Windows 7 Access Server 2003 Shadow Copy?
I have a windows server 2003 domainwith a Windows 7client connected (Windows RC, 7100build,32 bit version). I cannot access Server 2003 ShadowCopy from the Windows 7 client.Under the Previous Versions Tab of a givenfile -located ona network share on the server -I get the following message: "There are no previous versionsavailable". However, I can accessamonth's worth of previousversionsforthesamefile from anyXP client. What gives? I can't figure out why I am not able to access Server 2003 Shadow Copy from Windows 7.
September 10th, 2009 12:17pm

More details:When previous versions are reporting in Windows 7 all previous versions are reportedwith the same date.When this is the case,the repeated date and time reportedfor previous versions of a fileis not the same as any dates and times for previous versions reportedontheXP client.This is wierd. It looks like Windows 7 is creating previous versions of it'sown and that's all I can access; I can't access theShadow Copy versions onthe serverfromWindows7.Any ideas?
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September 11th, 2009 12:14am

UPDATEWindows 7 is not creating previous versions of it's own for fileslocatedontheneworkshare. I thoughtWindows 7might be creating an offline localcopy of filesthen creating its ownprevious version snapshots of the filebut that's not the case.AlthoughWindows 7 is listingprevious versions of files on the network share(all with the same date and time) none of the itemslisted is different. It's all the same version of thefile, the most current version. I wanted to replace XP with Windows 7 on the network but not if I can't access previous versions created byvolume shadow copy on Server 2003. I need to know if there is a problem with thecombination ofWindows 7and Server 2003with regard to previous versions located on the server or if this is a problem on my end.This is not an isolated incident. I have found another post on SevenForums with two individualsreportingsimilar problems with Windows 7Ultimate RTMx64but no solutions yet.Here's the url address to that post: http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/21829-previous-versions-network-drives.htmlOn thisforum I founda fewposts reporting similar problems with only one solution. That solutionwas not very helpful since it seems to haveresolved itself. Below is thelist of the posts I have found on this forum reporting similar problems.http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itpronetworking/thread/767105b1-2810-4467-b865-a5dae4999b68http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itpronetworking/thread/ace257b4-dd41-4aea-8ea4-4019540fe953http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itprogeneral/thread/b094e914-4910-4176-b1f8-2c570e6d56e7Does anyone have Windows 7 working withServer 2003volume shadow copy? Can you access previous versionslocatedonServer 2003from a Windows7 client?Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
September 15th, 2009 3:05pm

Hi, I also test this on my side and this issue could not be reproduced. It just worked. To make the issue clear, please capture screenshots on the following for our further research: 1. The Previous Versions Tab on Windows Server 2003 2. The Previous Versions Tab on the Windows XP which works normally. 3. The Previous Versions Tab on Windows 7 which failed. Capture a screenshot ============== 1) Press the Print Screen key (PrtScn) on your keyboard. 2) Click the "Start" menu, type "mspaint" in the Search Bar and Press Enter. 3) In the Paint program, click the "Edit" menu, click "Paste", click the "File" menu, and click "Save". 4) The "Save As" dialogue box will appear. Type a file name in the "File name:" box, for example: "screenshot". 5) Make sure "JPEG (*.JPG;*.JPEG;*.JPE;*.JFIF)" is selected in the "Save as type" box, click Desktop on the left pane and then click "Save". Please use Windows Live SkyDrive (http://www.skydrive.live.com/) to upload the screenshots and share their URLs with us. Thanks.Nicholas Li - MSFT
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September 16th, 2009 6:42am

Hi, thanks for responding.Below you'll find the screenshots you requested for a filenamed Database. Server 2003 are the first 3 url's listed for the screenshots; Server 2003 will not show a Previous Version Tab. I have included2 screenshots of theShadow CopiesTab on Server 2003 to show how it's set up. You'll see thatshadow copies arelocated on a different volumethan the volume being backedup. The Previous Version TabsforXP and Windows 7 follow the server group in the list below.On theWindows 7 screenshot you'll see that the dates and times repeated are 9/16/09 10:16 AM, which, as of this writing, is the current version of the file. I really appreciate your help.http://cid-7bbed689277b3fac.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/W2K3^_FileProperties^_PreviousVersionsTab.jpghttp://cid-7bbed689277b3fac.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/W2K3^_VolumeProperties^_ShadowCopiesTab.jpghttp://cid-7bbed689277b3fac.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/W2K3^_VolumeProperties^_ShadowCopiesSettings.jpghttp://cid-7bbed689277b3fac.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/XP^_FileProperties^_PreviousVersionsTab.jpghttp://cid-7bbed689277b3fac.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Windows7^_FileProperties^_PreviousVersionsTab.jpg
September 16th, 2009 2:52pm

hello?
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September 18th, 2009 6:59pm

I'm getting this same issue. How do I fix this?
September 21st, 2009 11:46am

Hi, Thank you for providing the information. At this time, please check the following: 1. How you access the Windows 2003 shared files from the Windows 7 computer, via a mapped drive or just use the UNC (\\computername\folder or \\<IP Address>\folder). 2. Please create a new shadowed copy on the Windows 2003 server and check if the new item can be displayed properly in Windows 7. Thanks. Nicholas Li - MSFT
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September 23rd, 2009 4:36am

