I have Exchange Server 2010 SP1 installed on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. There are 3 partitions, C, E and F. C is boot and system partition, E partition is used for Exchange Server databases and logs while F partition is used as windows server backup destination - both partitions (C and E) are choosen as items to back up. Backup is scheduled to start every day at 2:00 AM. I have checked disk space on F partition and noticed that size of WindowsImageBackup folder is 202 GB but Windows Explorer has displayed that more than 300 GB of disk space is used. Beside this folder I have nothing else on F partition - it is dedicated only for backup. This is alarming situation, at the moment every GB of storage is precious to me so this 100 GB of unknown used space is a big issue. I need some advice. Thanks in advance!

Look here - http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/windowsbackup/thread/0cccdac5-d251-48b7-ace3-edbddb9cf766 Additionaly refer to these articles for help- How to locate and correct disk space problems on NTFS volumes in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315688 What backup settings should I use to maximize my disk space? http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-backup-settings-should-I-use-to-maximize-my-disk-space Sachin Gadhave (MCP, MCTS)

Hi, Show all hidden files in the partition: Windows Explorer-->Organize-->Folder and search options-->View tab Select item: Show hidden files, folders, and drivers. Uncheck item: Hide protected operation system files (recommended) Check System Volume Information folder size. Disk space here is used by Volume Shadow Copy Services (VSS) data, and VSS is include in the following MS component: Windows Server Backup Shadow Copies of Shared Folder System Center Data Protection Manager System Restore You can reduce the max size of system volume information and free your spaces, but there is a risk that some of your shadow copies may disappear. Resizes the maximum amount of storage space that can be used for shadow copy storage. vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=<ForVolumeSpec> /on=<OnVolumeSpec> [/maxsize=<MaxSizeSpec>] Let us assume that we wished to have a maximum size of 2GB from this particular partition/drive. The command line option would look something like this: C:\Windows\system32>vs sadmin resize shadowstorage /On=C: /For=C: /Maxsize=2GB So to put this in to practice you proceed as follows: 1/ Click Start 2/ From the Start menu Click All programs followed by Accessories 3/ On the Accessories menu Right Click on the Command Prompt option 4/ From the drop Down menu that appears, click the Run as administrator option 5/ When the Command Prompt window opens type: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /on=[here add the drive letter]: /For=[here add the drive letter]: /Maxsize=[here add the maximum size] and Press Enter 6/ if all goes well you should see a message saying 'Successfully resized the shadow copy storage association 7/ Your System Restore shadow storage has now been resized For more information please refer to following MS articles: Volume Shadow Copy Service http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee923636(v=WS.10).aspx Vssadmin resize shadowstorage http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc788050(v=WS.10).aspx Windows 2008 System restore and System Volume information http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/winservergen/thread/a7dcf34b-c60b-4bea-971c-a7ad466a0b18 System Volume Information Directory Has Large Files http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winservergen/thread/30f94085-5b6a-49ec-b02d-2d7d13969370 Lawrence TechNet Community Support

I have already done this, it showed that System Volume Information is empty. Beside $Recycle.Bin folder which is also empty other there are no other folders (except WindowsImageBackup of course).

Hi, Have you tied scanning the the disk with treesize pro or spacemonger or something else software to see what is actually taking up the space? Once we know what is taking up the space we can do the next step troubleshooting. Software above may link you to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites; therefore, Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. There are inherent dangers in the use of any software found on the Internet, and Microsoft cautions you to make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any software from the Internet. For more information please refer to following MS articles: Low Disk Space - Where is it coming from http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchange2010/thread/0e930089-dab1-4d12-ad67-a786d5a8527a Exchange 2010: Low Disk Space on Database Logs or Database Drives http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2619978 loosing disk space over time on exchange server 2010 http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-NZ/exchange2010/thread/760e0023-6c7a-4c4d-b498-3008de9dbebb Lawrence TechNet Community Support

I have to underline that used space on partition where Exchange databases and logs are located is relatively stable, issue is on the other partition dedicated to backup. On that partition I have almost 100 GB of used disk space which I do not know where it comes from since all folders and files on the partition including the hidden ones consume around 202 GB. WSB is configured as scheduled VSS Copy Backup of C and E partition which runs every day at 2:00 AM.

clean the recycle bin?

Hi, We need to know what is taking up that 100 GB disk space for next step troubleshooting. But we dont have such software, you can do that through a third party disk space scan tool I mentioned above. I have<//span> an idea, run disk defragmentation on that disk and check the result. Thanks for your understanding.Lawrence TechNet Community Support

Hi, As Lawrence said 3rd party software like "Treesize professional" etc. will help you to give clear picture about used space. Also suggesting you, Try to defragment the partition once?

I have defragmented the partition, no changes at all. Even before defragmentation analyze disk was showing that disk was 0% fragmented, so defragmentation was not needed at all.

Do one thing check for hidden files and check anything there in Recycler folder?

Hi, I would like to confirm what is the current situation? Have you resolved the problem? If there is anything that we can do for you, please do not hesitate to let us know, and we will be happy to help.Lawrence TechNet Community Support

I have not resolved the problem.