Windows 11/10中缺少存储空间始终是一个问题。用户不断报告有关消失的硬盘空间，即使进行了广泛的搜索，也无法找到占用空间的内容。
有趣的是，即使文件资源管理器(File Explorer)也可能显示磁盘有足够的可用磁盘空间，但磁盘管理(Disk Management)中的磁盘显示它已满。如果没有其他文件占用空间，则可能是因为Volume Shadow Copies。在这篇文章中，我们将展示如何在Windows 11/10影副本(Shadow Copies)并释放磁盘空间。
什么是卷影复制？
卷影复制是Windows中的一项功能，用于创建磁盘卷的快照或卷影副本。一个已知的例子是系统还原点。每次创建一个，它都会创建一个副本。因此，如果您想恢复已删除的文件，它是一个很好的工具。
如果您想查看每个驱动器有多少副本，请使用Shadow Explorer 软件(Shadow Explorer software)。它是提供文件资源管理器(File Explorer)视图并显示所有卷影(Shadow)副本的免费软件。如果您删除了一些文件，您甚至可以使用它来检索文件的旧副本。
(Delete)在Windows 11/10删除卷影副本(Shadow Copies)
为什么影子副本(Shadow Copies)会导致更多麻烦，是因为剩余的影子副本文件。一些备份软件会创建一个持久的卷影副本，并且在将卷影副本备份到指定位置后，它们无法删除存储在卷上的原始副本。如果您不需要这些卷影副本，则有几种方法可以删除它们。
- VSSAdmin 删除卷影副本(VSSAdmin Delete Shadow Copies)命令
- 限制影子存储
- 限制系统还原大小
- 磁盘清理工具
- 检查备份配置
确保(Make)阅读所有这些并遵循最适合您的方法。
1] Vssadmin删除卷影副本(Vssadmin Delete Shadow Copies)命令
此命令显示当前卷影副本备份和所有已安装的卷影副本编写器和提供程序。您可以添加、创建、删除，甚至删除服务提供商。
通过在运行(Run)提示符 ( Win +RCMD并按Enter键以管理员权限打开命令提示符(Command Prompt)
执行以下命令，其中 F 是空间不足的驱动器号：
Vssadmin delete shadows /For=F:
它将删除该驱动器中的所有卷影副本。
如果您只想删除最旧的副本，请使用该/oldest选项。
2]限制影子存储
Vssadmin还提供了调整影子存储空间大小的命令。您可以专门为计算机上的每个分区设置最大大小。使用vssadmin我们在上面使用但具有不同选项的命令，您可以按百分比设置大小或提供确切的存储空间。
vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=<ForVolumeSpec> /on=<OnVolumeSpec> [/maxsize=<MaxSizeSpec>]
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=D: /MaxSize=900MB
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=D: /MaxSize=UNBOUNDED
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=20%
3]限制系统还原大小
如果为驱动器打开了系统还原(System Restore)，则该驱动器有一定百分比专用于系统还原(System Restore)。当大小超过该大小时，旧的将被删除。如果您处于空间紧缩状态，则可以选择将其减少到可能的最低水平。一旦你这样做，所有旧副本将被自动删除。
- 在开始(Start)菜单搜索栏中键入系统还原。(System Restore)
- 单击(Click)显示的恢复(Recovery)（控制面板(Control Panel)）选项。
- 然后单击配置系统还原(Configure System Restore)。
- 选择要减少卷影副本文件占用空间的驱动器
- 单击(Click)配置(Configure)按钮，然后使用滑块设置百分比。
- 单击确定并应用更改。
请注意，即使系统还原(System Restore)为 5%，如果您的磁盘容量很大，它也可能是巨大的。
4]磁盘清理工具
- 在Windows 开始菜单(Windows Start Menu)中键入Disk Cleanup并在工具出现时单击它
- 选择要删除卷影(Shadow)副本的分区
- 在下一个窗口中，切换到更多选项，它将具有“系统还原(System Restore)和卷影副本(Shadow Copies)”选项。
- 点击(Click)“清理(Clean)”按钮，确认后将删除所有副本。
阅读(Read)：通过删除以前的系统映像和备份来释放磁盘空间。
5]检查备份配置
使用第三方软件时，也会备份这些卷影副本。(Shadow)因此，如果您最近从备份中恢复，并且无缘无故地用完了空间，那么最好重新运行命令以删除这些卷影副本。也就是说，您可能还想检查备份恢复软件是否提供跳过卷影(Shadow)副本的选项。它还有助于减少整体备份大小。
卷影副本(Shadow Copies)是必不可少的。它们提供了一种恢复文件的方法，这很方便，尤其是当您没有备份软件时。但是，当您的空间不足时，这篇文章有助于删除影子(Shadow)副本。确保(Make)遵循这些是具有管理员权限的。
How to delete Volume Shadow Copies in Windows 11/10
Missing ѕtorage space is always a problem in Windows 11/10. Users keep reporting about disappearing hard disk space, and еven with extensiνe search, it becomes impossible to find what is taking spacе.
