1 Create shadow storage

1.1 The System protection tab in System Properties

• this GUI only lists NTFS volumes, so you can't create shadow storage for ReFS volume there
• instead try one of:
  • vssadmin add shadowstorage /for=D: /on=D: /maxsize=100GB (Windows Server only)
    • alternatively for non-server Windows editions try vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=D: /on=D: /maxsize=10% that will add shadow storage if it does not exist and thus is comparable to vssadmin add
  • wmic shadowstorage call create Volume=D:\ DiffVolume=D:\ MaxSpace=20
    • if this command returns ReturnValue = 10 (which is Unknown error) workaround follows
  • wmic shadowcopy call create Volume=D:\
    • creating shadow copy on disk without shadow storage will create one automatically
    • you can resize the shadow storage with vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=D: /on=D: /maxsize=10%

1.2 List shadow storages

• make sure the shadow storage is there and configured using one of:
  • vssadmin list shadowstorage
  • wmic shadowstorage list

2 Create shadow copy

2.1 Create shadow copy

• you want to use scheduled system protection feature, but for now just take a snapshot manually:
  • wmic shadowcopy call create Volume=D:\

2.2 List shadow copies

• verify the snapshot was created:
  • vssadmin list shadows /for=D:

3 Mount shadow copy

• since you are using Storage Spaces, you won't see snapshots in Previous versions tab in disk/file properties
• but the snapshots exists and can be mounted as a folder
• this shortage apply for both NTFS and ReFS Storage Spaces
• to mount a snapshot you will need shadow ID, shadow path and temporary folder

3.1 Get shadow copy ID

• vssadmin list shadows /for=D:
  • look for something like this Shadow Copy ID: {5cc29315-0379-415e-8496-69923618e3de}

3.2 Get shadow copy path

• wmic shadowcopy where "ID='{5cc29315-0379-415e-8496-69923618e3de}'" get DeviceObject
• or vssadmin list shadows /for=D:
  • look for Shadow Copy Volume: \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy624

3.3 Mount shadow copy as folder

• mklink /j %tmp%\shadow \\?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy624\
  • note the extra \ at the end
  • the shadow copy is now available in %tmp%\shadow

This worked for me. TL;DR: Attach to a VHD on the network share and backup to that.

Create a System Image Backup

This is based on Windows 10 Pro (version 1803). To create a virtual hard disk file (.vhdx) you need to have the following Windows feature installed: Hyper-V Module for Windows PowerShell

Also make sure "Block Level Backup Engine Service" is running. If there is an existing backup in the backup location, Windows will use it for block-level copying of the files, which will greatly speed up the job.

Replace \\BACKUP-LOCATION with your location on the network or on local disk.

From PowerShell run:

$vhdpath = "\\BACKUP-LOCATION\system-image.vhdx"
$vhdsize = 127GB

New-VHD -Path $vhdpath -Dynamic -SizeBytes $vhdsize |
Mount-VHD -Passthru |
Initialize-Disk -Passthru |
New-Partition -AssignDriveLetter -UseMaximumSize |
Format-Volume -NewFileSystemLabel "System Image" -FileSystem NTFS -Confirm:$false

The new drive will open in File Explorer and in Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) you will see a new disk attached.

Next, open Backup and Restore with one of these ways:

• Press Windows Key + R, and run control /name Microsoft.BackupAndRestore
• or: Windows Settings > Update & Security > Backup > Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7)
• or: Control Panel\System and Security\Backup and Restore (Windows 7)

On the left, select Create a system image or for Schedule select Change settings.

Select the drive labeled "System Image" and follow the steps to create a system image.

Note that if you want to backup also files and folders, in Windows 10 the File History app is recommended over the old Backup and Restore. But for creating system images as of now (version 1803) there is no new solution available by Microsoft.

If you backed up system image, you'll see a "WindowsImageBackup" folder in your backup drive. If you also chose to backup files, you will also have a "MediaID.bin" file and a folder with the name of your computer that you can open to restore your files.

Restoring System Image

To restore the system image you will need a System Repair Disc that you can create from Backup and Restore (Windows 7) window by clicking on "Create a system repair disc" on the left. But don't do that because you need a ISO. Go to Windows download page and download the Media Creation Tool. Run it and create the installation media to a ISO file (Windows.iso).

Now the question is, how to restore from the VHD file using system repair disc? I haven't tried it yet, but my plan is to use Hyper-V and attach a physical hard disk plus the system image VHD, and Windows.iso as DVD drive. Boot from the DVD and follow System Image Recovery to restore from the attached VHD into the physical HDD.