Last ditch possibility for deletion of the folders is a Live Linux CD or USB Stick - takes windows out of the loop.
Of course this is a last resort option but with care can give required results.
WarningOnly use as last resort and only after backing up everything you can
Next time, stay away from such system tuning software, except maybe CCleaner. Microsoft has done it right this time, win7 runs great out of the box, and stays that way.
Just install a free antivirus software such as MSE, Avira or Avast. Use a standard user account. Together with the built-in firewall, that's all you need to keep your machine fast and secure.
Create a system image once in a while. Do your data backup more often. Remember it's a question when, not if, a file becomes corrupted or hd stops working.
Barman 58
I'm not sure what a Live Linux CD is, and my USB stick only holds 4GB, not 178GB LOL, so I would take it to a tech before I would attempt that, thanks for the suggestion though.
A Guy
thank you for your suggestion of SpaceSniffer. I ran it. It confirmed my suspicions: the backup is occupying 178GB of my 320GB HD. At least now I know for sure where my missing disk space is :)
I ran unlocker and lockhunter, couldn't delete the _Backup.RC folder, nor any of the subfolders. I was able to unlock the folder (which was locked by Explorer.exe) but still can't delete any (folders).
I asked Avanquest for help but so far they have been less than "helpful". Despite pointing them to this thread, they seem to be unable to understand what the problem is.
FYI a "Live CD" or "Live USB Stick" is an operating system that boots & runs directly from either a CD or Stick.
This allows you to work on the files on a system without any of the system protection that would normally prevent access to the files.
As you say this is probably an option for a local technician as incorrect use can cause serious damage to the system.
Hmmm, usually either Unlocker or LockHunter will give the option to delete on reboot. OK, here's an idea, download the free FileKiller. Open the exe file, navigate to the folder with all the files, left click and highlight several as a test. Click on Kill Files on Grid.
Click Yes on confirmation popup.
See if it will delete them. If so, left click and highlight them all, and then delete away. Let us know. I'm sure we can figure out how to get them deleted. A Guy
hello again "A Guy"
thank you for the FileKiller. Unfortunately it kills only files, not folders.
I have discovered an even more complicated mess since I was last here though... brace yourself !! Thank you so much for your help....and your patience :)
I will start off by saying that I have never liked using Windows system backups, because I just do NOT understand all the complicated instructions. I have been using EASEUS backup to a 1TB XHD each week. I backup my desktop (where I keep everything) to my USB thumbdrive daily. I've been doing it that way for a long time because I'm comfortable with it. I repeat: I will NEVER be comfortable with Windows system backups.
Well... somehow this computer was set to back up every day, (it may have come from Dell that way for all I know) and that's why I have 178 GB of backups to get rid of.
As a diagnostic, and on a hunch, I created a restore point this morning at 955 am, then turned off system restore. System backup is off.
I discovered that the folder in question is NOT an Avanquest recovery commander backup (also RC) - it is a system folder with the attribute RHSD. No wonder I couldn't delete it. Oddly, I was able to delete the files within it.
R read only
H hidden
S system
D ? directory ?
There is a screenshot of the folder attached to this posting.
contents of the folder:
title contains create date previous versions tab
CP156 12 folders sept 26, 2010 aug 22, 2011 955 am
CP158 12 folders oct. 10, 2010 as above
CP159 12 folders oct. 10, 2010 as above
CP160 12 folders dec. 8, 2010 as above
CP162 12 folders + jan 25, 2011 as above
CP163 12 folders april 9, 2011 as above
CP164 12 folders april 16, 2011 as above
CP165 12 folders may 7, 2011 as above
CP166 12 folders july 9, 2011 as above
CP168 177 folders aug 6, 2011 as above
fyi the properties of that backup folder say there are 7805 items in there
+ AVG command line scan (safe mode) identified this:
C:\_Backup.RC\Windows\CP162\D0000000.rcd\AppData.rcd\Local.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Application Data.rcd\Google.rcd\Chrome.rcd\Application.rcd\8.0.552.237.rcd\gears.dll.rcd Corrupted executable file Object was moved to Virus Vault.
