Main menu

Pages

How to delete Windows Server backups quickly and easily

How to delete Windows Server backups quickly and easily

How to delete Windows Server backups quickly and easily

  Windows Server Backup is a backup solution built into Microsoft operating systems, which allows you to schedule, customize backups, etc.  Over time, this means that these backups end up taking up a lot of space.  Therefore, if you are low on available disk storage space, you should learn how to delete Windows Server backups.


  This way, you can benefit from the full potential of Windows Server Backup without suffering the consequences of uncontrolled use of the tool.  By deleting Windows Server backups that you no longer use, you will not only get more space, but you will also improve the performance of your Windows 10 or 11 operating system.


  How do Windows Server backups work?


  Windows Server backups can back up system states, folders, files, etc.  Even applications installed on the computer.  These backups are stored as snapshots, because once collected all the corresponding data is saved using the Windows Shadow Copy Service.


  We can distinguish two modes of creating snapshots.  Complete transcripts and differential transcripts.  The former includes all system data, while the latter only adds changes made since the last backup made.  Windows Server automatically deletes copies regularly.


  But you can do it manually of course.  There are three ways in which these copies can be deleted.

  Automatic management of disk usage

WSB manages backup storage space by adjusting the space on its own.  It dynamically reduces the space it allocates to older backups or snapshots so that new backups can fit.  However, this reduction may not be sufficient in some cases.


  If you don't know much about Windows, it's better to leave backups in the hands of automatic WSB management and take care of saving storage space with these methods to free up hard drive space.

  Delete system state backups

How to delete Windows Server backups quickly and easily

  A system state backup captures a snapshot of the current state of the system, including files and operating system components that are necessary for the system to operate.  They help the operating system to start properly if many files are damaged or damaged.  You must run the wbadmin command by logging in to the Terminal Router as administrator.


  Previously, check for available backups by opening a Terminal prompt as administrator and typing wbadmin get versions.  This way you can view the complete list of WSB backup versions.


  Delete Windows Server Get Versions


  Delete the oldest system backup

How to delete Windows Server backups quickly and easily

  To delete the oldest system backup, you can use the -deleteOldest parameter combined with the wbadmin command to delete systemstatebackup.  If it is on disk D, it should look like this:


  wbadmin delete systemstatebackup –backupTarget:d:-deleteOldest


  If the backup is stored on your system drive or C:\, you don't need to cite it!

  Delete all system backups except the last 5


  The deletion process can be customized to delete backups based on their age.  You can delete all but five system state backups.

  Delete newer copies of Windows Server 5


  In this case, you should combine wbadmin delete systemstatebackup with -keepVersions:5:


  wbadmin delete systemstatebackup -keepVersions:5


  Delete a specific system state backup


  As in the previous case, you can delete specific or specific backups by following this logic.  To do this, accompany wbadmin Delete SystemStatebackup with details of the backup you are going to delete.


  When both data are combined, the full information should read and should look like this:


  Delete wbadmin System State Backup - Version: 03/31/2023-10:00

  Delete full WSB backups, the last option


  You can always delete full backups using the wbadmin command.


  To delete the oldest full backup, type wbadmin delete backup -deleteOldest

  To delete all but the last 5 backups, type wbadmin delete backup -keepVersions:5

  To delete a specific system state backup, type wbadmin delete backup followed by "-Version:02/02/2024-06:43" or the date and time corresponding to the backup


  Were you able to delete Windows Server backups with these procedures?


Comments