How to regain access to previous version of files in WHS shares
User Kariya21 has found a long time ago that previous versions of files in shares are in some instances no longer accessible and posted a bug report on WHS Connect Feedback site. Ken Warren describes this problem in detail in the FAQ section.
The three of us now have found a relatively simple way to regain access to previous versions that appear to be no longer accessible.
PLEASE NOTE:
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We have tested this method on various installs (RTM, PP1, OEM or PP1 in virtual machine) and we think there are no major pitfalls. However, this method is UNSUPPORTED and should as such be considered a hack. If you make any errors you might break your WHS install.
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The method does NOT require shares to be duplicated, and should work for any configuration with more then one disk added to the storage pool.
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If your WHS has only one disk there is NO need to use this method.
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Use the method only if you have no access to previous version of your shares (If you try to open or copy a file from a specific previous version you get an error "Invalid File Handle" Or "File or Folder not Accessible" or something similar)
Now here's the method:
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Log on to your WHS using Remote Desktop (RDP)
- Open Explorer Window, browse to C:\fs\
- You will find your secondary drives listed there as drive letters or numbers.
- For each of the secondary drives (C:\fs\X, where X is drive letter or number) do:
- Browse to C:\fs\X\DE\shares\someshare ("someshare" = Software, or Public, or ….)
- Share a single folder within this share (right click, sharing and security). On each disk please share another folder!
- Assign a logical name to each of the shares, for example name the share for the folder shared in C:\fs\X\someshare “Fix_VSS_X”. This will help you to identify them in the next step.
- Acces the WHS shares from the shortcut on the WHS desktop or from windows explorer on a client (\\server\shares for WHS RTM default install, \\hpserver\shares for HP Mediasmart default install)
- Right click each of the newly made shares and select properties.
- Select the previous versions tab.
- Now you should have full access to all existing previous versions for all WHS shares
- Advice: Please do no use the restore function, instead use the copy or view function to copy or view the previous version you want, then store in another location.
- Disable the shares you created in 4b after you obtained the files you need.
NOTE: On HP Mediasmart Server previous version are disabled by default. To enable this functionality you will need to edit the registry: PLEASE NOTE this "hack" is also unsupported, and you risk breaking your WHS install when make any error!!
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Log on to your WHS using Remote Desktop (RDP)
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Do Start, Run, type regedit and Hit Enter
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Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Home Server\Storage Manager\Volumes\
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Select the Volume which represents the D partition (select volume key, value for mountpoint should be D)
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Edit or create the REG_DWORD key SnapPeriod. Decimal value for this key should be 43200000 (number of milliseconds between snaphots, you can also set this value to 21600000).
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Reboot to make effective. Check after 24h if snapshots are created (RDP into WHS, in explorer window right click drive letter, select shadow copies)
IF YOU WANT NORMAL ACCESS TO PREVIOUS VERSIONS RESTORED IN A FUTURE VERSION OF WHS PLEASE VOTE OVERHERE (Click on the stars top left in the post, select fifth star if you find this ver important)
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All Replies
- I would like to emphasize the points brubber makes about being careful here. If we don't understand WHS storage as well as we believe, then this "how to" has a possibility of hosing up your server pretty severely. Permanent data loss severely.
In particular, Microsoft has warned us that using the Previous Versions restore functionality may not work as intended, because of the number of moving pieces in Windows Home Server. And it is very important not to leave the shares you create in place after you're done, as doing so may have unexpected consequences.
Please be careful if you need to use this technique. - Additional comment:
I would recommend, if trying this method, always to share the DE\shares folder on each disk. This simplifies the access to all subsequent folders.
Also attach a $ sign to each of the share names, i.e.
sharesA$ for the first disk in fs, sharesB$ for the second and so on (instead of A you could also use the volume mountpoint letter in c:\fs to identify the disk in the share name).
So these shares are not listed in the shortcut Shared folders on server, and nobody without knowledge of their existence can access them. The benefit is, that you can leave them in place instead of having to remove them after recovery of the wanted files.
If you need access to previous versions, click Start\Run on a client PC (or on the server desktop), enter a command like \\server\shareA$ (and other of these hidden share names created, adjust server name and share names to meet your configuration) and navigate down until you see the folder which contained the file you wish to recover from previous versions.
Right click the file, select Properties and use the Previous Versions tab, as stated in the original guide.
Not each single of these shared folders will contain the previous versions you need, since these are only on the disks, which stored the shared folders originally or as duplicate.
Best greetings from Germany
Olaf - Olaf Engelke said:
Additional comment:
I would recommend, if trying this method, always to share the DE\shares folder on each disk. This simplifies the access to all subsequent folders.
Also attach a $ sign to each of the share names, i.e.
sharesA$ for the first disk in fs, sharesB$ for the second and so on (instead of A you could also use the volume mountpoint letter in c:\fs to identify the disk in the share name).
