Quick Tip - VSS Restore Source Path Too Long Error

Getting this error when trying to restore via VSS?

"The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file system. Try moving to a location which has a shorter path name, or try renaming to shorter name(s) before attempting this operation."

In my scenario, a user had accidentally deleted a folder containing 78GB of data. This user was privileged user account. Accidents happen and I guess this is why we do backups.

Not to worry, there is a really simple solution to this.

Right click on the share:

Choose “properties”

Go to “Previous Versions”

Locate the snapshot that contains the missing data and click “open”

Find the folder you want to restore, right click on it and choose “properties”

Copy the “location” to your clipboard. (this is the path to your snapshot)

Firstly, Create a new folder at your restore destination. I created a folder called “GIRVAN” at \\myrestoredestination\share (the same name as the missing folder)

Open Powershell

Type the following:

Subst X: paste your snaphot location\foldername

eg: in this example I pasted

\\myrestorelocation\share\@GMT-2018.02.26-09.00.10\GIRVAN

On the next line type:

Net use v: \\myrestorelocation\share\GIRVAN (Where girvan is your folder name to restore to)

Now lastly type :

Robocopy x: v: /E /COPYALL

Files will then start to copy from the snapshot back to the folder.

How to Uninstall SCCM 2007R3 Secondary site

I couldn't find any formal step-by-step guidance on this so I decided to create my own. I believe that below is all that is nessecery to completly remove the secondary site from the SCCM console. I've had to do this in situations where the the site is no longer required, or has to be rebuilt due to issues.

1.       Navigate to “site database” > “site management” > Select the site you with to uninstall.

2.       Browse to boundaries under the site and remove any active boundaries by right clicking and choosing “delete”.

3.       Reboot the secondary site.

4.       Open an Active Directory Users and Computers MMC

5.       Connect to the local domain controller at the location of the secondary site.

6.       Enable Advanced Features.

7.       Browse to : “System” > “System Management”

Verify that the entries for the boundaries you removed have disappeared from AD. (The OU will stay in there until the site is deleted but the address boundaries should disappear.

 

9.       Navigate to “site database” > “site management” > Right click on the secondary site you wish to uninstall.

10.       Follow the wizard through and select either delete or deinstall as appropriate to your situation.

 

 

11.       Click Finish.

12.       Monitor the logs for the primary site, when you see the below highlighted message the uninstall is completed.

 

13.       Right click on site database and click “refresh”. Verify that the site has disappeared from Site Management.

 

14.       Go into “site Database > Site Management > Your Primary site > Site Settings > Addresses” locate the old “standard address sender” with the old site code and right click on it and delete.

 

This won't leave the deleted secondary server in a completly "clean" state - any updates to SCCM you applied, hotfixes and package source folders will remain on the server. I would recomend doing a clean OS reinstall on this server before utilising it for any other purpose.