Windows 10 backup - Data file backup vs System image

Question

I have been backing up my computer for a few months now, and one of my HDDs is finally filling up, so my last backup failed.  When I click "manage backup space", I get a prompt with the following information:

Data file backup:  774.83 GB

System image:  532.13 GB

Other Files:  23.14 GB

Free space:  67.16  GB

Total size:  1.36 TB

When I go to file explorer, and look at my HDD, I have 3 things there.  One is a picture of my backup name, and when clicking it I get the backup settings window.  Another is a folder called WindowsImageBackup, which brings me to some files totaling 426 GB.  Then I have a 3rd file called MediaID.bin, which is only 1KB.  

My question is, why is my HDD almost full, when I can only 426GB worth of files inside the folder.  Next question, what is the difference between the Data file backup, and the system image?  And where are they stored, if I can only see 426GB worth of files inside the folder called WindowsImageBackup.  I know they aren't hidden anywhere, b/c I have hidden items turned on, so if they were hidden I should see them.

 

If I click "View Backups", I can see two periods, one totaling 435.6GB, and another totaling 339.23GB.  Am I safe to delete the older backup period?  Will I lose any files or have any problems if I delete the older one?  I'm a little confused, b/c my C drive that it's backing up is almost 500GB, so I dont see how I wont lose data if I only keep the 339.23GB backup period.

If I click "change settings", I only get two options.... let windows manage space used for backup history, and keep only the latest system image.  I dont want to keep only the latest system image, but also I dont want to keep the one from 6 months ago.  Is there anyway to get more control of how many system images are kept?  Maybe a way to keep the last 3 months worth of system images, and delete anyones older?

Thanks

Answer 1

Windows sort of has recommended that users find another program for system images.  They no longer will support it or update it.

I discovered the windows system images were not using compression on my laptop and one day when I needed to reimage it failed.

Now I just use the newer Settings / Update & Security / Backup    Which is sort of an easily configured File History and just set it for 1 month of backups.  

Recently been happy using the relatively simple MiniTools ShadowMaker for system images.  It works better than any others I've tried with zero maintenance.  

I'm fortunate that I have a fairly sizable onedrive file size limit and use it too for backup.

Features that are removed or deprecated in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update

System Image Backup (SIB) Solution

We recommend that users use full-disk backup solutions from other vendors.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4034825/features-that-are-removed-or-deprecated-in-windows-10-fall-creators-up

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/planning/windows-10-fall-creators-deprecation

Answer 2

Bump... still looking for an answer to my questions.

Answer 3

fwiw

SystemImageBackup folder if I recall correctly here, it only has the System Images.  

On my computer the Backup file history used to go to a folder named either mike or the computer name of T520.

Your question about deleting files, I'd have no problem deleting them - probably no use to you anyways.  The System Images contain everything they contain & you can browse inside the system images and copy files that you may need someday.

Microsoft suggests you stop using the old control panels   windows 7 backup method.