Primary Product	ShadowProtect (Windows)

Product Area	ShadowProtect 5

Product	ShadowProtect (Windows)

Release

Overview

This article details how to remove and replace the ShadowProtect snapshot driver; it is recommended to use the ShadowProtect/SPX Snapshot Driver Troubleshooting article before following the steps listed below.

NOTE: The following steps will only function for ShadowProtect 5 and legacy versions of SPX (6.7.4 and older).

If using a current release of SPX, reference: How To: Remove and Replace the ShadowXafe / SPX Snapshot Driver

All steps MUST be performed during a Maintenance Window, as the required reboots CANNOT be postponed.

Article Body

REMOVAL:

Download the STCinst Package and the Sysinternals PSEXEC utility and extract to temporary folders (e.g., "C:\stcinst_pkg", "C:\psexec"), then proceed with the removal process.
Below is the structure in the STCinst.zip archive:
- ```
STCInst-SP5&SPX.md5
```
- ```
STCInst-SP5&SPX
```
  - ```
  stcinstchk.exe
```
- ```
32bit-SPX&SP5
```
    - ```
    stcinst.exe
```
- ```
stcvsm.sys
```
    - ```
    stcvsm.cat
```
- ```
stcvsm.inf
```
  - ```
  64bit-SPX6.5.2&older
```
  - ```
  stcinst.exe
```
  - ```
  stcvsm.sys
```
  - ```
  stcvsm.cat
```
  - ```
  stcvsm.inf
```
- ```
64bit-SPX6.7.x
```
    - ```
    stcinst.exe
```
- ```
stcvsm.sys
```
    - ```
    stcvsm.cat
```
- ```
stcvsm.inf
```
Verify the current status of the snapshot driver by navigating to the extracted directory (e.g., "C:\stcinst_pkg\STCinst-SP5&SPX\") via an elevated command prompt and issue the following command: stcinstchk.exe -d
If detected, the command line shows the following:

The snapshot driver shows “oem#.inf,” as the installation number and is referenced in step 3’s removal process.

If the following error occurs during driver status verification, skip steps 3 and 5:
Delete the following files/directories:

Important: Only remove the files related to the oem file number called out via the stcinstchk.exe -d command (in this example, "oem0"), removing any other files could damage the Windows install.
```
"C:\Windows\System32\CatRoot\{F750E6C3-38EE-11D1-85E5-00C04FC295EE}\oem#.CAT"
```
Refresh the Windows Explorer window if the files are not removed from the folder.
```
"C:\Windows\INF\oem#.INF" and "oem#.PNF"
```
$Windows\INF$
```
"C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\stcvsm* "
```
$FileRepository\stcvsm*$

Note: All files found in the "FileRepository" folder via the search term "stcvsm" need to be removed. If running into permissions issues during the deletion process, attempt removal using an elevated command prompt, or PSExec; the stcvsm files require read/write permissions for deletion to complete successfully.
Support highly recommends the deletion of these files, as leaving them may cause issues when laying down the new driver.
Copy the contents of the STCinst folder, for the version installed, from the downloaded package and overwrite the files in the appropriate directory (ShadowProtect or SPX):
- ```
stcinst.exe
```
- ```
stcinst.sys
```
- ```
stcvsm.cat
```
- ```
stcvsm.inf
```
ShadowProtect 5: 32-bit OS "C:\Program Files\StorageCraft\ShadowProtect\" or 64-bit OS "C:\Program Files (x86)\StorageCraft\ShadowProtect\"

SPX: "C:\Program Files\StorageCraft\spx\PnP (or \PnP-ReFS)"
$spx\pnp-refs$
Perform the manual un-installation of the snapshot driver via an administrative command prompt and navigate to the install directory of ShadowProtect 5, or "\PnP","\PnP-ReFS" directory of SPX, and perform the following command: stcinst.exe -u

If the stcinst.exe -u command fails to remove the snapshot driver use the -w switch, (e.g., stcinst.exe -w).
Note: Support recommends using -u whenever possible, as it is graceful, whereas -w brute forces the uninstall process. Make sure to backup the registry before proceeding.
Immediate Reboot Required

REPLACEMENT:

Perform the manual installation of the snapshot driver via an administrative command prompt by navigating to the install directory of ShadowProtect5/SPX then perform the following command: stcinst.exe stcvsm.inf
Note: PSExec should not be used for re-installation of the driver; doing so is very likely to cause permission issues when troubleshooting ShadowProtect later.
Immediate Reboot Required
Confirm that the snapshot driver installed correctly via an administrative command prompt by using the following command: fltmc instances
Verify the status of the snapshot driver using "stcinstchk.exe": stcinstchk.exe
Take a backup through the ShadowProtect or SPX Graphical User Interface (GUI) to ensure the snapshot driver installed correctly.

If problems persist, create Support Case for further assistance.

Title	How To: Remove and Replace the ShadowProtect Snapshot Driver

Task	Configure

URL Name	How-To-Remove-and-Replace-the-ShadowProtect-Snapshot-Driver

How To: Remove and Replace the ShadowProtect Snapshot Driver