Vista - HUGE system volume Information

**ACiD GRiM** · 06-11-2008

I have a 198 GB HDD that has only ~3GB of space left. I cannot delete any more data, i already did disk cleanup and deleted any non-critical files. I did a disk analazyz and found that the system volume information folder is taking up an enormous 89 GB of space that's almost as large as the files I put on there (107GB). This is my server machine (wndows server 2008) so there is not any system restore to reduce. Is there anyway to safely reduce the space that this takes up.

A quick peak into the file tree shows that just one file takes up over 67 GB of space.

I'm also using Bitlocker on this and all drives.

06-12-2008

Server questions should be asked in a server newsgroup.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@xxxxxx
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/

"ACiD GRiM" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:e4fa293bce82447dd879ecd6f32b2217@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Quote:

>
> I have a 198 GB HDD that has only ~3GB of space left. I cannot delete
> any more data, i already did disk cleanup and deleted any non-critical
> files. I did a disk analazyz and found that the system volume
> information folder is taking up an enormous 89 GB of space that's almost
> as large as the files I put on there (107GB). This is my server machine
> (wndows server 2008) so there is not any system restore to reduce. Is
> there anyway to safely reduce the space that this takes up.
>
> A quick peak into the file tree shows that just one file takes up over
> 67 GB of space.
>
> I'm also using Bitlocker on this and all drives.
>
>
> --
> ACiD GRiM

**ACiD GRiM** · 06-12-2008

Oh, I forgot to mention that I connect the same drives to my x64 Vista Ultimate install, and there is no mention that they are being monitored by system restore, so there isn't a way for me to reduce the size that way. If i took the pc off line and deleted any of these files what would happen? I know its a really bad thing to do, but i could be mistaken there. The only reason that I mentioned that I was using WinS 2K8 was that I was that I thought It would help anyone helping try other things than system restore, that's what I always see people suggesting elsewhere and the threads go nowhere.

Edit: I just did some research, and Its a bunch of Volume Shadow Copy images from past installs and switching the HDD from different computers. What I need to know now is how to completely turn VSS and delete the VSC images for good. I don't need them at all.

06-12-2008

Sorry I don't have a clue what to advise you given this scenario but I wish
you luck resolving it.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@xxxxxx
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/

"ACiD GRiM" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:9ff660cdecbe02f582de1632c2fd662a@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Quote:

>
> Oh, I forgot to mention that I connect the same drives to my x64 Vista
> Ultimate install, and there is no mention that they are being monitored
> by system restore, so there isn't a way for me to reduce the size that
> way. If i took the pc off line and deleted any of these files what would
> happen? I know its a really bad thing to do, but i could be mistaken
> there. The only reason that I mentioned that I was using WinS 2K8 was
> that I was that I thought It would help anyone helping try other things
> than system restore, that's what I always see people suggesting
> elsewhere and the threads go nowhere.
>
>
> --
> ACiD GRiM

SCSIraidGURU · 06-12-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by ACiD GRiM

I have a 198 GB HDD that has only ~3GB of space left. I cannot delete any more data, i already did disk cleanup and deleted any non-critical files. I did a disk analazyz and found that the system volume information folder is taking up an enormous 89 GB of space that's almost as large as the files I put on there (107GB). This is my server machine (wndows server 2008) so there is not any system restore to reduce. Is there anyway to safely reduce the space that this takes up.

A quick peak into the file tree shows that just one file takes up over 67 GB of space.

I'm also using Bitlocker on this and all drives.

Copy the files to another hard drive. Format the hard drive and copy the files back.

**ACiD GRiM** · 06-12-2008

Ok, I solved it thanks to a lucky post here mentioning vssadmin briefly. That's all I needed to start trying out the command operators and figured it out on my own. So for anyone who is having a similar problem, much better than backing up your drives lol.

open up your command line and type

Code:

vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=<driveletter> /on=<driveletter> /maxsize=500MB

500MB is the minimum, if you are using vista, disabling system restore's shadow copy feature may delete all of the files (not just resize it), and for server 2008 uninstalling the "server backup feature" may do the same thing.

