System restore mysteries / shadow copies etc

Anonymous

Hi,

New Windows 10 user here.
Have Googled/Binged around and still a bit puzzled about this.

So, System Restore is defaulted to "Off" in Windows 10. I understand some of the reasons for this, but still find it a useful tool.
(I left it like that, since it's still fresh and can basically just factory reset at this point)

Restore settings mention "using system protection on a drive that contains system image backups will cause other shadow copies to be deleted faster than normal"

OK. I'm not sure how fast "normal" is meant to be...

My Windows 10 came with Dell's SupportAssist installed, which apparently has its own recovery tools. Using it to download/install a few drivers, I noticed it had enabled Windows' System Restore by itself and created some restore points there.
(This came in useful because SupportAssist's driver updates resulted in a BSOD every time! I'll be uninstalling it...)

What set me wondering though, is I later noticed some errors in Event Viewer

"The shadow copies ... were aborted because the shadow copy storage could not grow due to a user imposed limit"

So it's already full?

8.90GB was set aside and I've barely done anything besides customise my user account!

Installed nothing!!

I then checked and all my restore points had gone too
This was strange because there haven't been any Windows - or even driver - updates in the meantime (which is usually the reason against keeping old restore points, for compatibility etc..?)

So I'm not getting shadow copies, and I'm not getting restore points...

What was more odd, was system restore was saying there were no restore points, but Current Usage showed 400-600MB in use.
What is this being used for?

Are they all these functions competing for the same space?
(and is this space barely enough for more than 1 of them to work properly?)

I don't really understand a great deal about system image backups, shadow copies, or restore points generally... I just know I should be backing up in some way.
Ideally in a way I don't have to mircomanage...

So hopefully someone could explain

System Image Backup

I can just reset to factory settings / reinstall Windows can't I, if things got really bad?
Are there any likely cases where I wouldn't be able to?
Is there any advantage (for the average Joe) in making a separate recovery drive to boot from?

> When the above warning mentioned a drive with "system image backups" (plural), what did it mean?
Is Windows automatically making many new system images itself?
Are they available to me?
(beyond the factory reset)

Shadow copies

Where can I find these / how can I access them?
As long as I'm backing up my files regularly, I should mostly be fine.
But it would be nice to get back the *exact* content I lost in the event of a crash. So how do I do this?

System restore

I'd like to have something with this functionality, but not if it's preventing the above functions from working.
And I'm not into backing up my whole system to another drive on a daily basis, that seems like a lot of hassle

So basically, what's the best practice for low-effort safeguarding in the event of a failure to boot / hijack / loss of data etc?
I'm more confused than ever now

(I haven't noticed the shadow copy error in the last few days, and a new restore point was created. But I don't expect either to last like this for long...)

Thanks

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

(1) Your ReagentC shows partition 4 to be the Windows Recovery Environment partition. Shift+Restart will reboot to its recovery tools ("Choose an Option" screen). Normally, the computer also goes there when it has failed to boot Windows three times in a row. But going by that article I found, your computer will go to Partition 6 instead...

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-in/000177401/restore-your-system-using-dell-supportassist-os-recovery

Restore your system using Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery

I don't see it saying it is making images or even just doing an independent backup & restore of user files. All I see is that you can do a factory reset (to the version of Windows that is on partition 5) or a fresh install of the latest Windows 10. You don't really want a factory reset after you've advanced to a greater version of Windows. It not only brings back the old version but also all the pre-installed Dell/Microsoft apps you've uninstalled along the way. And a fresh install of the latest version of Windows keeping files is what a regular reset will do anyway (without Dell's help). In either case, it will allow you to backup user files in concert with the reset & restore them afterward (but not apps). But the files will need to be accessible, i.e., whatever caused the catastrophe better not have messed with them. That's how I read it.

