Vista - "You are running out of disk space on RECOVERY (D:)" message.

On my new VISTA PC, I tried to use the built-in Backup program. The back-up
apparently failed because there was not enough room on the "RECOVERY (D
disk.

Now, when I re-start my new VISTA PC, I get this message:
"Low Disk Space
You are runing out of disk space on RECOVERY (D. To free space on this
drive by delteing old or unnecessary files, click here..."

When I "Click here," I am then offered "Disk Cleanup for RECOVERY (D."
The Disk Cleanup offers "Office Setup Files" and "Recylce Bin," but both have
"0 bytes" so I can't free up space that way.

When I open the Backup and Restore center and try to backup files, the
program starts by "Creating a shadow copy." However, I then get a message:
"An error occurred...There is not enough space to save the backup files.
Free up disk space or change yur backup settings. (0x81000005)."

If I have limited space on "RECOVERY D," I only need to backup Documents.
But even when I only check "Documents," I get the same error message.

I am thinking that I should delete the contents of RECOERY D and try to
start over again. However, there appears to be some files that came already
installed on RECOVERY D. However, I see a folder called "Backup Set
2008-06-08 193208," which I assume is the failed backup that I tried on June
6. Should I just delete that folder and try again? Or is there some other
way I should try to use the "Backup and Restore" program? I will appreciate
advice.

Robert Judge wrote:Wait for other answers please, just to make sure.

I think the D drive is only going to be made large enough to take what
the OEM thought should go there (Plus a bit of spare space of course),

An incomplete backup file is probably quite useless anyway, so yes that
it what I think you should delete.

My other suggestion would be to avoid using the D drive for anything at
all, if you overwrite something important on it you will not be able to
use it to restore your system to factory defaults.

You could consider backing up that partition onto CD / DVD whatever or
ask the makers for a set of recovery disks, otherwise if it goes south
you may end up having to buy a retail Vista. At least if you had it on
removable media you would stand a chance if the drive itself ever fails
- it does happen I have a year old Seagate peperweight here right now.

Your D: Partition is a partition set up on your computer by the Manufacturer
in case of serious problems in the Vista operation system.
DO NOT TOUCH IT.

You are supposed to make recovery DVDs from it to reinstall Vista in case of
complete Hard Drive failure.
Also, at Startup, there is an F Key option to reinstall vista from it, back
to factory standards, in case of System crash.
To Backup your System/Data, buy an external Hard drive, and save to that.
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia


"Robert Judge" wrote:

"Robert Judge" <RobertJudge@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4A959923-8768-43BD-882B-F6BD35A49EBD@xxxxxx
Backup programs look for a drive or partition other than C because the very
last place that a backup should be deposited..

In your case, it found another partition which unfortunately turned out to
be the manufacturer recovery partition.

It is only just large enough to contain the files to return your computer to
how it was when you first powered it up plus enough free space such that the
computer does not flash up an 'out of space' warning.

Remove any backup files you have sent to the D drive, and all will return to
normal again...

If you want to do proper backups, get a one touch backup device which will
come with its own easy to use software, or get an external USB hard drive
and Acronis TrueImage software..


--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default...help&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

On Fri, 4 Jul 2008 14:51:01 -0700, Robert Judge
<RobertJudge@xxxxxx> wrote:

No, no, no! Do *not* do that!

Your recovery partition (D is one provided by the OEM who built your
computer. It contains the files needed for you to restore Windows
should that be necessary. They provide that in lieu of a Windows CD.

It is not there for you to store your backups nor for you to use for
any other purpose. In fact you should not touch it at all.

Be aware that this is almost certainly not a separate disk, but merely
a partition on your *only* disk. For that reason, even if you could
store backups there, it's a terrible place for them anyway (for the
same reason, it's not good for the files to restore Windows to be
there, but that's all you have; don't lose it). If your drive dies,
all your backups would die with it. If your data is important to you,
its backups need to be on external media.

For more information on backups, read this article on backup
strategies I recently wrote:
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=314

Yes, the files that are there to restore Windows if necessary. That's
all that should be there.


However, I see a folder called "Backup Set--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

I have had the same problem with RECOVERY D: being full.
I also used the Backup routine and it filled D:

Did you find a solution?
Did you delete the backup from D: ?
If so How did you do this?
Thank you.

"Robert Judge" wrote:

On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:48:00 -0700, richard j <richard
j@xxxxxx> wrote:

Two very important points here:

1. First of all, that Recovery Partition on D: is *not* there for you
to put backups on it. The manufacturer of your computer put it there
in lieu of supplying you with a Windows DVD. It's there for you to
restore the system to factory condition, should it become necessary.
Do *nothing* with that partition other than following the
manufacturer's instructions (if they provided them) for burning its
contents to a DVD.

2. Even if that (or some other) partition were available for use as
backup, that would be the single worst and weakest form of backup
there is. It is better than no backup at all, but just barely. It
leaves you susceptible to simultaneous loss of the original and backup
to many of the most common dangers: user errors, severe power
glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus attacks, even theft of the
computer. Real backup needs to be on media stored externally to the
computer.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

__________
Greetings,
I have been recieving "low disc space, recovery D" notices for some time now
and don't seem to be finding a fix I feel applies or that I want to risk
trying. Is this a windows Vista Premium issue or a manufacturers (Dell 530
inspiron) thing? Single hard drive with partician for D.

I believe my Windows "backup" was preset to backup to "Recovery drive D"
(why is that even an option?) for some reason and I was unwittingly using it
as such. Now I have the disk full + message fequently.

Is there a way to accurately and safely identify and remove my
inappropriately "backed up" files from that disk (D)? I do have the DVD's for
the original OS, drivers,ect.

Also; would/should new "Windows updates" automatically be stored onto the
"Recovery d." I have been reluctant to download them since stoage there is
maxxed out.

Any other options for feedback/research, or links gladly accepted.

Thanks, Stacy B.
______________


"Robert Judge" wrote:

"Stacy B." <StacyB@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:AF931909-1948-4072-9EB9-C441963BD39A@xxxxxx
The recovery partition is sized by the manufacturer to hold only the
recovery stuff and enough space such that no 'lack of space' warning is
produced by the system..

Windows Backup is not set by default to save to the recovery partition. What
it does is look for any drive or partition which isn't the system drive,
because backups should NEVER be saved to the same drive where the operating
system is.

In your case, the only other drive or partition just happened to be the
recovery partition.

To clear what you have backed up to the partition, you need to know the name
file(s). If you are not sure, go through the process of backing something up
and see what name is given. Cancel the backup, and then look on the recovery
partition for something very similar. Then delete whatever you find.

If you want to backup, either use the CD/DVD burning software, or purchase a
one touch backup solution (external hard drive and software package).



--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default...help&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

On Sat, 4 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0700, Stacy B.
<StacyB@xxxxxx> wrote:

The recovery partition is *not* meant as a place for you to backup to,
or anything else for that matter. It's a partition created by Dell for
the sole purpose of providing a place for them to give you the files
required to reinstall Windows. It is not there for you to do anything
else with.

Do not backup there, or do anything else there.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup