How to Handle Large Windows System Volume Information on Your Computer
If you are a Windows user, you might have come across the term ‘System Volume Information’ while browsing your computer files. This folder is an essential part of the operating system and maintains the metadata and system restore points of the computer. However, as time passes, the folder can start occupying a large amount of space, leading to system performance issues and slowing down the computer. In this article, we will discuss how you can handle large System Volume Information on your computer.
Understanding System Volume Information
System Volume Information is a hidden folder that stores critical information such as system restore points, file indexing data for faster searches, and metadata of the files on the disk. The folder is located at the root of every drive in the Windows operating system.
Why Does System Volume Information Take Up So Much Space?
As mentioned earlier, the System Volume Information folder stores system data and files, which can grow in size over time. Additionally, Windows creates new restore points automatically and saves them in the folder to help you recover your system in case of any issues. Each restore point can take up to several gigabytes of space, depending on the system configuration. This can cause the folder to occupy hundreds of gigabytes of space on the drive, leading to storage shortage issues.
How to Handle Large System Volume Information Folders
Now that you know the reasons behind the oversized System Volume Information folder, it’s time to handle it. Here are some steps you can follow:
1. Reduce the Amount of Disk Space System Restore Uses: By default, Windows allocates a significant amount of disk space for system restore points. You can reduce the allocated space by following these steps:
1. Press ‘Windows + S’ keys and search for ‘System Protection.’
2. Select the drive where you want to reduce the space allocation and click ‘Configure.’
3. In the disk space usage section, move the slider to reduce the space allocation and click ‘OK.’
2. Delete Old System Restore Points: While system restore points can be handy, you don’t need all of them. Windows automatically deletes the oldest restore points if the allocated space is full, but you can also delete them manually. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Press ‘Windows + S’ keys and search for ‘Disk Cleanup.’
2. Select the drive where System Volume Information is present.
3. Click ‘Clean up system files.’
4. Scroll down to find ‘System Restore and Shadow Copies’ and select it.
5. Click ‘OK’ and ‘Delete Files’ to free up disk space.
3. Use Third-Party Tools: If you don’t want to delete the restore points or change the space allocation, you can use third-party tools that can compress or move them to an external drive. These tools work by compressing the restore points and moving them to a folder, thus freeing up space on your computer.
In conclusion, System Volume Information is critical to the functioning of your Windows computer, but it can take up valuable disk space. By following the above steps, you can manage the folder’s size and free up space on your computer’s drive. However, it’s essential to tread carefully while deleting system restore points, as they can help you recover your computer in case of any issues.
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