How to delete "corrupt" back up files from VD container

Discussion in 'Paragon Drive Backup Product Line' started by emmrecs, Jul 18, 2015.

  1. emmrecs

    emmrecs Registered Member

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    Scenario: I have just started to use the VD format for back ups, using HDM Suite 15, having used Paragon back up software for a number of years.

    I wanted to make a VD back up of one of my external drives, a USB2 1.5Tb used to hold video files (I do quite a lot of video editing etc.) I started the process and everything ran without a hitch until something caused my computer to crash (what caused it is another story!) However, the result is that I now have, in the Virtual Container, approximately 120Gb of files which have no associated .pfi, so are not listed as part of any archive and so cannot be deleted by the usual "Delete Archive (and associated files)" command. If I was not using a VD I could simply use Windows Explorer to manually delete these unwanted files but, since this a Paragon back Up capsule, explorer cannot "see" the files.

    Although the container is 1800Gb in size, because of the numerous HDDs I have, it will soon be filling up and I would very much like to get rid of these unwanted files.

    Anyone have any ideas how I might go about this?

    TIA.
     
  2. John2222

    John2222 Registered Member

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    You should be able to see the individual hdd-0_e00.p01, p02 etc. files with windows explorer. Make sure you have view system, hidden files options set in the View options for the explorer. Also from elevated prompt run chkdsk x: /f on the drive (x=drive letter of USB2 drive) because it might be corrupted NTFS index.

    Another possibility is that the .p01 files were not yet written out to the drive. I use the option to split backup image files into 4GB files. That in my opinion makes the backup process easier because the system doesn't have to write out 120GB in one individual write. The disk writes are written out every 4GB as the backup proceeds.
     
  3. Robin A.

    Robin A. Registered Member

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    I think in any case backups are written to the disk continuously, as they are created. If not, where are they kept?
     
  4. emmrecs

    emmrecs Registered Member

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    John2222 many thanks for this reply. Perhaps I have somehow created the Backup Container wrongly but it has no drive letter (and neither Explorer nor HDM give me the option to allocate one) - it is actually a partition on a 3Tb USB drive - so I cannot "explore" or open it with either program!

    From within HDM I can "see" the spurious files listed (a check on actual size shows they occupy some 148Gb), each stated to be 3.9Gb, but it appears impossible to delete them.
     
  5. emmrecs

    emmrecs Registered Member

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    Indeed so. Each of those individual c.4Gb files exists separately.
     
  6. John2222

    John2222 Registered Member

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    Select This PC/right click/manage and then open/click on Disk Management. You should have drive letter assigned for your usb drive. Probably during the crash, Windows 8.1 doesn't recognize it. Assign a drive letter using disk management. (Be careful, make sure you DON'T format it.) Just select the disk, right click and look for option to create drive letter. Then go back to windows explorer and look again.
     
  7. John2222

    John2222 Registered Member

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    After you create drive letter, run chkdsk x: /f
     
  8. emmrecs

    emmrecs Registered Member

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    I'm actually using Win 7 but I do understand what you have written. However, I do NOT have the option to create a drive letter for this partition. I have attached below a screenshot of what I see in Disk Management screen - backup capsule is highlighted - but the drop down options normally available (including "Assign Drive letter and path") via right-click are all greyed out! That's where I'm currently foundering! ScreenShot00112a.jpg
     
  9. fireworker

    fireworker Registered Member

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    And screenshots from HDM please?
     
  10. emmrecs

    emmrecs Registered Member

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    Happy to supply, though not quite sure exactly what is needed. So..

    Picture of Back Up and Restore screen (for particular drive ScreenShot00115.jpg

    From the Archives screen, showing some of the wanted files (those nearer the top of the outlined listing:
     
  11. emmrecs

    emmrecs Registered Member

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    Let's try again! Here is the second screen shot:

    ScreenShot00114.jpg

    All the unwanted files are listed here (outlined in red) but seem to be a "sub-set" of the main archive:

    ScreenShot00113a.jpg

    Hope these help!
     
  12. fireworker

    fireworker Registered Member

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    With File Transfer Wizard also can't delete the files?
     
  13. emmrecs

    emmrecs Registered Member

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    Thank you! I had never used/needed to use this Wizard before; I didn't even know it existed! But it seems to be exactly what I need; am currently transferring the first 50Gb to empty space on another drive, from where I hope to delete it!

    I assume that such a transfer deletes the files from the source disk (the Backup Capsule)?
     
  14. fireworker

    fireworker Registered Member

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    You can just delete, without tranfer folder/files anywhere.
    http://i.imgur.com/WkVGoQ5.png
     
  15. emmrecs

    emmrecs Registered Member

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    Unfortunately, the corrupt files were all in the same folder as the wanted archive! I realise I could have chosen to delete each file individually but I have bitten the bullet and chosen to delete the whole folder, now that I know I can, and the wanted archive is now being recreated! Although the size of it means the whole process will take in excess of 10 hours it will be worth it to regain disk space; a lot of time but the end result should be the archive that I want/need.

    Once again, my thanks to you.
     
  16. John2222

    John2222 Registered Member

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    Try this which I have seen help in a few USB problem cases. Shut down pc, then unplug the USB drive power cord from the wall socket. Wait 30 seconds which will allow a full electrical reset of the USB drive. Then restart PC and after startup, plug in USB power to wall socket. This "may" help but since I see your screenshot that the other partitions are recognized, it may not.

    Is there disk management option to delete that unsigned partition? Select partition, right click, and "Delete volume". Make sure you have selected the correct partition.

    If that doesn't help, you may have to use the DISKPART command in Windows 7. Search Google for help on the command. MAKE SURE you have the correct partition number selected to delete.
     
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