Solved System Volume information files-- what are they

[loninappleton]

I was trying to do some disk edits to gain some space and the Everything file list program shows a number

of numeric files called system volume information of several Gb each. What are they and why can I not delete them?

 

[samuria]

Are they long numbers and letters and were are they. It sounds like software install data often if you search google for the number it will tell you what software install was

 

[loninappleton]

Yes a long series of numbers, letters. Where do they come from and why are they difficult to delete if just
software installation data? I tried to rename them, that failed.


The Everything program allows to sort by size everything on the selected drive. I was surprised to see any of this and certainly was unaware of it before. I think Windows also refused to say where these are specifically.

 

[LMiller7]

The files in the "System Volume Information" folder referred to are used by System Restore. The folder also contains some files that are not fully documented. The folder has both Hidden and System attributes and has security permissions such that even an elevated Admin level account cannot access them. With default settings Explorer won't even show the folder.

This folder should not be modified unless you really really know what you are doing.

 

[loninappleton]

If I have extra restore points and delete the older ones will that also delete the system volume files to which they refer?

 

[loninappleton]

Marked solved. I deleted old restore points and made one fresh one. Then I checked the Everything programand it looks like all those alphanumeric systyem files save for one got deleted in an non- invasive forced procedure.