So these shares are not listed in the shortcut Shared folders on server, and nobody without knowledge of their existence can access them. The benefit is, that you can leave them in place instead of having to remove them after recovery of the wanted files.
If you need access to previous versions, click Start\Run on a client PC (or on the server desktop), enter a command like \\server\shareA$ (and other of these hidden share names created, adjust server name and share names to meet your configuration) and navigate down until you see the folder which contained the file you wish to recover from previous versions.
Right click the file, select Properties and use the Previous Versions tab, as stated in the original guide.
Not each single of these shared folders will contain the previous versions you need, since these are only on the disks, which stored the shared folders originally or as duplicate.
Best greetings from Germany
Olaf
Olaf,
While I understand the logic in what you are saying, MS has already told us very specifically do not leave the shares at all. Plus, once you "activate" (mount) each drive using brubber's method (then unshare each one when complete), you now have the ability to use Shadow Copies just like any other Server 2003 machine (instead of guessing which drive had the appropriate file with your method).
I use a batch file that I created which semi-automates the process (the only manual part is right click on each share, select Properties, then select Cancel). I've been using it for 3 months and it continues to work every time after a reboot. :) - Because of the issues around getting Previous Versions to work even as well (or poorly) as it presently does, and because I don't see any real hope that Microsoft will devote the resources required to change VSS functionality in Windows Server 2003 to fully support Drive Extender (c'mon, who thinks the storage team is going to go back and revisit VSS in 2003? :) ), I have to admit that I think the only reasonable thing to tell people is to not rely on Previous Versions functionality at all.
I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :) - Well, even though I don't like your conclusion, but I have to be realistic and agree with you. I only hope, that Microsoft DOES indeed have these things on the "must-to-do" list. Otherwise, I am going to be VERY disappointed. :) .
Also, I believe that "previous version" functionality can be simulated by a server backup functionality. I one adds one extra HD to the server and copies the shares, a previous will be preserved. The question remains, can one automate the server backup to the "out-of-storage-pool" disk?- Edited byBoggy Monday, October 27, 2008 5:04 AM
- Hello,
you can create a Scheduled task, which does that job ny executing a batch file in the wanted time frame.
This batch could contain commands like
robocopy /mir \\server\fotos e:\backup\fotos
for each share.
Robocopy is part of the Windows Server 2003 resource kit, which can be downloaded from microsoft.com.
Best greetings from Germany
Olaf I tried these steps and I don't think it's working for me - what am I doing wrong?
I have 4 drives
I go to c:\fs\X
Then I create a new folder within music: C:\fs\DE\shares\Music\new folder <-- the I right click and network shareit.
I do this for all 4 drives, then when I return to WHS desktop, I see the new shares however the is no previous tab for any of the new shares?
what am I doing wrong?- Do you have an HP MediaSmart Server? What client OS are you using?
I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :) - Not an Media smart server - I built it myself. WHS is OEM and has PP3 installed... Client is Win7 7600.
Not an Media smart server - I built it myself. WHS is OEM and has PP3 installed... Client is Win7 7600.
(Haven't seen this thread in a while. By the way, for those that are keeping score, I've been doing this for a full year now and it's still working. :) )
What version of 7? (And by the way, it's probably not a good idea to be announcing you have the RTM version of the product when it's not officially available anywhere yet.)- Ultimate
- I would really like to get back files I accidently errased...what an I doing wrong?
Not an Media smart server - I built it myself. WHS is OEM and has PP3 installed... Client is Win7 7600.
Hmm. Do you see a "previous versions" tab for pre-existing shares? For files/folders within those shares? And please note that you should be trying to access previous versions of files/folders from a client PC, not from the server...
I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)- I do I see previous versions for existing tabs. I think previous version tab was on the client for the new shares but it was blank... not sure, does that make sense?
- Okay, then you haven't done anything wrong. If a share has never had anything in it (i.e. it's empty now, and has always been) you won't see anything for previous versions. And if there are no snapshots of a particular share (as there will not be just after it's created) you won't see the tab at all.Now you need to go find the files you want to restore...
I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :) - I'm trying to recover my music folder... I accidently erased the music files in it...however on the client when I right click on the shared music folder in network I can see the files in previous version, when I try to copy the files it says: Device not connected, is there any way around this?
I'm trying to recover my music folder... I accidently erased the music files in it...however on the client when I right click on the shared music folder in network I can see the files in previous version, when I try to copy the files it says: Device not connected, is there any way around this?
Umm, that was the point of brubber's first post in this thread....- I know... but I'm doing something wrong because it's not working for me.
But I decided last night to format and reinstall WHS...as I was having too many problems and PP3 was not working properly. now everything is running super good and PP3 is working as well, so all is good. I will just re-rip all my music as I own all of it on CDs... I don't download music.
