Recovery Drive nearly full, but only have 1 backup file...

Okay, so my recovery drive is almost full, like only 1.25 GB of space left out of 9.76 GB. I only have 1 backup file that is 1.85 GB. So what are other files that I can get rid of? The dell file in the Recovery Drive is 5.29 GB, that's a lot of space. Are there any files from any of them, the dell, Tools, Users, sources, Windows, or Program Files that I can delete safely without ruining my PC? If you have had experience with Dell laptops, I would appreciate any advice you can provide.



Method suggested by richc46:
I think the easiest way is to go to the MY Computer Icon on your desktop, Right click, go to properties, go to system protection, then remove the check mark indicating that you want to shut down automatic checkpoints. Then restart your computer. Your D drive should be cleared. I would then make a manual restore point, since now you have none. Go back and replace the check for automatic restore points.


Will this methid affect my bookmarks in my Google Chrome, my Microsoft documents, my pictures, my downloads, my music, my Windows Mail, ANYTHING but the Recovery Drive? Cause when I look through the folders in it, they seem mostly like extra junk, and I just wanna clear it and start fresh, but I'm afraid it will delete my saved files and settings for other things. Your method SOLELY clears the Recovery Drive, and I can just click the automatic checkpoints and make a shadow copy for backups, and it will be fine? I don't want to mess with my other stuff.

Plus, how do you make manual restore point?

You need to delete the restore points. When done make a new one.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/336-system-protection-restore-points-delete.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

Is this the same method you mentioned in the thread you answered titled: Recovery Drive backup full?~by caribbeangirl

I would need the link to know if it was.

I edited this thread heading, take a look if you will.

Click on the computer icon, you will see your drives, send me a screen shot. You can type snipping tool in search for an easy way to do it

I see by your profile you are in the East Coast Time Zone too, if you answer and no one else posts, I will give you an answer tomorrow morning.

Night, talk soon.

Here it is.

Good morning.

You said that you have a Dell. That recovery drive that you show in the pic contains information that can retrurn your computer to factory specs. If you ever have a problem, by pushing a certain f key, during boot, (might be f11), your computer will return to state that it was the day you brought it home. All of the bloatware, no updates, nothing. Dell, at least in the past, was one of the few companies that gave you the recovery drive plus a DVD, to restore to factory specs.

That being said, the recovery drive may also contain your system restore points. I think that this is likely since you said that the drive was beginning to fill up.

It is my opinion that if you follow the instructions in the tutorial that I already provided, and delete the restore points, you will have extra space. If you do nothing and you do run out of space the oldest point will be deleted to make room for the new.

Bottom line, if you have enough room on your OS drive to play games, etc. leave well enough alone.