Can I copy a large (Daemon) .mdx file to a USB Hard Drive?

Zappastixs · 11 Aug 2018

Hi

Windows 7 64bit

I have just run CCleaner - and for sometime I have also been using
their Wipe Free Space option.

To help squeeze out every MB.

Every time I've used it, it always increases my HD space.

BUT TODAY it has reduced HD of C drive of just over free space of 4GB down to 742MB

I have the paging files set as;

Initial size: 7000 MB
Maximum: 9081 MB

I really do not want to reboot with only 742MB - so I looked for files
that I could delete.

MY QUESTION

On C drive the file that is taking the most space is this;

20130114_1351.mdx 4.39 GB

Location: C:\Users\Public\Documents\DAEMON Tools Images

The .mdx files was created in 2013.

Sitting below this .mdx is another file
20130114_1351.iso with the Daemon icon (red flash)

I haven't got the space to open the Daemon .iso

I haven't got a clue what I've saved here
but because it seems the .mdx is a copy of the .iso . . .

MY QUESTION IS THIS - can I just delete this file?

(save it to USB Hard Drive - just in case)?

WARNING to those that use the ccleaner Wipe Free Space

I have just discovered today that when you use this,
it actually stops you recovering files that have been deleted.

I always thought it was just like "white space" but apparently not.

Any suggestions or help with .mdx / .iso files would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Stephen

Snick · 11 Aug 2018

HI Zappastixs,
DAEMON Tools is a virtual drive and optical disc authoring program for Microsoft Windows. Supported output formats include .iso, .mds .mdf and .mdx. If you don't use it, you can delete it and not affect your OS.

When you delete a file, folder, program, etc. it remain on your drive, the index entry is deleted, thus you can recover most of those programs, provided you have not installed or downloaded any files/folders, etc that needed to utilize some of the occupied space.

When you wipe free space, it doesn't exactly do that. What it does is overwrite, with 1 or 0, all free space, the more passes, the more overwrites. This is usually performed when you are going to sell or discard a drive, Laptop, PC, etc. Additionally, defragmenting a SSD is not recommended, it does not increase it's performance, and will shorten its useful life. Your OS will detect a SSD and disable auto-defrag of that drive.

Take a look at Microsoft's: Disk Cleanup - Extended

If you have numerous restore points, you can consider deleting some of them. Personally, I have restore points disabled and backup to an external HDD.

Nic

Zappastixs · 11 Aug 2018

Thank you so much Snick for your prompt reply and helpful info about drive and so on.

It's put my mind at rest.

Cheers!

Stephen

Snick · 11 Aug 2018

No problem, that's why we're here!
Happy Computing!

Zappastixs · 12 Aug 2018

Message for Nic (SNICK) update from yesterday, Saturday 11 August

Hi Nic

Just a quickie - later in the evening I was thinking about what you wrote about;

"If you have numerous restore points, you can consider deleting some of them.
Personally, I have restore points disabled and backup to an external HDD"

Not that often, but I always have cold sweats if I have to use a restore point.
So to have control sounds like the way to go.

Do you backup just Windows or any changes to HDD as well?

Do you do this once a day, if so do you sacrifice any work in-between if it crashes?

I'm still paranoid from experiences of Windows 95, 98 and to some extent XP Pro
from serious crashes and whathaveyou.

I love Windows 7 - but because of the past I still use a Belts & Braces approach by
manually backing up anything worked on - every half hour to USB Stick and
USB WD Elements HDD.

Can I ask, how do you/what do you backup from Windows to an external HDD?

Because I've just woken the old girl from sleep and checked, and under,

C:\Windows - I could only find a handful of files that changed with today’s date/time.

Such as;

1) WindowsUpdate.log
2) bootstat.dat

Any advice as to best way to do this, or software to buy would be most appreciated.

I've had a quick Google - I realise I'm way behind the curve on this one!

Not enough hours in the day.

Many thanks, Stephen

Snick · 13 Aug 2018

Good questions!

I'm a strong proponent and advocate of open source no cost software especially when that software performs the necessary functions reliably.

I've abandoned Windows System Restore and Backups due to reliability issues. Most every time I've needed a restore point, it didn't work. Nothing like a recovery process that when needed, it is broken! I have restore points disabled because of this and I backup my computers to external hard drives. I use AOMEI backupper free and do a weekly disk image and incremental backups daily. You can choose the time periods for them, as if you wish an incremental backup every hour, etc.

I've tried numerous backup utilities and AOMEI is one of the more user friendly apps. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is quite user friendly in my humble opinion and I as well as other on SevenForums recommend it. Macrium Reflect free is also recommended as well, however, it is a little more daunting to the less tech savvy individual.

AOMEI Backupper Video Tutorials
Macrium Reflect Tutorials

Process of backups is substantially similar in both. You select what you want to backup, how you want it backed up and where you want it backed up.

Nic