Solved Free Hard drive space shrinking

[GradeAbra]

I am using "Vista Business". It seems like there is a File backup feature. Is this what you are talking about?

I have another quick question regarding system restore.

Ok, i reduce my Maximum Shadow copy/restore point space to 3GB like what you did in another Tutoria. Often when the space reaches 3GB, my latest restore point got deleted and left nothing there. I got back my 3GB....

This can be dangerous if i am not aware of it and my PC suffer failure. Do you have any solution of fix this?

Thanks

 

[Brink]

GradeAbra,

Yep, your edition includes the Back up Computer feature.

The only solution to the max size issue is to increase the size a bit more to allow more restore points to be stored. Perhaps around 10 GB or so.

 

[GradeAbra]

Shawn,

Is File Back Up better than System Restore? I wonder will it eat up space like system restore/shadow copy?
Now i can finally backup file and turn off System Restore for good!

Thanks

 

[Brink]

You cannot really compare them since they are not the same. As you know System Restore can only backs up protected system files as restore points.


You can read more about the Back up File feature below. This is not the same as the Back up Computer feature.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/100133-backup-files.html


Personally, as long as you keep good regular Back up Computer images, you will not need System Restore.

 

[GradeAbra]

Well, before i do it i want to know roughly how much space will this backup image takes up? Most importantly will this feature eat up space on its own?

 

[Brink]

The amount of disk space used by the Back up Computer feature will depend on how much used space is on your C: drive that it is backing up. It compresses it pretty well, but I would expect at least 20 GB.

You cannot select the to back up to the C: drive since that is the one you are creating a backup of. You will need to select another driver or partition to store the drive image backup to instead.

 

[GradeAbra]

The amount of disk space used by the Back up Computer feature will depend on how much used space is on your C: drive that it is backing up. It compresses it pretty well, but I would expect at least 20 GB.

You cannot select the to back up to the C: drive since that is the one you are creating a backup of. You will need to select another driver or partition to store the drive image backup to instead.

If thats the case, can i store this image in other portable drive or DVD? My pc has another drive but i want to left it unuse. What do you mean by partition by the way.

 

[Brink]

A partiton is where you shrink a hard drive to create a separate unallocated blank space on the same hard drive that is then formated. This partition can then be used like a separate hard drive, but on the same one hard drive.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95398-disk-management-shrink-partition.html

Yes, you can store the drive image on the portable drive, DVDs, or partition if there is enough free space on them for the drive image.

 

[GradeAbra]

Its getting confusing. So which step should i do first? I have not backup any file image yet. Isit possible to store the backup file on the same C drive i am using now? Dvds may not have enough space for image this big unless i can compress it to smaller size.

 

[Brink]

Sorry, you cannot save a Back up Computer image on the same C: drive or partition that you are backing up.

You can create another partition about 35 GB from the C: drive and save the Back up Computer image to that new partition instead, but it would be better to save the image on a separate hard drive completely.

 

[GradeAbra]

So the first step i should do now is to perform "Back up Computer" first?

Then the "create another partition" yes?

Oh i forgot to ask. After the Partition from C drive is created, can i merge then back in the future?

 

[Brink]

You will need to create the new partition first, then perform "Back up Computer".


Yes, you can merge (extend) C back into the partition again whenever you like.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95418-disk-management-delete-extend.html

 

[GradeAbra]

Isit ok if i straight away create the image without creating the partition first? So the image i created is the same size as my "used" space inside C Drive? After the image is created, it will remain like this forever untill i update it again right?

 

[Brink]

No. You cannot save the "Back Up Computer" image on the same Vista drive or partition that you are backing up. It must be a separate drive or partition. You will need to create the new partition first.

 

[GradeAbra]

Thanks dude i will give it a try.

 

[Brink]

Your welcome.

 

[GradeAbra]

Brink,

I notice that my pc has some extra partition created, when i brought it for checkup. Is this a "back up image" actually? Did someone already created them for me on D and F Drive??

Heres the picture....

 

[Brink]

GradeAbra,

It looks like it is the D: OEM Vista Recovery partition. Most likely System Restore points on F though.

Can you post a screenshot of Disk Management? It will give a better idea of the arrangement of your hard drives.

 

[GradeAbra]

Brink,

Where is the Disk Management part? Thanks

 

[Brink]

1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View)

A) Click on the Administrative Tools icon.

B) Click on Computer Management.
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2. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

3. In the left pane, click on Disk Management under Storage.