Windows 7 backup and restore - try to delete the *.vhd file
I am having a bit of an issue with Windows 7 Back and restore routine. Quite frankly I am stuck using this piece of trash. Here's what I did: I needed to backup a user folder to a network share daily. Unfortunately, I also choose, as part of the backup, to create a WindowsImageBackup (system image) of the Win7 PC (I think), which I wish I never did. Anyway, when the backup is finished it now consumes almost 30gb of disk space on my server (SBS 2003). I am fighting for disk space on this server. There is a *.vhd file that is 27gb on the network share, and when I try to delete it I get the standard "error deleting File or Folder"..."Access is denied...make sure disk is not full and that the file is not currently in use."
I have tried to delete the Backup&Restore job, which I assume, would release the file so that I can delete it...no go...I can't see find out how to delete this job. Can you help me. Thank you in advance for you help....any suggestion would be most helpful.
I have tried to delete the Backup&Restore job, which I assume, would release the file so that I can delete it...no go...I can't see find out how to delete this job. Can you help me. Thank you in advance for you help....any suggestion would be most helpful.
infosys3 --
"There is a *.vhd file that is 27gb on the network share"
The .vhd file IS your image backup.
If you have to use the image backup, Backup and Restore will automatically use this file.
If you want to read it (not necessary--more for curiosity ) or extract one or more individual backed up files, you have use this procedure
http://tweaks.com/windows/39389/how-to-mount-a-vhd-file-in-windows-7/
http://www.vistaclues.com/open-a-vhd-file-in-windows-7/
If you really do not want the .vhd file, you will wipe it the next time you format the drive containing it.
"There is a *.vhd file that is 27gb on the network share"
The .vhd file IS your image backup.
If you have to use the image backup, Backup and Restore will automatically use this file.
If you want to read it (not necessary--more for curiosity ) or extract one or more individual backed up files, you have use this procedure
http://tweaks.com/windows/39389/how-to-mount-a-vhd-file-in-windows-7/
http://www.vistaclues.com/open-a-vhd-file-in-windows-7/
If you really do not want the .vhd file, you will wipe it the next time you format the drive containing it.
ASKER
Thanks for the quick replies... See below:
McKnife: I did net file and the "vhd" was not in the list...I will have to run a chkdsk after hours and we will see what that does.
jcimarron: I really don't want to read it or extract it or do anything with it except delete it. FYI: perhaps I was not clear enough, but the file in question is on a SBS 2003 server and I have no intention of formating the RAID.
In summary...this VHD file was created by a Windows 7 Backup & Restore system image and is stored on a server in a shared drive. I am down to 17gb of available disk space on the server and this one file contains 25gb. To your knowledge is there any other way to delete this VHD file. Many thanks.
McKnife: I did net file and the "vhd" was not in the list...I will have to run a chkdsk after hours and we will see what that does.
jcimarron: I really don't want to read it or extract it or do anything with it except delete it. FYI: perhaps I was not clear enough, but the file in question is on a SBS 2003 server and I have no intention of formating the RAID.
In summary...this VHD file was created by a Windows 7 Backup & Restore system image and is stored on a server in a shared drive. I am down to 17gb of available disk space on the server and this one file contains 25gb. To your knowledge is there any other way to delete this VHD file. Many thanks.
infosys3--
Here is how you should be able to delete the .vhd file
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/567-virtual-hard-disk-unattach-delete-vhd.html
Note especially item #6 so you do not also delete other items on the system drive.
Here is how you should be able to delete the .vhd file
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/567-virtual-hard-disk-unattach-delete-vhd.html
Note especially item #6 so you do not also delete other items on the system drive.
ASKER
jcimarrion:
I am not on site now, but I will be on-site tomorrow and I will follow your suggestions. Thanks,
I am not on site now, but I will be on-site tomorrow and I will follow your suggestions. Thanks,
infosys3--
"Note especially item #6 so you do not also delete other items on the system drive. "
That sentence should be deleted from my post above.
Line #7 is what you want to do.
Good luck!!
"Note especially item #6 so you do not also delete other items on the system drive. "
That sentence should be deleted from my post above.
Line #7 is what you want to do.
Good luck!!
jcmarron: Your instructions are only valid for a mounted VHD
asker: what you need to do is take ownership of the file (takeown /f directory /r /d n (elevated command prompt) now you can change the security permissions and then DELETE the file.
asker: what you need to do is take ownership of the file (takeown /f directory /r /d n (elevated command prompt) now you can change the security permissions and then DELETE the file.
David Johnson, CD, MVP--
So if necessary, infosys3 could mount (attach) the .vhd file first if not already done.
There is a link in the reference I posted which leads to
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/566-virtual-hard-disk-create-attach-vhd.html
So if necessary, infosys3 could mount (attach) the .vhd file first if not already done.
There is a link in the reference I posted which leads to
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/566-virtual-hard-disk-create-attach-vhd.html
yes you could if you wanted mount a vhd file.. that is not the issue here.. he want's to delete it entirely.
David Johnson, CD, MVP--
You pointed out that the instructions for deleting the .vhd file in
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/567-virtual-hard-disk-unattach-delete-vhd.html
may apply only to a mounted .vhd file. So mounting that .vhd file first might be the way to then delete it. It takes about five seconds to mount a .vhd file.
You pointed out that the instructions for deleting the .vhd file in
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/567-virtual-hard-disk-unattach-delete-vhd.html
may apply only to a mounted .vhd file. So mounting that .vhd file first might be the way to then delete it. It takes about five seconds to mount a .vhd file.
SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Thank you gentlemen for your speedy reply...I have been on jury duty for the past 10 days and when I finally got back to the server the file was deleted. So I assume when I killed the Win7 backup/restore job (that performed the image) it also released the vhd file, but not immediately...probably hours later.
Again, thanks for your assistance, I appreciate it. Bruce
Again, thanks for your assistance, I appreciate it. Bruce
infosys3--
That sounds right. Thanks for telling us the outcome.
That sounds right. Thanks for telling us the outcome.
First of all: an idle job at a client will not constantly keep a file opened.
Please use the command
net file
at the server to see what files are open. You could also use
net file |findstr vhd
to find it faster - if it is opened... I don't think so.
If it is not open, and you have all access rights (I think you will be able to ensure that), then it can only be file system corruption. So use check disk on the drive after hours, like
chkdsk d: /r