Windows Backup & Restore: 4 hours to make a backup

Before Creators I had Windows Backup and Restore routine set to make a daily backup of my SSD which contains only the C drive and my programs. Documents, Pictures etc. are redirected to an internal spinning HDD where these folders are actually stored). I chose the "Let Windows choose" radio button on the window "Setup and Restore", What do you want to backup?" The backup took 15 minutes.

After Creators the backup goes off aiming for over 4 HOURS before I cancel! I can see why. The "View details" button shows all my Documents, Pictures etc. being included from the internal HDD despite only the C drive being included in the backup.

Still on Creators I then choose the other "Let me choose" radio button. After unchecking every and all signs of anything that I don't want included (eg., Documents, Pictures) and making sure that the internal HHD is unchecked, it takes 40 minutes. (I don't have a "Windows.old" file). Surely it should take only the 15 minutes pre-creators mentioned above. 40 minutes backing up tends to slow the computer down and I can't predict when I will not be using the comp.

>>Why the big change following Creators? Does anyone else have this?

>>Also, I'm not sure that the "let me choose" approach would actually boot the computer, given my unchecking of what I think is unecessary.

Yes, I have daily Macrium images being made and have a Macrium Rescue disc. Perhaps I should ditch W Backup and Restore.

>>Can anyone recommend a bootable rescue system as a fallback to Macrium (which seems very reliable, but you never know....)

Thanks

WOT:

I think you are right. Trust Macrium.

When my macrium image ran around mid-day today I noticed it took 32 minutes for a Full BU, wheras before Creators it took about 19 minutes. Is this a feature of Creators?

Thanks.

WOT:

Windows.old must be the answer. It is 17.5 GB whereas my C occupies 85 GB (222GB-137GB free). I tried to delete it but I got "You need to provide administrator permission to delete this folder". I got past that by simply pressing "Continue" (I am the administrator). I then "need to provide "permission from SYSTEM to make changes ro this folder." I have never met him before.

How do I get past that please?


Thanks for your help.

Use Disk Clean up and click its 'clean up system files' button. Then tick 'Previous Windows installation(s)' which deletes Windows.old and associated install files.

WOT said:

Try this:

Go to Settings> System> Storage> click the drive containing the OS> click on temporary storage and it should be the last entry on that page. Check the box and select "remove files." Here is my view minus the windows.old entry:

I don't see "temporary storage", but the second last item is "Temporary Files". I double-clicked it and a list of temp files appeared which included Windows.old, checked. I pressed "Remove files" and deletions started. After about 15 minutes, activity stopped and Windows.old still appears in C. Although it refuses to divulge its size, in the "Temporary files" place now there is "2.79 GGB". So most of it seems to have gone.

So I count this a success in reducing the size of this item (unless you think otherwise).

Many thanks.