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Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit: I always utilized the shadow copies, not only to restore the OS to a previous version: I mainly use the shadow copies to restore single files, by using the "Previous Versions" tab in the files properties panel.

Today, suddenly, as I attempted to restore a modified file (is the same if I attempt to restore a deleted file), I always get "there are no previous versions available", but I am sure that instead there are previous versions available, because, eg, if I launch the "Shadow Copy View" utility from NirSoft I can access to the previous versions and deleted files, as I am also able to manually restore them.

Furthermore, if from a command prompt I type vssadmin list shadows, I can also see the path of the shadow copies, eg \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1 and if after I type mklink /d c:\shadowcopy \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy1\ I can directly access shadow copies from Explorer file manager of Windows.

The services for shadow copies (Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider and Volume Shadow Copy) are active, and in restore settings is enabled the option "restore system settings and previous versions of files". But, however, Explorer insists to tell me that "there are no previous versions available" on my files (obviously when, eg, I modify them). What else should I check?

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  • Here we are in 2024 and on Windows 10 I have this issue BUT baffling is that it worked for yonks and as of a week now it always returns No Previous Versions Available. Multiple restore points exist a many shadow copies.
    – SKidd
    Commented Jun 23 at 18:33

1 Answer 1

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I think the main problem with Shadow copy is that based on Microsoft information it needs to be on separate volume.

If you put it on the same on partition as the partition you are creating shadow copy from, it can behave unpredictably.

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  • "I think the main problem with Shadow copy is that based on Microsoft information it needs to be on separate partition." - That isn't how Volume Shadow Copy works. It needs to be on the same volume.
    – Ramhound
    Commented 2 days ago
  • @Ramhound yes, you are right. Fixed.
    – tukan
    Commented 2 days ago
  • Your answer is clearly still factually incorrect
    – Ramhound
    Commented yesterday

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