A Windows system image is superior because files, apps, & settings all are in the image, & apps that were deleted remain deleted when the image is restored. Also, Firewall rules are restored to that day. Only the ones you've changed since then will have to be changed again. And system images don't take terabytes. My three together occupy just 83.1 GB. A 3rd-party app could compress them even more...

That day I had to restore an image, everything was back as/of the date the image was made. But the choice is yours. And now I think your setup does possibly survive an upgrade-install because things work through BIOS & partition 6 instead of messing with the Windows recovery partition. But I really can't say for sure.

(2) That's right, Disk Management can't move a partition, & it can't expand a partition except into unallocated space immediately to the right of it. That's why a 3rd-party app is needed, but there's a bunch to choose from. It would have been nice had Dell decided to give us stuff Windows didn't already have on its own, but they didn't. If they ever do give us a partition manager, it likely will only do what Disk Management can already do.

(3) Yep, my DCOMCFG looks just like yours. Let us hope the VSS errors stay gone with Support Assist. But they almost sounded as if they could be ignored anyway. It certainly didn't keep you from getting a ton of shadow copies.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

DISKPART> List Part

Partition ### Type Size Offset

------------- ------------ --------- -------

Partition 1 System 250 MB 1024 KB <<<EFI system partition

Partition 2 Reserved 128 MB 251 MB <<<MSR (Microsoft Reserved)

Partition 3 Primary 222 GB 379 MB <<<Windows partition

Partition 4 Recovery 990 MB 222 GB <<<Recovery Environment partition

Partition 5 Recovery 13 GB 223 GB <<<Factory reinstall partition

Partition 6 Recovery 1309 MB 237 GB <<<Or is this the RE partition?

Let's see "ReagentC /Info" at an Admin Command Prompt. It will point to either partition 4 or 6 as the active Recovery Environment partition (Shift+Restart goes there)...

C:\WINDOWS\system32>ReagentC /Info

Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) and system reset configuration

Information:

Windows RE status: Enabled

Windows RE location: \?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0*partition4*\Recovery\WindowsRE

Boot Configuration Data (BCD) identifier: f8d976fc-df94-11ea-b1d0-74e6e2074932

Recovery image location:

Recovery image index: 0

Custom image location:

Custom image index: 0

REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.

I think yours is partition 4 like mine. Then both partition 5 & 6 are expendable as soon as you begin to make system images of your own. I guess we could put a letter on partition 6 to see what's in it first...

DiskPart

Select Disk 0

Select Part 6

Assign Letter=X <<<Put letter X on partition 6

Exit

DIR X:\ /a /s <<<Show contents of X:. Remove "/s" to show just the root directory.

DiskPart

Select Vol=X

Remove Letter=X <<<Remove the letter X

Exit

Partitions 5 & 6 can be deleted with DiskPart. Then a 3rd-party app will be required to move partition 4 fully rightward over the 14.3 GB of newly unallocated space. Finally, Disk Management can expand C:partition into that space. But we'd want you to be comfortable with Windows system images of your own (onto an external HDD) before doing so. I think Greg gave you instructions how to use Macrium Reflect. And that could indeed be worthwhile. But I am still a believer in Windows own image maker...

To backup the entire computer, make a Windows system image backup. It makes a backup of all the Windows partitions required to boot & run Windows: EFI, MSR, Windows (C:), & Recovery. If you've got additional partition(s), they will also be offered for inclusion. (But likely that Dell factory reinstall partition won't be offered). A 2 TB external HDD is large enough to never fill with images. An 8 GB flash drive should be large enough to hold a Recovery drive (used to restore an image).

I make one after each new OS Build comes in & runs well, & I keep the last three...

I rename the computername folder which is inside the WindowsImageBackup folder (by appending the OS Build to it) in order to keep them separate & distinct. All three will be offered during the restore process.

Make it at "START, Settings, Update & Security, Backup, Go to backup & Restore (Win 7), Create a system image". Afterward, make the Repair Disc or (even better) ask Cortana for Recovery Drive to put it on USB. That can be used to do a restore. Then see the following to know how to restore one...

