![\"Error\"](\"http:\/\/wit.ncl.ac.uk\/blog_files\/James\/vsserror.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nWhen using Shadow Copy Service (also known as “Previous Versions”) to restore or copy a file you may receive an error which states ‘Source Path Too Long’<\/p>\n
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This is due to a limitation of the Windows File System . In the Windows the maximum length for a path is defined as 260 characters for example “H:\\some 256-character path string”. Programs which break this limitation can cause this and other problems on clients and servers.<\/p>\n
Workaround<\/strong><\/p>\n In order to restore files and folders where this error occurs you need to map a Network drive to the location to shorten the path. This changes a long path to a short one allowing the restore to take place.<\/p>\n So a long path like<\/p>\n \\\\campus\\dept\\mydeparmtnet\\management\\management reports\\trial system\\pre-adoption \\Research and development with no reponse\\reports\\2010<\/p>\n Becomes<\/p>\n X:\\2010\\<\/p>\n The restore can then be performed as usual.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When using Shadow Copy Service (also known as “Previous Versions”) to restore or copy a file you may receive an error which states ‘Source Path Too Long’ This is due to a limitation of the Windows File System . In … Continue reading