Does a full Windows Server backup also backup "previous versions" created by VSS?

Question

Let's say I have volume C:\ with VSS enabled, and there is some file C:\somefile.txt, which has been around for a while.

Today, I remove C:\somefile.txt. Since VSS is enabled it's still contained in yesterday's VSS snapshot.
After removing the file, I make a full system backup using Windows Server Backup.
After the backup, the server is erased.

When restoring the server from the full system backup, is somefile.txt still recoverable? In other words, does Windows Server Backup also backup the "previous versions" or only a current snapshot of the system?

Background: I need to delete some sensitive data before taking the backup and I want to make sure that the data cannot be recovered from the backup.

Is this a 2012 server or an earlier OS? – Colyn1337 Oct 09 '13 at 13:50 — Colyn1337, Oct 09 '13 at 13:50
@Colyn1337: Windows Server 2012R2. – Heinzi Oct 09 '13 at 13:50 — Heinzi, Oct 09 '13 at 13:50
Are you going to use server backup with "storage spaces"? – Colyn1337 Oct 09 '13 at 13:56 — Colyn1337, Oct 09 '13 at 13:56
@Colyn1337: No. (Would it make a difference?) – Heinzi Oct 09 '13 at 14:33 — Heinzi, Oct 09 '13 at 14:33
I believe storage spaces has a replication option – Journeyman Geek Oct 10 '13 at 09:07 — Journeyman Geek, Oct 10 '13 at 09:07

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 19 '16 at 02:05

2

Windows integrated backup use VSS to snapshot the filesystem, then backup the files from this snapshot.

As snapshot can not contain other snapshots, the answer to your question is no.

answered Nov 19 '16 at 02:05

Bertrand SCHITS

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Does a full Windows Server backup also backup "previous versions" created by VSS?

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