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/how-to-restore-a-windows-10-system-image-to-an/e20992ca-5641-4f7c-bb09-3895d0732162

How to restore a Windows 10 system image to an existing or larger storage device

https://www.winhelp.us/restore-a-system-image-in-windows-7.html

Restore a System Image Backup in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10

Note: That is an informative 3rd-party site, but I know nothing (good or bad) about any downloads or links that are there (or anywhere else).

If your external hard drive (or the internal one I guess) is a Seagate or Maxtor, there will be a free version of Acronis True Image at their site. Seagate calls it DiscWizard. Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper & others also offer free versions of their image makers. These 3rd-party apps are quicker, make more compact images, & are more flexible in use. But the Windows version works in under 15 minutes on my small & uncomplicated system. I must add, DiscWizard's Bootable Media (to restore an image when Windows won't boot) requires a Mouse to operate. Plug one in, & it is instantly recognized.

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61 additional answers

Anonymous

2021-04-29T06:21:09+00:00

(1) "Once the system image partition is rendered useless I might have to look into recovering that space, since there's not a whole lot to go around."

Let me see the partitions now...

(a) Right-click START, & select Disk Management. Use the divider lines in the header to make the columns readable. Post a picture.

(b) Type CMD into Search, & click Run as Administrator.

(c) Enter the following commands...

DiskPart <<<Start DiskPart

List Disk <<<List the disks. If more than one, do the next two for each.

Select Disk 0 <<<Focus on disk 0

List Part <<<Show the partitions

Exit <<<Leave DiskPart

Use Ctrl-A & Ctrl-C to copy, then paste it here.

(2) Now I see it...

That's new. But mine is out of warranty, & I don't know what would make that better than just examining the site for new ones anyway. They are still putting drivers there & BIOS updates [latest is version A16 (9/2/2020)]. Does the subscription do anything different than Support Assist & Dell Update? Those never got all of them for me, though the former did get BIOS updates.

(3) I had two extra partitions on this Dell. One was an 8 GB factory reinstall partition. The other was 40 MB & had a name I can't recall. I thought it was used for the BIOS hardware diagnostics, but it wasn't. After deleting it, the diagnostics still worked the same.

(4) I wish I knew more about shadow copies. I too trust that Microsoft has important uses for them. They definitely are not just used to fill the Previous Versions tab. Some likely are used to check the integrity of the file system. I think they are written to the same space that restore points use. Your space can grow to 8.90 GB before old ones need be deleted. I guess you are OK, especially as you've stopped Support Assist messing with that space. Turning restore points off/on likely will not affect the shadow copies. I think, though, as your restore points accumulate, older shadow copies might be deleted to make room. But I wish I knew more.

Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 7.07 GB (3%)
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 7.53 GB (3%)
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 8.90 GB (4%)

(5) Are you sure the VSS errors are ID 8194? Usually it will be a different ID for an error than the one used for a success. Show a picture of one like I showed. I do get many "VSS service is shutting down due to idle timeout". They are informational & can be ignored...

I've got only 55 VSS errors. They are all either ID 8193 or ID 13, & both say "A system shutdown is inprogress". So something goes wrong sometimes at shutdown. I'm not overly worried...

(6) "The log file correctly recorded the time of the scan, but it was File Explorer that showed the log files/folders to be modified/created hours ahead in the future."

Show me pictures &/or direct me to where I can see mine. If the BIOS clock is correct & Windows time is correct, I still think the time of an offline scan shown in Event Viewer might differ by an hour at most with Windows' time.
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Anonymous

2021-05-02T16:29:30+00:00
Hi, Sorry for the slow reply. I was getting things ready for you but then something else popped up...

1a) Disk Management

1b)

Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.19041.610

Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation.

