Removing bloat in System Volume information

[loninappleton]

I'm running Glary Untilites as recommensded on Sevenforums and am looking at the analysis of disk space.
I know I have one major media folder of substantial size. But the next biggest one I have no clue as to what's in it.


It is the system Volume Information folder.


What can be done to either edit old info or delete what's there. I noticed this problem since another backup I have with that same large media file and program files seems to be about this some 400 Gb smaller
on the same sort of @Tb disk. My last backup on this bloated drive took almost 8 hours where a
4-5 hour backup has been normal.

 

[Bree]

I know I have one major media folder of substantial size. But the next biggest one I have no clue as to what's in it.

It is the system Volume Information folder.

System Volume Information is where Restore Points are stored. It's a hidden system folder to which you do not have permission. You can reduce its size by deleting some or all system restore points, turning off System Protection for that drive should clear it out.


System Protection Restore Points - Delete

 

[Super Bee]

It's a hidden system folder that your computer's System Restore Tool uses to store its information and restore points.

If the System Volume Information folder is using a lot of space, reduce the space allocated to System Restore in Windows. If seeing the folder bothers you, just set Windows to hide hidden files and folders.

 

[loninappleton]

Thanks, I'll see what the restore group has in it. I know there's a setting -- a slider-- to allow space
for those. But it usually seems empty when I look for one.


Is there a way to restore permissions to that folder through admin services?



Thanks for pointing to what to adjust.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Basically, don't mess with the folder. Windows controls it, so just use the control that Windows gave you, like to Turn Off System Restore.

Turn off System Restore, reboot, and your restore points will be gone. But so are your chances of doing a quick System Restore, if something goes wrong in windows and you'd like to just go back to how things were the day before.

So if you turn off System Restore, to dump restore points, then turn it back on so you might just have a restore point when you need it.

The value of having a recent restore point became very apparent to me years ago, and I found a little script, that when run, would Force a new Restore Point. I put that script in my Startup folder, so I now get a new restore point every time I boot up my PC.

If you need more room on your hard drive, there are many ways to get it without futzing with something that is there to protect you.

Cheers Mate!

 

[loninappleton]

Success.


Thanks for the advice. All those restore points collected up because of the prompt button
which says show old restore points was or boots up as _off_ so not much is seen. You see the latest one
and have to select "show more" to see the whole list.



There is a screen prompt that shows an edit delete button under create. You can delete all but not selectively so best to create a new restore point afterward immediately which I did.


Programs like RevoUninstaller and others create restore points. That's good but in the heat of

an operation all those can be forgotten.

 

[Bree]

Is there a way to restore permissions to that folder through admin services?

You shouldn't mess with permissions on that folder. The default is that it is owned by the Administrators group and the only permissions are that SYSTEM has Full access.



You should be able to clear it out with the tools available in Windows for configuring System Protection.

 

[loninappleton]

Thank you. I have it sorted as it says above. Always good to come to sevenforums for answers.


cheers