HOW TO GET RID OF UNWANTED SHADOW COPIES

[Guest]

I want to erase shadow copies of files on my computer?

(Emachines T5224 Vista Home Premium ~ Feb 2007 bought this computer)

Why? My USB external Harddrive somehow can see them on my C:\Program Files\
directory. It is very confusing to keep these files for me.
a. I deleted the programs from the Programs Files, yet Vista keeps them. I
cannot see them on my computer. So I am happy with that. What I am unhappy
with is my USB external harddrive can access them off my computer and save
them. I have tried this with the Toshiba's external hard drive's software and
with Simpletech external hard drive's software. They both give the same
result. So this leads me to this being these mysterious "shadow copies" I
keep hearing about.

b. How do I permanently get rid of these files I ALREADY DELETED ONCE. I
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE DELETE FILE. Please help!
(A search by my name will yield an unanswered post related to this question).

Thank You

 

[JerryM]

Hi, Rexon Vista,

Another way to reduce your Shadows.
First take a look at the size of the shadows in storage,

Right click CMD.exe in your start menu,
Then type: vssadmin list shadowstorage and hit enter,
This will show your the size in GB.

Then type: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: MaxSize=2GB and hit
enter

(You can vary the size in GB up to 10 or higher.)

 

[Lord Takyon]

Hi, Rexon Vista,

Another way to reduce your Shadows.
First take a look at the size of the shadows in storage,

Right click CMD.exe in your start menu,
Then type: vssadmin list shadowstorage and hit enter,
This will show your the size in GB.

Then type: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: MaxSize=2GB and
hit enter

(You can vary the size in GB up to 10 or higher.)

I did this as Restore was going crazy. It certainly ignored the original
settings by eating up huge amounts of space. I set mine to 5 Gig I think,
but only because I only really need restore to go back a short time.

 

[Mark Conrad]

Hi, Rexon Vista,

Another way to reduce your Shadows.
First take a look at the size of the shadows in storage,

Right click CMD.exe in your start menu,
Then type: vssadmin list shadowstorage and hit enter,
This will show your the size in GB.

Then type: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: MaxSize=2GB and hit
enter

(You can vary the size in GB up to 10 or higher.)

Quick question. I want to get rid of BOTH shadow copies and restore
points. Will turning off restore points do both?


(I assume it is fairly easy to turn off restore points completely)


Thanks,

Mark-

 

[JerryM]

Hi, Mark,
Yes you can get rid of them in the System Restore Options.
Just follow the screen prompts and read the help file that explains it.

You have to realize that if you do, you will lose all the restore points.
You should keep a minimum of around 2GB to give you a week of restore
points.

To see how big your shadow copy is, right click on CMD.exe in the start menu
and select Run as Administrator,
Then type: vssadmin list shadowstorage and hit Enter
you will see how big it can get in GB's

Then type: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: /MaxSize=2GB
( the maxsize can vary up to 10 or more)

Jerry

 

[JerryM]

Hi, Lord Takyon,

I didn't type the correct resize statement, too big of a hurry.
It should be as follows:

Right click on CMD.exe in the start menu and select Run as Administrator,
Hit Enter,
Then type: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: /maxsize=2GB
Hit Enter,

Sorry, This should work,
Jerry

 

[Mark Conrad]

Hi, Mark,
Yes you can get rid of them in the System Restore Options.
Just follow the screen prompts and read the help file that explains it.

You have to realize that if you do, you will lose all the restore points.
You should keep a minimum of around 2GB to give you a week of restore
points.

To see how big your shadow copy is, right click on CMD.exe in the start menu
and select Run as Administrator,
Then type: vssadmin list shadowstorage and hit Enter
you will see how big it can get in GB's

Then type: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: /maxsize=2GB
( the maxsize can vary up to 10 or more)

Jerry

Thanks Jerry, I will use your suggestion to get rid of both shadow
copies _and_ restore points at one fell swoop.


As regards the restore points, do not need them at all, because I have a
more robust method of restoring, that I prefer.

Mark-