On computer: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

DISKPART> List Disk

  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt

  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---

  Disk 0    Online          238 GB  1024 KB        *

DISKPART> Select Disk 0

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> List Part

  Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset

  -------------  ----------------  -------  -------

  Partition 1    System             250 MB  1024 KB

  Partition 2    Reserved           128 MB   251 MB

  Partition 3    Primary            222 GB   379 MB

  Partition 4    Recovery           990 MB   222 GB

  Partition 5    Recovery            13 GB   223 GB

  Partition 6    Recovery          1309 MB   237 GB

DISKPART> Exit

Leaving DiskPart...
1. It seems the Dell subscription isn't tailored to my laptop at all; I was hoping I could replace using the Dell apps (reading an email is easier than remembering to check regularly).
2. System Restore shows OS (C:) (System) ... Image ... DELLSUPPORT as available drives. Disk Management doesn't really indicate which is which...
3. Funny thing... I noticed some blocked Protected Memory Access today (from SOSInstallerTool.exe trying to access \Device\Harddisk0\DR0 - not much info around on this but apparently the Alienware SA OS Recovery plugin)
I found that SupportAssist's recovery tools have turned themselves back on!
My previous restore points have all been wiped, and it's creating new ones.
So I'll do that VSSAdmin thing again if you don't mind having another look!

(Apparently an update came through from the MS Store earlier - I might have to just get rid of the app entirely if it's going to keep doing this)

C:\WINDOWS\system32>VSSAdmin List Providers

vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool

(C) Copyright 2001-2013 Microsoft Corp.

Provider name: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

   Provider type: System

   Provider Id: {b5946137-7b9f-4925-af80-51abd60b20d5}

   Version: 1.0.0.7

C:\WINDOWS\system32>VSSAdmin List Shadows

vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool

(C) Copyright 2001-2013 Microsoft Corp.

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {dc415b7c-8566-4d2a-8ace-148eb50e9fa2}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 26/04/2021 16:13:42

      Shadow Copy ID: {572b1675-b060-44e9-b171-a5caca80f6f9}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy8

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {46d1dd72-cb9b-4e70-aa44-c571d1afb123}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 27/04/2021 04:38:59

      Shadow Copy ID: {3921287c-8029-4c79-a082-a95b0d4ab669}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy9

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {cf36752c-b959-49a4-8368-bea0e43dcfa4}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 28/04/2021 02:09:39

      Shadow Copy ID: {ba9ef628-496d-41c6-a80a-b50633318018}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy10

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {2c17a2d0-d2d2-49dc-8a17-5a4a53ff98bf}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 28/04/2021 18:54:27

      Shadow Copy ID: {d56c1f4c-9619-4ca5-9802-398b09df1d98}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy11

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {e36eb00a-811a-4327-9f25-b89674896029}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 29/04/2021 00:54:32

      Shadow Copy ID: {077d1bb0-52a2-4c2d-935e-df3b8478aa4a}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy12

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {7905973a-5057-4f80-9209-54ab92e164de}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 29/04/2021 15:18:15

      Shadow Copy ID: {d9227e76-cdc8-41a6-8aad-9ac2f8898adc}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy13

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {2a9d71b3-d642-4744-8571-77f66f577edd}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 30/04/2021 18:46:33

      Shadow Copy ID: {c5192eed-bc1d-4a70-85a6-669a60639ecc}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy14

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {c63024f0-6b56-4e6f-a197-191889389d6b}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 01/05/2021 02:16:41

      Shadow Copy ID: {76a55d07-b344-4839-ac1b-efe77c3ba6a3}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy15

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters

         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {57930d23-5575-442c-b175-9488d0199aba}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 01/05/2021 05:27:15

      Shadow Copy ID: {967721ba-876d-410a-8181-aa52717118d9}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy16

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {553efe23-8b14-4cb5-b1cd-0db2007a86d7}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 01/05/2021 19:57:33

      Shadow Copy ID: {3af0988e-5c26-47b5-a4a2-6b3357e09a15}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy17