Hi Nicholas, thanks for responding. It doesn't matter whether I view Previous Versions from a mapped drive or UNC. Both yeild the same results. I followed your instructions; heres the steps I took. 1. In Windows 2003 I created a new shared folder and named it PreviousVersionsTestFolder. 2. In Windows 2003 I created a new file, named it PreviousVersionsTestFile, and saved it in the newly created folder. 3. I created a new set of shadow copies on Windows 2003. 4. I modified the newly created file on Windows 2003 and saved the changes. 5. I created another set of shadow copies on Windows 2003. 6. I modified the newly created file a second time on Windows 2003 and saved the changes. 7. I created yet another set of shadow copies on Windows 2003. 8. I modified the newly created file a third time on Windows 2003 and saved the changes. Heres the results: Previous Versions for the new file was as it should be in Windows 2003. For screenshot see the following url. http://cid-7bbed689277b3fac.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/NewFile^_W2K3^_PreviousVersionsTab.jpg Previous Versions for the new file in Windows 7 exhibited the same behavior - same date and time for each version, which is the same date and time of the last modification of the file. For screenshot see following url. http://cid-7bbed689277b3fac.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/NewFile^_Windows7^_PreviousVersionsTab.jpg I took this a step further. I attempted a restore a previous version of the newly created file as it was reported under properties in Windows 7. This resulted in a popup window with the following message. The action cant be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program Close the folder or file and try again. Yet, the file wasnt open anywhere and no other program was accessing the folder besides Explorer in Windows 7. Hope this helps.
September 25th, 2009 7:22pm

We are experiencing the same problem. When viewing the Previous Versions tab there are a correct number of entries (ie: if there are 5 copies of a file stored in the VSS on the server we see 5 entries) but each entry shows the most recent date/time the file was edited. Attempting to open any of these previous versions simply opens the most recent version. We are running Windows 7 RC 64-bit with Windows SBS 2003 Std on the backend.
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September 26th, 2009 5:34pm

We are seeing exactly this on the Windows 7 RC version x64 and the Windows 7 release version32 bit. Server is SBS2003 Std SP1.Would appreciate some help with this soon.
October 1st, 2009 9:28am

I've been noticing the same thing as well - we're running Win7 RTM x86 on a SBS2003 network. If I try to access the previous versions of a file or folder stored on the SBS server then I just get a list of folders all of the same date. I've had to go use an older machine if I need to restore a previous version. What's the deal????
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October 10th, 2009 12:19am

I am experiencing this issue also. Server = Server 2003 R2 x64 Client = Windows 7 x64 RTM
October 15th, 2009 12:11pm

I am also experiencing this exact problem. Server = SBS 2003 Service Pack 2 Client = Windows 7 x64 RTM I have multiple Win7 x64 clients and they all exhibit the same problem. Vista and XP clients are fine. The problem is definitely unique to Win7
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October 20th, 2009 4:22pm

Perfect - that fixed it.Excellent job, thanks for your help!
October 21st, 2009 4:21pm

Thank you Damianl!!! That did indeed fix the problem. Previous versions work correctly again. Woohoo!!!
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October 21st, 2009 4:38pm

I almost gave up onhearing about asolutionto this.It worked!Great news.Thank you.
October 22nd, 2009 9:18am

Thank you ejgjunk for posting the problem initially. You were the catalyst to getting this issue resolved.
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October 22nd, 2009 11:40am

Perfect!fixed it.Excellent job, thanks a lot
November 2nd, 2009 9:55am

Hello Damianl, perfect! it solved the problem.
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November 27th, 2009 4:48am

Great! Thanks! I remember seeing this with 7 beta and could not find a resolution. For more information - what is the difference in 2003 shadown copies and 2008 Previous versions?
January 19th, 2010 11:56am

This is all very nice for those running an SBS file server. How about those of us that use non-M$ servers like Netapp SANs. My Netapp doesn't have a registry to modify!! I find it hard to believe that Windows 7 has been out so long, yet M$ still haven't provided a fix for this and to be honest don't even seem to know there is a problem with it!! We were going to roll out Windows 7, but have cancelled it due to this bug. I know this is a bit of a rant but all the technical stuff has been covered in this and other posts. MICROSOFT --> YOU HAVE BROKEN SOMETHING AND IT NEEDS FIXING. Thanks
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September 7th, 2010 12:10pm

woter324, we also have a NetApp SAN and are experiencing this same thing with Windows 7 machines trying to access previous versions on a CIFS share. did you ever come to a resolution for this in your environment?
November 23rd, 2010 12:28pm

Thank you! Fixed my 2003 Standard server as well. Thank goodness!!
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December 9th, 2010 7:04pm

I have shadow copy running on 2 Windows Storage Server 2003. Snapshot to different volume. I applied the registry fix detailed within this article. Windows 7 clients still receive 'There are no previous versions available'. Very frustrating. I suppose it is all part of the Microsoft road map, progress at any cost.......:( Regards, Phil.IT Manager
March 18th, 2011 7:39am

I have shadow copy running on 2 Windows Storage Server 2003. Snapshot to different volume. I applied the registry fix detailed within this article. Windows 7 clients still receive 'There are no previous versions available'. Very frustrating. I suppose it is all part of the Microsoft road map, progress at any cost.......:( Regards, Phil. IT Manager File Server: Windows Server 2003 SP1 Enterprise Clients: Windows 7 x64 SP1 I looked at the solution above and on my server that key doesn't exist. Every Win7 client see's "There are no previous versions available" Windows XP computers see versions over a month old. Any other ideas?
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July 11th, 2011 10:25am

Some serious forum necromancy about to happen here. I ran into this issue and the fix worked perfectly. Thanks, Damian!
August 20th, 2012 1:59pm

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