How to delete intermediate system backup images?

[Solarlynx]

Hi!

Can anyone tell me how to delete only intermediate system backup images of windows own backup facility? I want to keep the first and the last images and delete all images between them. Is it possible?

Thank you.

 

[marsmimar]

Hello Solarlynx and welcome to Seven Forums.

Without knowing which program you used to create the system images this is just general information. If the images are stored on an external hard drive, plug the drive into the computer. Open the drive and you should see the saved system images. Either highlight the image file and click the keyboard delete key or right click the file and click delete in the drop down menu. Follow any prompts that may appear.

 

[Solarlynx]

Thank you for your answer.
I mean windows own system backup facility. And the problem is that windows deletes old system images on its own - without asking me. Though I designated one 50 Gb partition for windows backup. First I was delighted with this Windows-7 backup option but then I was unpleasantly surprised to find that windows deletes old system images (I mean images of the whole system partition, not just restore points - where it stores some system files). Windows started to delete old system backup images when it was only about 50% full. I want to keep the oldest survived image and some recent.

That's why I ask if it is possible to delete intermediate windows backup system images.

Thank you.

 

[wanchoo]

If the intermediate images that you have created are not full ones but incremental or differential then if you delete them then any of the images made after the last deleted image will not work.

If however all the intermediate images are full images then you can delete them like any other file. Therefore to achieve your end make a full image of your system and delete all the intermediate images.

The first image would always be a full one so you can keep it and restore it whenever you want to.

 

[mjf]

Hi!

Can anyone tell me how to delete only intermediate system backup images of windows own backup facility? I want to keep the first and the last images and delete all images between them. Is it possible?

Thank you.

If I take you literally. You are using Windows inbuilt imagining. It creates a current image and can store backward difference images in shadow storage. So I think the answer to your question is no or certainly not easily.
Now a personal viewpoint:
I would not create multiple Windows images which store difference images in shadow storage. I think Windows imaging is fine provide you make one image then rename and create a new one or delete. You can move the one off WindowsImageBackup folder to a folder with the existing partition. At restore time rename or move the folder back to a root partition with the name WindowsImageBackup.
If you want more reliable differential or incremental imaging a paid 3rd party product may be better such as the paid version of Macrium Reflect. You could also consider Acronis.

 

[Solarlynx]

Thank you for your answers, wanchoo and mjf.
Yes, I use windows inbuilt image backup. I recently restored to the oldest image and was unpleasantly surprised to find that the system partition was not really restored to that state - after restoration it has folders created long after the imaging. I don't confuse things - I mean imaging, not a restore point which contains some system files.

 

[wanchoo]

If you are browsing these Forums regularly you might have noticed that W 7 Imaging Software hasn't got such a good press, although there some who use it regularly and without problems.

Third party Imaging Software like Acronis TrueImage (my favourite) or Macrium Reflect (liked most over here) have got a far better press. I would suggest that you should switch to one of these although there are many other applications available for imaging. This has already been suggested by mjf and I fully endorse his opinion.

Thank you for your answers, wanchoo and mjf.
Yes, I use windows inbuilt image backup. I recently restored to the oldest image and was unpleasantly surprised to find that the system partition was not really restored to that state - after restoration it has folders created long after the imaging. I don't confuse things - I mean imaging, not a restore point which contains some system files.

 

[Solarlynx]

Yeah, these Forums are very helpful.
Before installation of Win7 to one my comp. I had some experience with Clonezilla and Macrium free (though I din't have to restore). So I switched to Clonezilla. Anyway I wonder why Win7 can't completely restore to the imaged state? That's a great cons to the Windows.

 

[mjf]

Anyway I wonder why Win7 can't completely restore to the imaged state? That's a great cons to the Windows.

Well it can. I use it all the time on 2 PCs. Like I said above I make single images only using the "Create a system image" button.
Cons:
Some people find it confusing.
Others question its reliability.
It has restricted flexibility which is part of the reason I also use Macrium.

I view imaging as important as anti malware protection. Everyone has their favourites for both. There are so many alternatives to choose from.