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {2fbed623-a358-4632-8aaa-55b2d8d1c27a}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 02/05/2021 06:19:17

      Shadow Copy ID: {b604fa14-7634-4645-94b5-5755909e5f0f}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy18

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ApplicationRollback

         Attributes: Persistent, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

Contents of shadow copy set ID: {edaa0d68-bf99-4dd1-83a2-867f27e0ca69}

   Contained 1 shadow copies at creation time: 02/05/2021 16:22:15

      Shadow Copy ID: {17dad148-f2e8-46c0-b60f-96bc5dbdc2ff}

         Original Volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

         Shadow Copy Volume: \?\GLOBALROOT\Device\HarddiskVolumeShadowCopy19

         Originating Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Service Machine: DESKTOP-BICK9R2

         Provider: 'Microsoft Software Shadow Copy provider 1.0'

         Type: ClientAccessibleWriters

         Attributes: Persistent, Client-accessible, No auto release, Differential, Auto recovered

C:\WINDOWS\system32>VSSAdmin List ShadowStorage

vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool

(C) Copyright 2001-2013 Microsoft Corp.

Shadow Copy Storage association

   For volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

   Shadow Copy Storage volume: (C:)\?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

   Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 8.05 GB (3%)

   Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 8.37 GB (3%)

   Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 8.90 GB (4%)

C:\WINDOWS\system32>VSSAdmin List Volumes

vssadmin 1.1 - Volume Shadow Copy Service administrative command-line tool

(C) Copyright 2001-2013 Microsoft Corp.

Volume path: C:\

    Volume name: \?\Volume{19d85eb0-cfad-4470-9e89-a04328b5b77e}\

Volume path: \?\Volume{5d73f98e-5a8e-4b74-a495-b255c196832d}\

    Volume name: \?\Volume{5d73f98e-5a8e-4b74-a495-b255c196832d}\

Volume path: \?\Volume{a9a124e4-7335-4dcd-9148-b9e46c95b119}\

    Volume name: \?\Volume{a9a124e4-7335-4dcd-9148-b9e46c95b119}\

Volume path: \?\Volume{558eb5d8-73cc-4d24-abe5-f5346f79ce64}\

    Volume name: \?\Volume{558eb5d8-73cc-4d24-abe5-f5346f79ce64}\

Hell of a lot of shadow copies, for just 2 restore points again

(and some of these shadow copies correspond to restore points I used to have...)
1. VSS errors are indeed 8194. They happen with some regularity...
1. Here are the Offline scan results / locations
  
  At time of this scan, I was still living in 23rd April
  (Time and date on the left is correct - File Explorer was in the future by 9 hours)
Though the time shown at conclusion in the log is correct (04-23-2021 20:49:01), the log file actually shows a future time before that
> 2021-04-24T04:49:01 in the lines above in the log (off from File Explorer by an hour)
```
As for Microsoft Store, I haven't really explored this yet. I'm aware we can turn auto-updates on/off, but the Store stopped working for me entirely after the first week or two (I could browse, but it always froze & crashed when loading My Library / downloads).   
  
I assumed this was because I haven't yet set up a Microsoft account on this laptop (was actually going to do that right after finishing setting up everything we've been talking about here!).  
 So I thought the Store would not be available to me - and Microsoft forum threads indicated you did need a Microsoft account to use it - but it looks like it's suddenly started working again anyway!
```
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Anonymous

2021-05-02T18:42:30+00:00

I'm amazed you've never had problems with SupportAssist!

After the latest episode (with it updating itself and changing settings), I rebooted, planning to uninstall it.

I opened it one last time but it wouldn't let me use it until it'd finished this update.
It's been stuck like this for 45 minutes!

(I had automatically install updates set to OFF)

According to the Dell website, I already had the most up-to-date version of this anyway

I can't wait to uninstall it now, but don't know if it'd cause problems to do so while it's still only half-installed.... Gah

Beyond fed up of this app
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