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System Volume Information Folder

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Original Message
Name: tarik_bizri
Date: July 24, 2004 at 08:34:59 Pacific
Subject: System Volume Information Folder
OS: Windows XP Pro.
CPU/Ram: Pentium IV 1.4 GHZ / 128
Comment:

The hard disk in my PC is divided into 4 partions (C,D,E,F). In drive "C", there is the operating System (Win XP) and all programs i use... In drive "E", i install all the games...
My question is: What is the purpose of this folder "System Volume Information" (Hidden Folder) in each drive? knowing that, the size of this folder is as follows:
C----> 30 MB
D----> 12 MB
E----> 1.9 GB
F----> 14 MB

and, can i delete this folder from all my 4 partions because it is taking a lot of space from my hard disk???



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Response Number 1
Name: XpUser
Date: July 24, 2004 at 08:41:55 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

System Restore uses System Volume Information folders. Do you want to disable SR?


i_XpUser


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Response Number 2
Name: tosh9i
Date: July 24, 2004 at 08:50:23 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

I think it does a little more than contain the info for System Restore. I once deleted the System Volume Information on my drive, and then my computer didn't know what format my drive was (fat32, ntfs etc.).

It totally screwed me over, so I formatted my drive deleting everything.

Tarik Bizri, don't don anything to those folders, as a matter of fact, don't even think about the System Volume Information folders. Just leave them alone.

However, if you want I supposed you could disable the System Restore for Drive E, since it's so big.

To do that, Right click on My Computer, go to Properties, and then go to System Restore. Click on the Drive E, and then click on Settings and disable System Restore.

Tosh Hida


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Response Number 3
Name: Lesley
Date: July 24, 2004 at 08:51:29 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Tarik Bizri

My Computer- Properties - System Restore Tab

Here you can Enable\Disable System Restore for each Drive Separately

I would in any case leave Sys.Rest.Enabled on Drive C - the one with your OS on it

Lesley


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Response Number 4
Name: XpUser
Date: July 24, 2004 at 08:53:48 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Look here for info

What is System Volume Information Folder

Quote:

If you've done much wandering around in Windows Explorer you might have noticed a folder called System Volume Information and wondered what purpose it serves. It's actually a part of System Restore; the tool that allows you to set points in time to roll back your computer. The System Volume Information folder is where XP stores these points and associated information that makes them accessible. If you have System Restore enabled but don't see this folder, go into [Tools] [Folder Options] [View] and click the radio button next to [Show Hidden Files and Folders] and it will be visible.

How many System Volume Information folders your computer has and where they are located depends on the settings you've selected for System Restore.


i_XpUser


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Response Number 5
Name: XpUser
Date: July 24, 2004 at 08:56:06 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Hi Lesley,

I didn't see your post when I posted mine.

Have a Safe Computing Weekend :-))


i_XpUser


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Response Number 6
Name: Chuck 2
Date: July 24, 2004 at 08:56:27 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

I check it out too, in my XP Home.
Windows Explorer will let me do anything with it, except open it. It is in all partitions.

In The View tab of Folder Options, you are recommended to have Hide System Files check marked.


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Response Number 7
Name: XpUser
Date: July 24, 2004 at 09:00:23 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

In The View tab of Folder Options, you are recommended to have Hide System Files check marked.

Agreed unless you consider yourself a "Power User."


i_XpUser


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Response Number 8
Name: XpUser
Date: July 24, 2004 at 09:05:07 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Tarik Bizri,

Since the purpose of SR is to backup only system files, you can safely turn it off on the drives that do not contain XP OS.

i_XpUser


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Response Number 9
Name: Lesley
Date: July 24, 2004 at 09:11:05 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

XpUser

Repeated info is better than none at all...lol

A good weekend to you too!

Lesley


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Response Number 10
Name: kinel
Date: July 24, 2004 at 11:47:41 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Interested to know how tosh9i managed to screw up his/her drive by delete SVI files.

With the sole exception of change.log from the latest point you can delete any or all System Restore Points at any time just the same as you would any file or folder, none of which will have the slightest effect on the function of the HD or XP.

Whatever caused tosh9i's problem it most definately WAS NOT due deleting SVI files.


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Response Number 11
Name: tosh9i
Date: July 24, 2004 at 14:16:30 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Well, kinel, I don't what to say. One day I was just cleaning up some files on my computer and saw how much space SVI was taking up so I ended up deleting it.
The next time I turned on my computer, I couldn't access that drive (D:). It says it wasn't the correct format. I suppose I could have just converted it, but I didn't have too many important files on that drive so I just formatted it.

By the way check out this page, it explains that SVI is for more than just System Restore.

http://weblogs.asp.net/oldnewthing/archive/2003/11/20/55764.aspx

If you don't believe me Kinel, then you should delete your own SVI and see what happens. Afterall, you can always set a new restore point.

Tosh Hida


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Response Number 12
Name: tarik_bizri
Date: July 25, 2004 at 00:42:00 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

I have turned off the restore point of drives D,E,F... and then i deleted the three folders in these three drives, and no problems @ all...all thing is done...thanks 4 all replies


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