An example execution would be:

Code:

vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=x: /on=x: /maxsize=500MB

the drive letter should be the same for both, and you can't leave one operator out. after doing this, I gained over 80GB of HDD space back! YEAH!

06-13-2008

Richard

For future reference:
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/diskspacev.html

--
~~~~
Regards

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:91C9CD57-A9A3-470A-B1EC-D7E3ABC5D5D8@xxxxxx

Quote:

> Sorry I don't have a clue what to advise you given this scenario but I
> wish you luck resolving it.
>
> --
> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@xxxxxx
> * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
>
>
> "ACiD GRiM" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
> news:9ff660cdecbe02f582de1632c2fd662a@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Quote:

>>
>> Oh, I forgot to mention that I connect the same drives to my x64 Vista
>> Ultimate install, and there is no mention that they are being monitored
>> by system restore, so there isn't a way for me to reduce the size that
>> way. If i took the pc off line and deleted any of these files what would
>> happen? I know its a really bad thing to do, but i could be mistaken
>> there. The only reason that I mentioned that I was using WinS 2K8 was
>> that I was that I thought It would help anyone helping try other things
>> than system restore, that's what I always see people suggesting
>> elsewhere and the threads go nowhere.
>>
>>
>> --
>> ACiD GRiM

>

06-24-2008

Do you have a licensed and legal copy of Windows Server 2008?

"ACiD GRiM" wrote:

Quote:

>
> I have a 198 GB HDD that has only ~3GB of space left. I cannot delete
> any more data, i already did disk cleanup and deleted any non-critical
> files. I did a disk analazyz and found that the system volume
> information folder is taking up an enormous 89 GB of space that's almost
> as large as the files I put on there (107GB). This is my server machine
> (wndows server 2008) so there is not any system restore to reduce. Is
> there anyway to safely reduce the space that this takes up.
>
> A quick peak into the file tree shows that just one file takes up over
> 67 GB of space.
>
> I'm also using Bitlocker on this and all drives.
>
>
> --
> ACiD GRiM
>

06-24-2008

Do you have a legal copy of Window Vista Ultimate?

"ACiD GRiM" wrote:

Quote:

>
> Ok, I solved it thanks to a lucky post here mentioning vssadmin briefly.
> That's all I needed to start trying out the command operators and
> figured it out on my own. So for anyone who is having a similar problem,
> much better than backing up your drives lol.
>
> open up your command line and type
>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=<driveletter> /on=<driveletter> /maxsize=500MB
> --------------------
> 500MB is the minimum, if you are using vista, disabling system restore's
> shadow copy feature may delete all of the files (not just resize it),
> and for server 2008 uninstalling the "server backup feature" may do the
> same thing.
>
> An example execution would be:
>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=x: /on=x: /maxsize=500MB
> --------------------
> the drive letter should be the same for both, and you can't leave one
> operator out. after doing this, I gained over 80GB of HDD space back!
> YEAH!
>
>
> --
> ACiD GRiM
>

**ACiD GRiM** · 06-30-2008

why the hell would it matter?

06-11-2008	#1 (permalink)
ACiD GRiM Vista Ultimate x64, Windows Server 2008 x86 18 posts	HUGE system volume Information I have a 198 GB HDD that has only ~3GB of space left. I cannot delete any more data, i already did disk cleanup and deleted any non-critical files. I did a disk analazyz and found that the system volume information folder is taking up an enormous 89 GB of space that's almost as large as the files I put on there (107GB). This is my server machine (wndows server 2008) so there is not any system restore to reduce. Is there anyway to safely reduce the space that this takes up. A quick peak into the file tree shows that just one file takes up over 67 GB of space. I'm also using Bitlocker on this and all drives.
My System Specs

06-12-2008	#2 (permalink)
