Question about my WD external HDD and W7 backup

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  1. Posts : 128
    Windows 7
       #1

    Question about my WD external HDD and W7 backup


    I used W7's backup utility to back up my files onto my WD external HDD and canceled in the middle of it. After I canceled the backup I manually deleted the shadow copies of my backup on my WD HDD so that I can restart. I noticed however that my external HDD has less free space than it did before I even started the backup. I made sure I deleted my backups and I also cleared the recycle bin in the WD HDD.

    I went even further to add up all of my files on the HDD and it only added up to 571GB and when I look at the properties of the drive, it tell me that I have used up 571GB for "other files" yet I still have 178GB of "system image."
    Where is this system image restored and how do I delete it to make up more space on my drive? I set up my computer to show hidden folders but I do not see this system image anywhere.
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  2. Posts : 1,470
    Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition
       #2

    make sure you have hidden files shown inside you external drive, that could be the problem
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  3. Posts : 128
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I already set the folder options to show hidden files/folders
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  4. Posts : 128
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Please help me out somebody
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  5. Posts : 3,141
    Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
       #5

    On my external the folder is called 'WindowsImageBackup' and it is not hidden. Do you have system restore/shadow copy enabled for that drive? To check-Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System. Click on system protection in the navigation pane.

    Question about my WD external HDD and W7 backup-syspro.png
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  6. Posts : 128
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Yes I select the shadow option when I backed up my files.

    The thing is, I manually deleted WindowsImageBackup already. I right clicked on ALL of my files on my external HDD and it only adds up to 571GB, yet when I right click on the HDD and click properties, it says that I've used 749GB.
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  7. Posts : 222
    Windows 7 64 bit build 7600
       #7

    That is a bug I'm sure not only you recognized . I know many people who expereinced this, including myself. If you use windows 7 to backup using image backup to an external hard drive, you must take care not to delete that file manually. This is because somehow, doing so would delete the folder but a portion of the backup data is still on the harddrive, data that isn't accessible because it has no folder structure. Do garysgold's suggestion and go to system protection and disable protection on your external hard drive. Also you can click on taht external hard drive and click on configure. There is an option there to remove all restore points.
    If you follow the procedure correctly, the extra space should be back in your hdd in no time~!
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  8. Posts : 128
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #8

    ^ Im not sure what garygold is suggesting me to do exactly...

    I deleted it manually because Windows7 told me that I can delete the files manually if I wished, after I canceled the backup in the middle of it.
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  9. Posts : 3,141
    Vista Ult 64 bit Seven Ult RTM x64
       #9

    Shadow copy is different from an image backup. Shadow copies are made whenever a restore point is created. If you go to the tab in the pic, you can select your external drive from the list, click configure and turn off restore points for that disk. When you do it will delete that info from the drive/partition. That is an awful lot of space for restore points though. If restore points are not turned on for that drive, then that may not be the problem.

    Question about my WD external HDD and W7 backup-sys1.png
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  10. Posts : 128
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #10

    ^ thanks for clearing that up. Got it!!
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