How to Exclude Files and Folders from Volume Shadow Copy Backups

Volume Shadow Copy is a built-in feature in Windows operating systems that allows you to create snapshots or copies of files and folders at a specific point in time. These snapshots are useful for restoring previous versions of files or recovering data in case of accidental deletion or system failure. However, there may be instances when you want to exclude certain files or folders from being included in Volume Shadow Copy backups. In this article, we will guide you on how to exclude files and folders from Volume Shadow Copy backups.

Method 1: Using the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) Properties

The Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) Properties dialog allows you to manage the settings for Volume Shadow Copy backups. Here's how you can exclude files and folders using this method:

1. Open the "Computer" or "This PC" window by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
2. Right-click on the drive or partition where you want to exclude files and folders from Volume Shadow Copy backups and select "Properties".
3. In the Properties dialog, click on the "Shadow Copies" tab.
4. Select the drive or partition from the list and click on the "Settings" button.
5. In the Settings dialog, click on the "Exclude" button.
6. Click on the "Add" button and browse to the location of the file or folder you want to exclude.
7. Once you have selected the file or folder, click on the "OK" button to add it to the exclusion list.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for any additional files or folders you want to exclude.
9. Click on the "OK" button in the Settings dialog to save the changes.
10. Click on the "OK" button in the Properties dialog to close it.

By following these steps, you have successfully excluded files and folders from Volume Shadow Copy backups using the VSS Properties dialog.

Method 2: Using the Command Prompt

If you prefer using the Command Prompt to exclude files and folders from Volume Shadow Copy backups, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard, typing "cmd", and pressing Enter.
2. Type the following command to navigate to the drive or partition where you want to exclude files and folders:
cd /d D:

Replace "D:" with the appropriate drive letter.

3. Next, type the following command to exclude a file or folder:
vssadmin add shadowstorage /for=D: /exclude:path_to_file_or_folder

Replace "path_to_file_or_folder" with the actual path to the file or folder you want to exclude.

4. Repeat step 4 for any additional files or folders you want to exclude.

Using the Command Prompt, you can easily exclude files and folders from Volume Shadow Copy backups.

Conclusion

Volume Shadow Copy backups are a useful feature for protecting your files and folders. However, there may be instances when you want to exclude certain files or folders from being included in these backups. By following the methods outlined in this article, you can easily exclude files and folders from Volume Shadow Copy backups using either the VSS Properties dialog or the Command Prompt. This allows you to have more control over the files and folders that are included in your backups and ensures that only the necessary data is stored.

References

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