Share via

Troubleshooting Previous Versions

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Troubleshooting

This section provides problem-solving guidelines for accessing previous versions of files and folders.

What problem are you having?

  • I do not see a Previous Versions tab in the Properties dialog box.

  • There are no files listed in the Previous Versions tab of the Properties dialog box.

  • The previous version of the file I want to view is not listed anymore in the Previous Versions tab of the Properties dialog box.

  • I am having problems viewing a previous version of a file.

  • I cannot locate previous versions of files that are stored in my coworker's shared folder.

I do not see a Previous Versions tab in the Properties dialog box.

Cause:  Shadow Copies of Shared Folders is not enabled on the file server.

Solution:  Contact your administrator about enabling Shadow Copies of Shared Folders on the file server.

There are no files listed in the Previous Versions tab of the Properties dialog box.

Cause:  The file has not changed.

Solution:  The file must be changed to view a previous version.

The previous version of the file I want to view is not listed anymore in the Previous Versions tab of the Properties dialog box.

Cause:  Previous versions are periodically deleted due to space limitations on the server.

Solution:  Contact your administrator about providing space for more previous versions on the file server.

I am having problems viewing a previous version of a file.

Cause:  Previous versions are read-only, and some applications do not work well with read-only files.

Solution:  Use Copy instead to copy the file to another location and open it from there to view.

I cannot locate previous versions of files that are stored in my coworker's shared folder.

Cause:  The shared folder must be located on a computer running an operating system in the Windows Server 2003 family that has shadow copies enabled.

Solution:  Move the files you share with your coworker to a shared folder on a computer running an operating system in the Windows Server 2003 family that has shadow copies enabled.