Richard G. Harper n/a posts	Re: HUGE system volume Information Server questions should be asked in a server newsgroup. -- Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@xxxxxx * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/ * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/ "ACiD GRiM" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:e4fa293bce82447dd879ecd6f32b2217@xxxxxx-gateway.com... Quote: > > I have a 198 GB HDD that has only ~3GB of space left. I cannot delete > any more data, i already did disk cleanup and deleted any non-critical > files. I did a disk analazyz and found that the system volume > information folder is taking up an enormous 89 GB of space that's almost > as large as the files I put on there (107GB). This is my server machine > (wndows server 2008) so there is not any system restore to reduce. Is > there anyway to safely reduce the space that this takes up. > > A quick peak into the file tree shows that just one file takes up over > 67 GB of space. > > I'm also using Bitlocker on this and all drives. > > > -- > ACiD GRiM
My System Specs

06-12-2008	#3 (permalink)
ACiD GRiM Vista Ultimate x64, Windows Server 2008 x86 18 posts	Re: HUGE system volume Information Oh, I forgot to mention that I connect the same drives to my x64 Vista Ultimate install, and there is no mention that they are being monitored by system restore, so there isn't a way for me to reduce the size that way. If i took the pc off line and deleted any of these files what would happen? I know its a really bad thing to do, but i could be mistaken there. The only reason that I mentioned that I was using WinS 2K8 was that I was that I thought It would help anyone helping try other things than system restore, that's what I always see people suggesting elsewhere and the threads go nowhere. Edit: I just did some research, and Its a bunch of Volume Shadow Copy images from past installs and switching the HDD from different computers. What I need to know now is how to completely turn VSS and delete the VSC images for good. I don't need them at all. Last edited by ACiD GRiM; 06-12-2008 at 12:37 PM..
My System Specs

06-12-2008	#4 (permalink)
Richard G. Harper n/a posts	Re: HUGE system volume Information Sorry I don't have a clue what to advise you given this scenario but I wish you luck resolving it. -- Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@xxxxxx * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/ * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/ "ACiD GRiM" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:9ff660cdecbe02f582de1632c2fd662a@xxxxxx-gateway.com... Quote: > > Oh, I forgot to mention that I connect the same drives to my x64 Vista > Ultimate install, and there is no mention that they are being monitored > by system restore, so there isn't a way for me to reduce the size that > way. If i took the pc off line and deleted any of these files what would > happen? I know its a really bad thing to do, but i could be mistaken > there. The only reason that I mentioned that I was using WinS 2K8 was > that I was that I thought It would help anyone helping try other things > than system restore, that's what I always see people suggesting > elsewhere and the threads go nowhere. > > > -- > ACiD GRiM
My System Specs

06-12-2008	#5 (permalink)
SCSIraidGURU Vista x64 Ultimate 1,823 posts	Re: HUGE system volume Information Quote: Originally Posted by ACiD GRiM I have a 198 GB HDD that has only ~3GB of space left. I cannot delete any more data, i already did disk cleanup and deleted any non-critical files. I did a disk analazyz and found that the system volume information folder is taking up an enormous 89 GB of space that's almost as large as the files I put on there (107GB). This is my server machine (wndows server 2008) so there is not any system restore to reduce. Is there anyway to safely reduce the space that this takes up. A quick peak into the file tree shows that just one file takes up over 67 GB of space. I'm also using Bitlocker on this and all drives. Copy the files to another hard drive. Format the hard drive and copy the files back.
My System Specs

06-12-2008	#6 (permalink)
