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Are there any good alternatives to Shadow Copies?

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Tuesday, April 30, 2019 11:30 PM

My clients love it when I enable shadow copies on their server and they can just click on a file and go to a previous version without me having to do a restore.   I've no idea why Windows 10 (1803) doesn't have this feature.   Sure you can enable protection but if you go to a file it shows zero previous version even if you just create a restore point, change the file, create another restore point and go to previous versions (empty).   This is a known issue and you can try shadow copy explorer however that doesn't seem to always restore files correctly - often corrupt.

I realize a shadow copy is not an alternative to a backup but it should be as easy as right click a file - previous version - restore.   MS has had this feature in Windows server for ages and it isn't a working option in Windows 10.   MS keeps focusing on emojis and paint for windows 10 but I see zero progress on the core functionality of this OS.

All replies (9)

Friday, May 3, 2019 5:43 PM ✅Answered

when you enable file history, you get previous versions (at least it works on my system).
file history was introduced in Windows 8.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 5:50 AM

Hi，

Thanks for posting in our forum!

If you want to customize a volume shadow copy in Windows 10, you can use Task Scheduler. It’s more accurate. You can select a specific time to create a shadow copy.

  • Step 1. Open Task Scheduler. You can click Start, type task scheduler and select it from the list.
  • Step 2. Click Create Task and specify a name for the task (eg: ShadowCopy).
  • Step 3. Create a new trigger. You can click the Trigger tab and New option in this interface, then select settings.
  • Step 4. Enable shadow copy. You can click the Actions tab and New option, type vmic under the Program or script option, input shadowcopycall create Volume=C:\ at the right side of the Add argument option.

When you run program items using VSS technology, you may receive volume shadow copy error in Windows 10.

In this case, you should go to Services and check if the Volume Shadow Copy service is started at first time. Once it stops, the programs items using VSS technology will not work.

In addition, from my personal point of view, We can also use some third-party backup tools to replace VSS functionality. For more information, you can see it:

https://www.backup-utility.com/windows-10/volume-shadow-copy-windows-10.html

Please Note: Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Hope this information can help you, if you have any question, please feel free to let me know.

Best Regards,

Daniel

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Wednesday, May 1, 2019 9:04 PM

Thanks - my goal is to be able to right click on a word or excel document, go to previous version and restore that file in windows 10.   Do you get this when you do what you recommended - I don't.

Thursday, May 2, 2019 1:45 AM

Hi,

Sorry for misunderstand.

Do you mean that when you right-click on a file, you don't have the option of the previous version?

If so, you can run “sfc/scannow” to check your system file.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

if I misunderstand once again, please let me know.

Best Regards,

Daniel

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Friday, May 3, 2019 5:18 PM

That is correct.  They took that capability away in Windows 10 - this is a known issue.   If you are running WIndows 10 home or pro, go ahead and right click on a file and go to previous versions - you'll find it is blank.   Works fine on server - not on windows 10.  I think it might have been removed even in Windows 8.1 - I can't recall.   You can set up protection on windows 10.   You can create a restore point.   What you can't do is restor individual files by right click, previous version...

Saturday, May 4, 2019 3:14 PM

when you enable file history, you get previous versions (at least it works on my system).
file history was introduced in Windows 8.

Thanks - I turned on file history,

I make a restore point

I edited a file

I saved it

I right clicked and went to previous version and it does not show a previous version.  VSS is running in services

Saturday, May 4, 2019 4:11 PM

What does restore point have to do with file history?

Saturday, May 4, 2019 5:09 PM

Thanks - I hadn't waited long enough for it to make a file history copy.

Saturday, May 4, 2019 11:48 PM

Windows may delete files and they may not be available when you need them.

There are free third party software that can make backup images.