An Azure backup service that provides built-in management at scale.
During Azure Backup, Windows Server 2019 is likely hitting a Stop (blue screen) error and then restarting. This indicates a kernel-level problem that is triggered under backup load (for example, by a driver, storage issue, or third‑party security/backup filter).
To proceed, collect diagnostic data and then analyze or provide it to support:
- Confirm it is a Stop/blue screen error
In Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System, look for:-
Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-PowerEvent ID 41 (unexpected restart) - Any bug check / Stop code entries around the same time as Azure Backup.
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- Collect the memory dump from the server
If the server is an Azure VM:- Take a snapshot of the OS disk to protect data.
- Attach the OS disk to a recovery VM.
- RDP to the recovery VM and open the attached disk’s
Windowsfolder (for example,F:\Windows). - Locate
Memory.dmp. - Open an Azure support ticket and attach this dump file.
Memory.dmpis missing, enable dump logging and serial console as described below, then reproduce the crash. - Enable dump logging and serial console (Azure VM scenario)
On the recovery VM, after attaching the problematic OS disk:- Open an elevated Command Prompt.
- Enable the serial console in the BCD store on the attached disk:
bcdedit /store <volume-letter-containing-the-bcd-folder>:\boot\bcd /ems {<boot-loader-identifier>} ON bcdedit /store <volume-letter-containing-the-bcd-folder>:\boot\bcd /emssettings EMSPORT:1 EMSBAUDRATE:115200 - Ensure free space on the OS disk is larger than the server’s RAM. If not, configure the dump to be written to a data disk with enough space by replacing
%SystemRoot%with that drive letter in the registry configuration. - Load the SYSTEM hive from the broken OS disk using
reg load, configure dump settings onControlSet001/ControlSet002, thenreg unload. - Detach the OS disk from the recovery VM, reattach it to the original VM, and start it to reproduce the blue screen so a new dump is generated.
- After the next crash, repeat step 2 to retrieve the new
Memory.dmpand submit it to support.
- General Stop error guidance
While waiting on dump analysis, review common causes:- Incompatible or outdated storage, filter, or backup-related drivers.
- Outdated firmware/BIOS or storage controller firmware.
- Third‑party security/AV or backup agents conflicting with Azure Backup’s VSS operations.
- Disk or memory issues.
- If the server is stuck in a blue‑screen boot loop (Azure VM)
Follow the same OS‑disk‑to‑recovery‑VM process used for:- Generic blue screen on Azure VM boot.
- "CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED" on Azure VM boot.
Once a dump is available, Microsoft Support can identify the exact driver or component causing the crash during Azure Backup and recommend a targeted fix (driver update/removal, configuration change, or OS update).
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