Backup drive is running out of space

Question

The hard drive, 250GB, on my Windows 10 PC has four partitions - C,D,E & F, each with disc space of about 58 GB. As of now, the System Backup is configured to the D drive which has latest backups & system images only. Presently I have only 15 MB free space on the D drive & so I am getting a System notification that my D drive is running out of space. I want to take a complete System Backup on an external Disc drive for safety & security of my system, files & folders. Let me know how I can clean up the D drive for taking backups again on the same drive as before. Also let me know how I can make a Bootable Backup disc in case of my PC crashes. Please help me & suggest step by step guideline for resolving the issue.

Answer 1

(1) It works well in Win 10, at "START, Settings, Update & Security, Backup, Go to Backup & Restore (Win 7), Create a system image". Make the Repair Disc to restore it with, or ask Cortana for "Recovery Drive" to make it on USB. This is always good to have. (You are right, it does not have the features Obm said. Maybe File History has that.) Also see...

https://www.winhelp.us/restore-a-system-image-in-windows-7.html

Restore a System Image Backup in Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10

Note1: That is a 3rd-party site. Looks good, but I know nothing of any links or downloads there.

Note2: I like Backup & Restore. It creates shadow copies accessible in File Explorer to retrieve individual files without even needing to plug in the HDD that holds the image. But I also use a 3rd-party app for added assurance. If you have a Seagate or Maxtor HDD, there is a free version of Acronis at their site. Seagate calls it DiscWizard. These are faster, make more compact images, & are more flexible. Macrium Reflect & AOMEI Backupper also have free versions.

(2) What is the E: drive? Did it just show up out of the blue after an upgrade to 1803? If out of the blue, see Tiero Chi's answer here...

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-files/new-partitions-may-appear-in-file-explorer-after/115d2860-542e-410f-983c-2aeb8bbd7d13

New partitions may appear in File Explorer after installing the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803)

That drive is not supposed to have a letter.

Answer 2

I have the same issue as JJR-CT. I have always had the E drive - it was created at the time the machine was set up.  This is the drive that is almost full according to the properties and the progress bar graphic. It says 5.08 MB free of 449 MB. However if I open it, the window says 'This folder is empty.' 

If I try to use clean up tools, it tells me it can save 0 bytes.

Your advice appreciated.

Answer 3

Further to the above, this has only become a problem since the April Windows update which I ran yesterday.

Answer 4

I have the same issue as JJR-CT. I have always had the E drive - it was created at the time the machine was set up.  This is the drive that is almost full according to the properties and the progress bar graphic. It says 5.08 MB free of 449 MB. However if I open it, the window says 'This folder is empty.' 

If I try to use clean up tools, it tells me it can save 0 bytes.

Your advice appreciated.

Further to the above, this has only become a problem since the April Windows update which I ran yesterday.

It may be helpful to show pictures with the Snipping Tool (ask Cortana). Use the Insert Item icon above your post to insert them. You may right-click Cortana's best match (Snipping Tool), & pin it to the Taskbar.

(1) What was E:\ being used for?

(2) Is it still empty, if hidden items is enabled at File Explorer's View tab?

(3) Show us your partitions...

(a) Right-click START, & select Disk Management.

(b) Use the divider lines in the header & between the panes to make it presentable & compact.