The funny part is that even File Explorer may show that a disk has plenty of disk space available, but the disk in Disk Management shows it is full. If there are no other files that are taking space, then it can be because of Volume Shadow Copies. In this post, we will show how to delete Volume Shadow Copies in Windows 11/10 and free up disk space.
What is Volume Shadow Copy?
Volume Shadow Copy is a feature in Windows that creates snapshots or shadow copies of disk volumes. One known example is System Restore Point. Every time you create one, it will create a copy. So it is an excellent tool if you want to recover deleted files.
If you want to see how many copies you have per drive, then use the Shadow Explorer software. It is free software that offers File Explorer view and displays all the Shadow copies. You can even use it to retrieve old copies of files if you deleted some.
Delete Volume Shadow Copies in Windows 11/10
Why Shadow Copies could result in more trouble, is because of leftover shadow copy files. Some backup software will create a persistent shadow copy, and after they have backed up the shadow copy to the designation, they fail to delete the original copy that is stored on the volume. If you do not need these shadow copies, then there are a couple of ways you can delete them.
- VSSAdmin Delete Shadow Copies command
- Limit Shadow Storage
- Limit System Restore Size
- Disk Cleanup Tool
- Check Backup Configuration
Make sure to read all of them and follow the method which works best for you.
1] Vssadmin Delete Shadow Copies command
This command displays current volume shadow copy backups and all installed shadow copy writers and providers. You can add, create, delete, even delete service providers.
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges by typing CMD in the Run prompt (Win +R) and press the Enter key
Execute the following command, where F is the drive letter where you are running out of space:
Vssadmin delete shadows /For=F:
It will delete all the shadow copies from that drive.
If you want to delete only the oldest copy, use the /oldest option.
2] Limit Shadow Storage
Vssadmin also offers a command to resize the shadow storage space. You can specifically maximum size for each partition on your computer. Using the vssadmin command, which we used above but with different options, you can set size by percentage or ser it exact storage space.
vssadmin resize shadowstorage /for=<ForVolumeSpec> /on=<OnVolumeSpec> [/maxsize=<MaxSizeSpec>]
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=D: /MaxSize=900MB
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=D: /MaxSize=UNBOUNDED
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=20%
3] Limit System Restore Size
If the System Restore is turned on for a drive, then there is a certain percentage of the drive which is dedicated to System Restore. When the size goes beyond that, the old one gets deleted. If you are in a crunch of space, then you can choose to reduce it to the minimum possible level. Once you do that, all old copies will be automatically deleted.
- Type System Restore in the Start menu search bar.
- Click on Recovery (Control Panel) option that shows up.
- Then click on Configure System Restore.
- Select the drive for which you want to reduce the space occupied by shadow copy files
- Click on the Configure button and then use the slider to set the percentage.
- Click Ok and apply the changes.
Do note that even if the System Restore is 5%, it could be substantial if your disk is of a large capacity.
4] Disk Cleanup Tool
- Type Disk Cleanup in the Windows Start Menu and click on the tool when it shows up
- Select the partition for which you want to delete the Shadow Copies
- In the next window, switch to more options, and it will have the option for “System Restore and Shadow Copies.”
- Click on the “Clean up” button, and it will delete all the copies when you confirm.
Read: Free up disk space by deleting previous System Images and Backups.
5] Check Backup Configuration
When using third-party software, these Shadow copies are also backed up. So if you recently restored from a backup, and you are running out of space for no reason, then it’s best to rerun the commands to delete those shadow copies. That said, you may also want to check if the backup-restore software offers an option to skip Shadow copies. It will also help to reduce the overall backup size.
Volume Shadow Copies are essential. They offer a way to restore files, which comes in handy, especially when you don’t have a backup software in place. However, when you are running out of space, then this post helps to delete the Shadow copies. Make sure to follow these is with admin permission.
