Enable and Configure Shadow Copies of Shared Folders

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012

If you enable Shadow Copies of Shared Folders on a volume using the default values, a task will be scheduled to create shadow copies at 7:00 A.M.. The default storage area will be on the same volume, and its size will be 10 percent of the available space.
You can only enable Shadow Copies of Shared Folders on a per-volume basis—that is, you cannot select specific shared folders and files on a volume to be copied or not copied.

To enable and configure Shadow Copies of Shared Folders

1. Click Start , point to Administrative Tools , and then click Computer Management .
   
2. In the console tree, right-click Shared Folders , click All Tasks , and then click Configure Shadow Copies .
   
3. In Select a volume , click the volume that you want to enable Shadow Copies of Shared Folders for, and then click Enable .
   
4. You will see an alert that Windows will create a shadow copy now with the current settings and that the settings might not be appropriate for servers with high I/O loads. Click Yes if you want to continue or No if you want to select a different volume or settings.
   
5. To make changes to the default schedule and storage area, click Settings .
   

Additional references

• Best Practices for Shadow Copies of Shared Folders
  
  
• Troubleshooting Shadow Copies of Shared Folders
  
  
• Shadow Copies of Shared Folders