Changing the Shadow Copy Location Setting for a Specific Volume (4036973)

Changing the Shadow Copy Location Setting for a Specific Volume

Backups are failing with VSS error in Rapid Recovery, VSS or Volsnap errors relating to shadow copies in the agent windows event viewer. The error message detail that a "user imposed limit" is enforced or the shadow copy set could not grow in time.

Look at the Windows System Logs, if you see this error then use the resolution below.

The shadow copies of volume F: were aborted because the shadow copy storage could not grow, due to a user imposed limit.

Log Name: System
Source: volsnap
Event ID: 36
Description: The shadow copies of volume C: were aborted because the shadow copy storage could not grow due to a user imposed limit.

Rapid Recovery is calling on Windows VSS subsystem to take a snapshot and a few things can happen:

1. The shadow copy is not cooperating with previous shadow copies causing the current shadow copy to fail.
2. The shadow copy storage area has a limit set and could not grow in time to complete the snapshot and transfer.

For Windows Server OS, this can be taken cared of through File Explorer properties for a specific volume.

1. On the Agent system and open My Computer
2. Right-click on the drive that is failing and choose “Configure Shadow Copies”
3. On the Shadow Copies dialogue box, highlight the failing drive and click the “Settings” button
4. Choose the “No limit” radio button
5. Click OK to save the setting.
6. Click OK again to close the Shadow Copies dialogue box
7. Restart the Rapid Recovery Agent Service
8. Restart Shadow Copy Services

If your OS doesn't have a shadow copy option, apply the steps below:

1. Open CMD as administrator
2. Type Vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=C: /on=c: /maxsize=unbounded
3. Repeat this step 2 for each volume you need to resize.