How to regain access to previous version of files in WHS shares
General discussion
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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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