompt and change directory (cd) to the folder containing the older file. Uninstall the component by running this command: regsvr32 /u sqlvdi.dll.
- Copy the newer version of sqlvdi.dll into the directory containing the older version.
- In the command prompt once again, register the new file by running: regsvr32 sqlvdi.dll

Once the Virtual Device Interface has been registered consistently, SQL Backup should function properly.