Create - powershell.one

Creates a shadow copy by using the specified context.

Example

Do not run below example code just to see what happens next. Many methods seriously affect your system. Always make sure you actually understand what the method and the code do.

# define the arguments you want to submit to the method
# remove values that you do not want to submit
# make sure you replace values with meaningful content before running the code
# see section "Parameters" below for a description of each argument.
$arguments = @{
    Context         = 'someText'  # replace 'someText' with meaningful text
    Volume          = 'someText'  # replace 'someText' with meaningful text
}


Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName Win32_ShadowCopy -Namespace Root/CIMV2 -MethodName Create -Arguments $arguments |
Add-Member -MemberType ScriptProperty -Name ReturnValueFriendly -Passthru -Value {
  switch ([int]$this.ReturnValue)
  {
        0        {'Success'}
        default  {'Unknown Error '}
    }
}

To run this method on one or more remote systems, use New-CimSession:

$ComputerName = 'server12','server14'  # adjust to your server names
$Credential   = Get-Credential         # submit a user account with proper permissions

# define the arguments you want to submit to the method
# remove values that you do not want to submit
# make sure you replace values with meaningful content before running the code
# see section "Parameters" below for a description of each argument.
$arguments = @{
    Context         = 'someText'  # replace 'someText' with meaningful text
    Volume          = 'someText'  # replace 'someText' with meaningful text
}


$session = New-CimSession -ComputerName $ComputerName -Credential $Credential

Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName Win32_ShadowCopy -Namespace Root/CIMV2 -MethodName Create -Arguments $arguments -CimSession $session |
Add-Member -MemberType ScriptProperty -Name ReturnValueFriendly -Passthru -Value {
  switch ([int]$this.ReturnValue)
  {
        0        {'Success'}
        default  {'Unknown Error '}
    }
}


Remove-CimSession -CimSession $session

Learn more about Invoke-CimMethod and invoking WMI methods.

Syntax

uint32 Create(
  [in]  string Volume,
  [in]  string Context = &quot;ClientAccessible&quot;,
  [out] string ShadowID
);

Parameters

Name	Type	Description
Context	String	This parameter is the context that the provider will use when creating the shadow.
Volume	String	This parameter is the volume that is used for the shadow copy. This volume is sometimes referred to as the ‘original’ volume. This parameter can be specified as a volume drive letter, mount point or volume GUID name.

Return Value

Returns a value of type UInt32. Return values:

$returnValues = @{
    0    = 'Success'
}

Requirements

To use Win32_ShadowCopy, the following requirements apply:

PowerShell

Get-CimInstance was introduced with PowerShell Version 3.0, which in turn was introduced on clients with Windows 8 and on servers with Windows Server 2012.

If necessary, update Windows PowerShell to Windows PowerShell 5.1, or install PowerShell 7 side-by-side.

Operating System

Win32_ShadowCopy was introduced on clients with None supported and on servers with Windows Server 2003.

Namespace

Win32_ShadowCopy lives in the Namespace Root/CIMV2. This is the default namespace. There is no need to use the -Namespace parameter in Get-CimInstance.

Implementation

Win32_ShadowCopy is implemented in Vsswmi.dll and defined in Vss.mof. Both files are located in the folder C:\Windows\system32\wbem:

explorer $env:windir\system32\wbem
notepad $env:windir\system32\wbem\Vss.mof

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