insufficient memory to create a shadow copy error: 0x8004231F

Question

Problem with making a backup - says i have insufficient space

I have tried to make a back up of my computer but when I do through the Backup Files option to my 1TB external drive, it says that I have insufficient memory to create a shadow copy (error: 0x8004231F) .... please help

Answer 1

Hi Lena Ward,

Method 1

You may run Disk cleanup utility in Windows 7 and check if you can create a backup. Normally while creating a backup it would use the temp folder in C drive to create temporary files before starting to backup to a different drive.

To run disk cleanup follow the steps below:

1.    Open Disk Cleanup by clicking the  Start button. In the search box, type  Disk Cleanup, and then, in the list of results, click Disk Cleanup.

2.    In the Drives list, select the hard disk drive C: to clean up, and then click OK.

3.    In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, on theDisk Cleanup tab, select the check boxes for the file   types that you want to delete, and then clickOK.

4.    In the message that appears, click Delete files.

5.    Restart the computer and check if you can create backup.

Access the link below to know more about using disk cleanup to delete files.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Delete-files-using-Disk-Cleanup

Method 2

You may try to check the VSSAdmin storage size and resize the storage and check if it helps.

1. Open a command prompt.
2. Type Vssadmin list shadowstorage
3. Take note of what the shadow storage allocation is on the drive you're having issues with.
4. Change the allocation by using the Vssadmin command, syntax: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: /Maxsize=30G

5, Restart the computer after the command is complete and check if you can create a backup.

Hope this helps. Post back the results.

Thanks and Regards,

Srinivas R

Microsoft Support.

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 2

Hi Dan_q_kewl,

You must run the command in elevated command prompt. To do this follow the steps below:

a. Click in start and in Start search box type CMD.

d. In the list Right click on CMD and click Run as Administrator.

c. At the command prompt, type the command and press enter.

Hope this helps.

Thanks and Regards,

Srinivas R

Microsoft Support.

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 3

When I try typing in vssadmin list shadow storage i get another error message:

' You don't have the correct permissions to run this command. Please run this utility from a command window that has elevated administrator priviliges.'

what do you suggest?

I'm trying to upgrade from win7 Home premium to professional and it's getting on my nerves now