How Do I Delete old Windows Backup Files ?

[old man]

I had windows 7 keep giving me a blue screen more often than not. I decided to reinstall windows. All went well and I don't get any blue screens. Now most of my 500g drive is 2 files (windows.old and windows.old.000). Now I don't have any room to backup my computer. These 2 files take up about 300g. I went to my local computer store and they this is normal for windows 7 and the files just keep getting bigger as time goes on. They advised me that I should have at least 2T drive to keep running windows 7. So my question is, can I delete the old backup files because I'm only using less than 200g on an ongoing bases. My operating system tells me that I don't have backup setup and I don't have room to set it up. I would have just over 300g free if I could delete these 2 files.

 

[seavixen32]

They told you you need a 2TB to run Windows 7? They're after your cash so don't listen to them.

The minimum requirement for Windows 7 is around 20GB, but to allow for your applications you need 100GB or more, depending what you're installing.

As for your problem, you can regain disc space by:

Uninstalling any programs you never use.

Running disk defrag.

Using Disk Cleanup. Just click Start and type Disk Cleanup in the Search field then double-click the program to launch it.

Enable each item that you want cleaned then click OK to run the utility.

As for backups, you need an external drive. If you try and use your internal hard drive and it fails, you've lost everything.

 

[pebbly]

Hi oldman welcome to the forums, have a look at this tutorial option 4 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129976-hard-disk-space-free-up-recover.html

 

[Brink]

Hello old man, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If there is nothing else on the drive other than the Windows Backups that you wanted to delete, then you could do a quick format of only that drive letter to get rid of them fast.

If there is, then you could just manually delete the drive letter:\computer name\Backup Set YYYY-MM-DD HHMMSS folder on the drive that contains the backups. If you get access denied, then open each folder in Backup Set first and approve, then try deleting them. The NOTE box at the top of the tutorial below can help give you more information about this.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/628-backup-user-system-files-delete-backups.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[old man]

Thanks for the comeback seavixen32 and pebbly. The programs I do use take up a minor part of the total drive space. I tried to delete the 2 files as the administrator and still access is denied. I'm reading so much I lost my place. I did see something on taking ownership of the files before I can delete them, but I don't know how? Adminitrator does not give authority to delete them

 

[old man]

Thanks Brink I have everything on that drive....my only drive

 

[pebbly]

Thanks for the comeback seavixen32 and pebbly. The programs I do use take up a minor part of the total drive space. I tried to delete the 2 files as the administrator and still access is denied. I'm reading so much I lost my place. I did see something on taking ownership of the files before I can delete them, but I don't know how? Adminitrator does not give authority to delete them

Here you go old man http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html this should help you

 

[old man]

Thanks again pebbly, I took ownership and adminitrator and I still was denied to delete the files. The ownership ran ok and gave me ownership...so I'm still missing a step ????

 

[Bill2]

Download and install unlocker. Right click on the stubborn folders, click unlocker, accept whatever it offers to do (unlocker can help you-choose action blah blah).

Download Unlocker 1.9.1 - FileHippo.com

 

[pebbly]

Thanks again pebbly, I took ownership and adminitrator and I still was denied to delete the files. The ownership ran ok and gave me ownership...so I'm still missing a step ????

Hi old man you may have to run the take ownership on each directory seperately ,not 100% sure on that , one of our more experienced members may jump in to help

 

[old man]

I see the ownership changed. Now it is owned by the computers name " John-PC " So can I make a new user with administative power " ? The only user on the system is " John " and guest (not used).

 

[pebbly]

I see the ownership changed. Now it is owned by the computers name " John-PC " So can I make a new user with administative power " ? The only user on the system is " John " and guest (not used).

Give it a try the computers name and user name have to be different anyway

 

[old man]

Bill2, Thanks, good try, but that won't work also..

 

[Bill2]

Try a couple of things. One, try this tool.

LockHunter is a free 64/32 bit tool to delete files blocked by any processes

If still no joy, boot from your install dvd, choose Repair your computer- Command prompt, then manually delete the folders.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/55721-folder-delete-command-prompt.html

You can try the manual delete inside windows too.

 

[old man]

Well, when I purchased the computer windows was already installed. I was directed to backup to dvd. I have DVD's 1,2,3,4. I don't get the option to repair windows, just install. That is how I got the files installed on my drive in the first place. I backed up my computer to re-install windows, now I can't get rid of the files. So I don't get a option for a command prompt, just install windows...

 

[Bill2]

Well, when I purchased the computer windows was already installed. I was directed to backup to dvd. I have DVD's 1,2,3,4. I don't get the option to repair windows, just install. That is how I got the files installed on my drive in the first place. I backed up my computer to re-install windows, now I can't get rid of the files. So I don't get a option for a command prompt, just install windows...

OK. Download the 64 bit system repair disk from here.

** LINK REMOVED - Violates Microsoft distribution agreement **

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

 

[old man]

Thanks Bill2, that would have been very helpful before I re-installed Windows and got into this mess. I'm going to make a repair disk for the next time. Before I re-install Windows...