Delete Shadow Storage

http://blog.acarter.co.uk/2012/02/server-2008-vss-cannot-remove-snapshot/

I tried to use vssadmin by doing a ‘vssadmin list shadows‘ which sure enough showed me the copy, but when trying to delete it with the ‘vssadmin delete shadows /for=g:‘ , I was returned the error:

Error: Snapshots were found, but they were outside 
of your allowed context.

Try removing them with the backup application which 
created them.

The fix?  Use the ‘diskshadow‘ command, then ‘delete shadows all‘ – fixed, it can now be moved from the GUI.

In my case:

• Start PowerShell in Admin mode
• vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=G: /On=G: /MaxSize=1%
  (reduce number of shadow copies)
• diskshadow
  • list shadows all
  • copy shadowID that you want to delete
    (use option 'edit/mark and edit/copy')
  • delete shadows ID {.....}
    (paste selected shadow ID using option 'edit/paste')
• vssadmin delete shadowstorage /For=G: /On=G:
  (get rid of shadow storage for G:)