On my Windows 10 Desktop, the Data Disk "D", is warning it is full, and only has 5 meg left of 931 gigs.
All I can find that is legitimately used is about 650 gigs.
I used Space Sniffer 1.3.0.2, and it says about 350 gigs are "Inaccessible Space".
How do I free this up? Any ideas?
WinVer: 1909
acecameraman
Hi, how large is your System Volume Information folder? E.g. using Wiztree - no idea if your prog shows that.
Suggest running that (free) its map highlights large areas:
Welcome to the Forum.
It can be may things, from disk partition to dying disk.
First thing to do is a check disk. Open a CMD window as administrator and type:
chkdsk d: /f
It will ask to unmont the drive = yes
Pay attention on the results, specially bad blocks, bad clusters etc
Post a Disk Manager image of your disks
Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of
Last edited by Megahertz; 25 Feb 2020 at 10:00.
And indeed you might try running e,g, Crystal Diskinfo or HDTune v2.55 (Softpedia.com) (free) and post the result to check the disk.
Thanks for the various replies and suggestions. While I was gathering info on my system and running WizTree, I think I found the problem. There are numerous "Back Up" versions being stored on Data"D". If you agree, please send a suggestion on how to safely stop this from happening. I don't think I need more than a continuous "latest" back up copy.
BTW: I tried to attach a screenshot of the WizTree showing this, but I'm not sure it is going through.
Thanks,
Acecameraman
Sounds like progress.. do you know what's creating them? The term applies to a range of backup tools. E.g.
What is a Backup Set, and how do I use it?
If unsure as to how to create and upload a screenshot there's a tutorial.
Otherwise simply use the 'Insert Image' (tooltip) icon above your post.
Digdump is big too..
You have to find out witch program is creating backups. It should be one of your startup programs.
From the file structure, the names (root folder has the name of your PC, subfolders are 'Backup Set yyyy-mm-dd hhmmss'), and in particular the MediaID.bin file, this was almost certainly created by 'Backup & Restore (Windows 7)'. Further evidence is the WindowsImageBackup folder. This folder is used by Backup & Restore for its system images.
Don't just delete these folders, use the space management tools provided in Backup & Restore. Only this can remove the corresponding Windows Backup catalogs that will have been stored in C:\System Volume Information. Just deleting the folders will leave their catalogs orphaned and undeletable by any other means.
Manage Space for Windows Backup in Windows 10
You may wish to adjust the settings...
Change Windows Backup Settings in Window 10
...or turn off scheduled backups completely.
Turn On or Off Schedule for Windows Backup in Windows 10
Hello all and thanks for your help.
It looks like all I need to do is find the program that keeps adding back ups but not deleting older versions.
I'm checking around.
Many thanks,
AC
Your first port of call is Windows Backup and Restore as Bree suggested.
File and Folder Backup Structure - Windows 7 Tutorial
It looks rather as if there may be a scheduled task around 3A.M. with some written later (perhaps delayed by the PC being shut down?)
You could examine your scheduled tasks (NirSofer offers Taskschedulerview free) which gives you a linear list to search and inspect, displayed in columns.
Otherwise, to identify what wrote the files you could use Procmon from MS (process monitor) - it captures a complete log of events.
Not easy to use, you can capture an initial log with your PC as idle as possible, and eliminate items from the log displayed using filters.
Then leave it running and when new backups have been created, examine the log to find what wrote the files.
Using the program is non-trivial as EVERYTHING including registry access is logged.
If you want to be alerted when they are created these tools monitor changes- but won't tell you what made the change.
10 Tools to Monitor Files and Folders for Changes in Real Time • Raymond.CC
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