[AccessD] Microsoft Volume Copy Service

[Rocky Smolin]

I found that for my purposes running a google drive that syncs
automatically with the designated folders. When I finish working on a
database or a document, in addition to GD uploading the updated file for
me, I drag and drop it to an EHD.

But all that stuff is increasingly in the rear view mirror. 😀

r

On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 12:03 PM James Button via AccessD <
accessd at databaseadvisors.com> wrote:

> AFAIK -
>
> I suspect the shadow copy is the OS having been set to take (internally
> set) copies of the files, or parts of the partitions that were in the base
> backup set you took, and have since changed ( maybe by different hash
> value, or maybe by reference to a list of what was in the full backup (
> plus any incremental backup sets you have created since.
>
> When you next run a full backup  the shadow copy may (should) be
> forgotten, wit any space returned to unallocated.
> When you run an incremental backup, the incremental set would be of the
> previously noted changed files (or blocks).
> So there may not be much storage space used for those shadow copy sets -
> As they would basically be the current contents of the files on, or blocks
> of the storage.
> And when put onto the incremental set - they are the active saved set, and
> no longer need to be isolated as a "Shadow" set.
>
> However - in some setups the "Shadow set"  could be temporarily maintained
> until a file that was being updated is closed, and - if set to be verified
> -  either by the App and/or OS setting, or is on a partition set to be
> verified.
> Note - setting verify means that every write is followed by a read - so
> doubling the data transfer to the device - see Seagate drive warrantee
> terms on maximum throughput)
> And the writing App will have to wait foe every write to be read  - not
> just to the drive cache, but actually written to the ( rotating) surface,
> and then for that bit of the surface to come round to be read -
>
> As in 7200rpm = 120 rps =  more than 8½ milliseconds wait in every write
> action
>
> But - I digress -
>  So the Shadow copy - that will no longer need to be identifying the
> changed parts of the storage when you perform the incremental backup, as
> there won't be any, but there will still need to be the index of what needs
> to be in the next incremental set - so basically a space-map type setup for
> the storage area being backed-up.
>  -
> And that process probably won't be active if you do not have any backup
> "jobs" setup that include incremental sets.
>
>
> Also - for checking and managing storage I use Treesize Free - even lets
> you see what is actually in the Recycle bin - some of which the OS doesn't
> let you see or manage
> And Resource monitor
> ( an option on the task manager performance tab)
> or shortcut to "%windir%\system32\perfmon.exe /res"
> to see what parts of the storage are being accessed,
> and even for SSD's - hammered to death!
>
> Also re the high usage -
> Consider that windoze regards the updating of the MFT as a do that later
> task -
> Relying on the filesystem action log
> So doing a bulk change to the MFT entries
> May delay the actual shutdown of the system, including the releasing of
> locks or "external" storage devices
> Note the still active throb from a 5TB external drive for many minutes
> after explorer indicates the move has been done, if you have deleted loads
> of files, or "moved" them from 1 folder to another
>
>
> So the "service" may be showing as active when it is actually adjusting
> the "changed" items tables to match what the OS is doing to the MFT entries.
>
> And ... The OneDrive App - when installed on my I7 laptop kept the screen
> black - as in powered off look for over 30 minutes while it was building
> the OneDrive folder in my user area -
> And then @ over 30% CPU as it "Sync'd" and linked the entries in that
> folder to the several TB of data on the OneDrive storage I managed for the
> "family".
>
> Note - when it has finished doing the Linking and Sync- then you can
> access the option NOT to setup the links -
> Those meaning that deleting the new "/user/name/OneDrive folder  deletes
> all the files from the Onedrive storage, and then Sync's all the PC's  set
> to Sync to that storage - to match it's empty state !
>
>
> Regards - from another still trying to become a retire not being called by
> old - but still hopeful legacy clients.
>
> Usually asking what the "gggggeee U cocked it up text" message
>  means they have done wrong and
> please - tell us what's the 10 minute process to get it working again !
>
> Well - I tend to remember what they did last time to get the particular
> error message that they are telling me about.
>
> As in saved to personal OneDrive - not the designated server folder !
>
> JimB
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AccessD <accessd-bounces+jamesbutton=
> blueyonder.co.uk at databaseadvisors.com> On Behalf Of Rocky Smolin
> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2025 5:02 PM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving <
> accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Microsoft Volume Copy Service
>
> Jamess:
>
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> Since I'm retired now (except for the occasional quickie job from a legacy
> client), my computing life is very simple. The backup thing I always had
> covered, being an indie developer, so redundant backup was always my rule.
> Even going so far as to store a copy off site (my home). Everything that's
> on my Google Drive I also have on an EHD. So I feel pretty secure with
> that.
>
> From what I was able to determine from the web (not much) I don't really
> need this shadow backup. First of all I can't see how to set the properties
> for the target of the backup, define which files or folders or volumes are
> to be backed up, or any other property.  And the shadow copy service is
> still taking 35% of the CPU this morning. But what it's doing and where it
> is doing that is a mystery. And it is (apparently, not sure) making
> incremental backups which I 've always been wary of since a
> restore requires a lot of backup files.
>
> If I turn it off I would like to delete all the files it has created, but
> I'm at a loss to know where they are and what they're named.
>
>
>
> On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 3:58 AM James Button via AccessD <
> accessd at databaseadvisors.com> wrote:
>
> > Not used that facility -
> > But the earlier "image" facility had the major flaws -
> > Starting with the automatic update of the image with modified files
> > during your
> > working day -
> > So any files that had lost needed data, been corrupted, or encrypted
> would
> > replace the "recovery ones".
> > Also the file history facility did not create entries of files with
> > fullnames of
> > over 230 characters  - or, depending on your login id and the system
> name,
> > a lot
> > less characters.
> >
> > There is also the 400 character fullname limit within OneDrive, as well
> as
> > the
> > "not doing that file" and "not telling you"
> > About files with set character strings in the fullname.
> >
> > What I found was needed was a volume restore facility to create the
> needed
> > partition sizes on a replacement drive ( storage device) so you could
> > recover
> > the partition setup in order to recover data  if the partition tables
> were
> > corrupted, and to restore from a backup created by such as Easeus ToDo  -
> > 4gb
> > parts maybe encrypted as a set, or using a BitLocker type facility  - and
> > upload
> > them to cloud as a safe store in case of losing all the IT @ home !
> >
> > And - re Google Drive - nice facility - but what if the account gets
> lost,
> > or
> > hacked with a new password set, or you lose comms access !
> >
> > Also - if storing stuff from the phone onto a cloud store,
> > Does access to the phone give access to all on the cloud storage -
> > e.g. the phone remembers the access to all your cloud storage .
> >
> > JimB
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: AccessD
> > <accessd-bounces+jamesbutton=blueyonder.co.uk at databaseadvisors.com> On
> > Behalf Of
> > Rocky Smolin
> > Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2025 1:08 AM
> > To: List <dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com>; Off Topic
> > <dba-ot at databaseadvisors.com>; Access Developers discussion and problem
> > solving
> > <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
> > Subject: [AccessD] Microsoft Volume Copy Service
> >
> > Dear Lists:
> >
> > Microsoft Volume Copy Service is running (W11) taking about 35% of CPU
> > cycles. Do I need this?
> >
> > My personal data files (Client stuff, photos, docs, etc) are all backed
> up
> > to my Google drive.
> >
> > MTIA
> >
> > r
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