ACiD GRiM Vista Ultimate x64, Windows Server 2008 x86 18 posts	Re: HUGE system volume Information Ok, I solved it thanks to a lucky post here mentioning vssadmin briefly. That's all I needed to start trying out the command operators and figured it out on my own. So for anyone who is having a similar problem, much better than backing up your drives lol. open up your command line and type Code: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=<driveletter> /on=<driveletter> /maxsize=500MB 500MB is the minimum, if you are using vista, disabling system restore's shadow copy feature may delete all of the files (not just resize it), and for server 2008 uninstalling the "server backup feature" may do the same thing. An example execution would be: Code: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=x: /on=x: /maxsize=500MB the drive letter should be the same for both, and you can't leave one operator out. after doing this, I gained over 80GB of HDD space back! YEAH! Last edited by ACiD GRiM; 06-12-2008 at 08:13 PM.. Reason: simi-credit to some random post here
My System Specs

06-13-2008	#7 (permalink)
Gerry n/a posts	Re: HUGE system volume Information Richard For future reference: http://bertk.mvps.org/html/diskspacev.html -- ~~~~ Regards Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Richard G. Harper" <rgharper@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:91C9CD57-A9A3-470A-B1EC-D7E3ABC5D5D8@xxxxxx Quote: > Sorry I don't have a clue what to advise you given this scenario but I > wish you luck resolving it. > > -- > Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] rgharper@xxxxxx > * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/ > * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups > * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/ > > > "ACiD GRiM" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message > news:9ff660cdecbe02f582de1632c2fd662a@xxxxxx-gateway.com... Quote: >> >> Oh, I forgot to mention that I connect the same drives to my x64 Vista >> Ultimate install, and there is no mention that they are being monitored >> by system restore, so there isn't a way for me to reduce the size that >> way. If i took the pc off line and deleted any of these files what would >> happen? I know its a really bad thing to do, but i could be mistaken >> there. The only reason that I mentioned that I was using WinS 2K8 was >> that I was that I thought It would help anyone helping try other things >> than system restore, that's what I always see people suggesting >> elsewhere and the threads go nowhere. >> >> >> -- >> ACiD GRiM >
My System Specs

06-24-2008	#8 (permalink)
ConcernedCitizen n/a posts	RE: HUGE system volume Information Do you have a licensed and legal copy of Windows Server 2008? "ACiD GRiM" wrote: Quote: > > I have a 198 GB HDD that has only ~3GB of space left. I cannot delete > any more data, i already did disk cleanup and deleted any non-critical > files. I did a disk analazyz and found that the system volume > information folder is taking up an enormous 89 GB of space that's almost > as large as the files I put on there (107GB). This is my server machine > (wndows server 2008) so there is not any system restore to reduce. Is > there anyway to safely reduce the space that this takes up. > > A quick peak into the file tree shows that just one file takes up over > 67 GB of space. > > I'm also using Bitlocker on this and all drives. > > > -- > ACiD GRiM >
My System Specs

06-24-2008	#9 (permalink)
ConcernedCitizen n/a posts	Re: HUGE system volume Information Do you have a legal copy of Window Vista Ultimate? "ACiD GRiM" wrote: Quote: > > Ok, I solved it thanks to a lucky post here mentioning vssadmin briefly. > That's all I needed to start trying out the command operators and > figured it out on my own. So for anyone who is having a similar problem, > much better than backing up your drives lol. > > open up your command line and type > > > Code: > -------------------- > vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=<driveletter> /on=<driveletter> /maxsize=500MB > -------------------- > 500MB is the minimum, if you are using vista, disabling system restore's > shadow copy feature may delete all of the files (not just resize it), > and for server 2008 uninstalling the "server backup feature" may do the > same thing. > > An example execution would be: > > > Code: > -------------------- > vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=x: /on=x: /maxsize=500MB > -------------------- > the drive letter should be the same for both, and you can't leave one > operator out. after doing this, I gained over 80GB of HDD space back! > YEAH! > > > -- > ACiD GRiM >
My System Specs

06-30-2008	#10 (permalink)
ACiD GRiM Vista Ultimate x64, Windows Server 2008 x86 18 posts	Re: HUGE system volume Information why the hell would it matter?
My System Specs

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