Backup fail - Shrinking volumes

[SteveB_NI]

Our server2008r2 backups have stopped working - using built in Windows server backup. It fails each evening due to not enough disk space.

 

I changed the external HDDs to 2TB capacity free and still get the same message.

 

I read this is due to lack of space on the server C: drive. Ours is now full! The raid partitions are as follows: C: has 40gb - Pupil data has 400gb and staff data 400gb and deployment is 160gb.

 

Using disk management is it going to cause issues to shrink a partition - eg the pupil data which has loads free and then increase the c: partition?

 

I’m scared to touch this incase it messes up. Cheers

Edited December 5, 2019 by SteveB_NI

[SteveB_NI]

Bit the bullet and reduced the size of partition D - however the free space only appeared on disk manager to the right hand size. Therefore the only partition i could extend again was the one I had just shrunk

[ChrisC]

Are you able to run any tools like disk cleanup to see if you can free any space on c?

 

I know 40gb is pretty lean, but have you used anything like treesize free to check if there's any clutter that can be archived off, moved to the larger volumes or deleted?

[SteveB_NI]

Thanks I ran disk cleanup and it said I could get 4GB at least back - so I completed that but it made no difference. I then read that you need to restart the server for it to take effect so kicked off a restart there before bed. I hope it’s ok tomorrow lol!

[Ausy]

From memory 2008 server winsxs folder grows and grows. You could release some space as described in my post here http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-server-2008-r2/134798-winsxs-folder-clogging-c.html#post1155164

 

EaseUS partition manager will also sort this. It allows you to shrink the partition next to C then move it to the left and extend C. Its not expensive for 1 server.

 

Failing that use imaging software like Acronis and restore to larger disks and partitions.

 

You need a reliable backup before using EaseUS or Acronis but I have used EaseUS a couple of times without issue.

Edited December 6, 2019 by Ausy

[SteveB_NI]

All sorted - thanks everyone for advice!

 

Restarting the server, after running disk cleanup released 6GB of files. Kicked off a full scale back up first thing this morning and its working away now.