Backup tidying?

I have quite a few GB of Macrium system images from various Windows versions and the space consumption is getting pretty high. These are full system images that include Windows+Program Files etc. To consolidate things I figured I would pull all the important stuff from the images into new folders. There should be no reason to keep large images that include the Windows directory and program files directories should there?

Hi, to restore a partition from an image set - considering just MR free- you need either
- a base image (the first created)
or
- a base image + any related differential image

Are you using differential imaging? Such images represent changes between the base image and current state, so are smaller and faster. MR maintains your image set so only the number you specify - or accept as the default number- are retained.

Thus the total storage need for a given image set of base + differential images is limited to a degree, and you can change that.

If you have a historic set (no longer being updated/used) but which you wish to keep for some reason, you can delete all but the latest differential image.

Clearly any for e.g. old builds of Win 10 in which you no longer have any interest can be deleted completely, assuming you have a current image.

There should be no reason to keep large images that include the Windows directory and program files directories should there?

This appears to be a confused question.

First, an image is of the whole partition/partitions/disks as selected when the image was created.
Second, imaging the set of Windows partitions (a 1-click option in MR) is one of the most vital things to do.
Third, C: contains user data, registry, by default your user library folders (Documents etc) and your user profile.

As said above, if you have images of a historic configuration you no longer use (e.g. of 1709 Windows and you are now on 1809) or of a PC you no longer have, you can delete them unless you think you may need some data from them, considering them only as a file backup resource)

Yes I do one full backup and six differential images per week and then when a new Windows version is released I do one big system image before wiping the drive for the new Windows install.

It's the one big system image before new Windows version I have quite a collection of. The problem is each new backup contains some new personal files that the last backup didn't have but also duplicate files that the previous backup does have. LOL what a mess.

I think I have a long job ahead sorting it all out.

If you have an older base image you can delete it - the only risks are:
- your installation contains problems you haven't yet discovered
- the older image contains files you may still want but have now deleted and have not otherwise backed up.

Basic idea- keep your personal files off C:

That way maintaining your OS is relatively independent of this.

I have upgraded continuously (except for skipping 1803) since 1511- I don't use the default library folders for personal documents, and my favourites/email etc are all on another partition- even my desktop.

That's pretty much it - the older image contains files that I want. I'll just need to go through each image and pull the files out that want.

What I tend to do on a new Windows version clean install is copy back my documents, pictures etc from the previous Windows Macrium backup. The problem is then when I make a new full Macrium image I end up with a mix of new documents and pictures mixed with the old ones.

Basic idea- keep your personal files off C:
That way maintaining your OS is relatively independent of this.
I have upgraded continuously (except for skipping 1803) since 1511- I don't use the default library folders for personal documents, and my favourites/email etc are all on another partition- even my desktop.

(from updated post #5)

Thanks for the ideas, I will see if I can come up with another strategy.