Event ID 8 — Volume Snapshot Driver Integrity

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

Shadow Copies of Shared Folders uses the Volume Snapshot driver (Volsnap.sys) to create shadow copies in Windows. This driver uses storage space allocated on a volume to maintain a snapshot of the contents of the shared folders. This storage space is called the Diff Area.

Event Details

Product: Windows Operating System
ID: 8
Source: VolSnap
Version: 6.0
Symbolic Name: VS_FLUSH_AND_HOLD_IRP_TIMEOUT
Message: The flush and hold writes operation on volume %2 timed out while waiting for a release writes command.

Resolve

Schedule shadow copies for a different time

By default, shadow copies are created twice a day, Monday through Friday. The first shadow copy is created at 7:00 A.M., and the second one is created at 12:00 P.M.. To avoid having shadow copy operations fail because of operation time-outs, change the schedule for shadow copies so that they occur during periods of time when the system is less busy (for example, a Saturday night or a weekday before 7:00 A.M.).

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in Administrators, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To change the schedule for shadow copies:

  1. Click Start, and then click Computer.
  2. Right-click any of the volumes listed, and then click Configure Shadow Copies. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.
  3. Click the volume for which you want to change the schedule, and then click Settings.
  4. Click Schedule, and then select the scheduling preferences that match periods of time when the system is less busy. Click Delete to remove one or both of the default schedules, and click New to add a new schedule with the settings that you select.

Verify

The Volume Snapshot driver is working correctly if a new shadow copy can be successfully created.

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in Administrators, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To create a new shadow copy:

  1. Click Start, and then click Computer.

  2. Right-click any of the volumes listed, and then click Configure Shadow Copies. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

  3. Click the volume that you want to create a new shadow copy of, and then click Create Now. The Volume Snapshot driver is working correctly if the new shadow copy is listed under Shadow copies of selected volume.

    Note: Depending on the size of the volume and the number of changes that have occurred since the last shadow copy, creating the new shadow copy can take a few seconds or several minutes.

Volume Snapshot Driver Integrity

File Services