I have no idea what to do next to get rid of these restore points. When I go into System Restore it shows only the latest restore point of this morning....August 22, 2011 @955 a.m.
*sigh*
Last edited by bootsmom; 22 Aug 2011 at 16:09.
Ahhh, an interesting wrinkle, good job on the detective work. There must be a task scheduled to make these backups. You'd have to do some digging to find it though. Suggest you open the Task Scheduler:
Start> All Programs> Accesories> System Tools> Task Scheduler
You will see a section titled Active Tasks
One of these will be your task. Hopefully obviously named (or another member will know the name and post here). That task will be scheduled to run every day if it is running everyday as you say. You'd want to stop the task creating these backups as deleting the folder will be useless if it is then recreated.
To delete this folder, I believe you'd have to log in to the hidden Administrator account, and then should be able to delete the folder.
Hold tight, I am going to post to the Gurus here asking for more help.
A Guy
Ahhh, an interesting wrinkle, good job on the detective work. There must be a task scheduled to make these backups. You'd have to do some digging to find it though. Suggest you open the Task Scheduler:
Start> All Programs> Accesories> System Tools> Task Scheduler
You will see a section titled Active Tasks
One of these will be your task. Hopefully obviously named (or another member will know the name and post here). That task will be scheduled to run every day if it is running everyday as you say. You'd want to stop the task creating these backups as deleting the folder will be useless if it is then recreated.
To delete this folder, I believe you'd have to log in to the hidden Administrator account, and then should be able to delete the folder.
Hold tight, I am going to post to the Gurus here asking for more help.
A Guy
oh wow what a find......I have 85 scheduled tasks! I did not set these up.
thank you so much - I found the following entry !
sorry I'll try to calm down here, got a little excited
task: system restore
next run time: 935 this evening (aug 22)
trigger: at 1:35 pm every day - after triggered, repeat every 1 hour indefinitely ~!
I found another called
task: SR (system snapshot on startup)
next run time is blank
trigger: at system startup
I went into "Task Scheduler Library" , found "system restore" and SR and disabled them both YAY !
not to worry I have one restore point left, created this morning.
I found 48 entries similar to this : (numbers)
{F36D6867-389C-4400-9769-F9997A39482D}
trigger: when the task is created or modified
I examined their properties and they are programs like Windows Live Mail, Paint Shop Pro, etc. I deleted some of them already.
thank you for everything you are doing to help, much appreciated.
Boots
Last edited by bootsmom; 22 Aug 2011 at 20:42.
you are doing well.
You are on the right track.
Via Task Scheduler,
simple Disable all tasks (don't worry your computer won't crash and burn) despite what some of the old-timers think and I'm older than nearly all of them.
Now you go back and delete all of those you don't recognize. Once again, thou shalt sweat it not.
----------------------------------------
Make yourself a System Repair disc.
---------------------------------------
CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button
-------------------------------------
Boot from the System Repair disc.
-------------------------------------
GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
1) Insert System Repair Disc into optical reader.
2) Shutdown computer.
3) Boot up computer from the System Repair Disc
If your computer doesn’t boot from the optical drive, then
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button,
start tapping the F2 key to get to the BIOS to change the boot order
On some computers, Immediately after pushing the Power ON button, start tapping the F12 key and choose CD/DVD to change the boot order only for this time.
4) Wait while a mini-version of Windows is loaded and finally the SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog appears.
5) NEXT | SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog
will search your system for installed versions of Windows.
6) select the Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows radio button |
7) NEXT | Choose Command Prompt
Run desired commands and type EXIT when finished.
Remove the System Repair Disc.
Shutdown computer.
Power on computer.
Go to a command prompt and see if you can't get rid of many of those troublesome files.
Also Win 7 Backup is much, much better than thqt from vista or xp. In fact, Win 7 Backup and Restore works perfectly. This is the only backup that I use or will recommend. If you get around to that point, there is a marvelous tutorial here on making a System Image backup.
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Quote
thank you for the explanation LOL.
