How to safely delete System Volume Information on Windows 10

System Volume Information is a hidden system folder on the Windows operating system that stores important data related to the operating system and other system files. This folder is crucial for system stability and performance, however, it is not visible or accessible by default. In some cases, users may want to delete the System Volume Information folder to free up disk space or remove old restore points. In this article, we will discuss the steps on how to safely delete System Volume Information on Windows 10.

First, let’s understand what System Volume Information folder contains. This folder stores important data such as restore points, Volume Shadow Copies, and System Protection settings. Restore points are created by the Windows operating system to take a snapshot of the system at a specific point in time. If there is an issue with the system, users can restore their system to a previous restore point to fix the issue. Volume Shadow Copies are used to create snapshots of files on the system so that users can recover previous versions of the files if necessary. System Protection settings allow users to configure how much disk space is allocated for restore points and Volume Shadow Copies.

Now that we understand the importance of the System Volume Information folder, let’s discuss the steps on how to safely delete it. It’s important to note that deleting the System Volume Information folder will remove all restore points, Volume Shadow Copies, and System Protection settings associated with the folder. Therefore, we recommend creating a backup of your system before proceeding with the deletion.

Step 1: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. To do this, right-click on the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.

Step 2: Type the following command and press Enter:

vssadmin list shadowstorage

This command will show you the amount of disk space allocated for restore points and Volume Shadow Copies.

Step 3: Type the following command and press Enter:

chkdsk c: /offlinescanandfix

This command will check for and repair any file system errors on the C: drive. This step is important before deleting the System Volume Information folder to avoid any potential issues.

Step 4: Type the following command and press Enter:

rd /s /q C:\System Volume Information\

This command will delete the System Volume Information folder and all its contents. It’s important to note that the folder will be recreated automatically by the system when necessary.

Step 5: Type the following command and press Enter:

vssadmin list shadowstorage

This command will show you that the disk space allocated for restore points and Volume Shadow Copies has been freed up.

In conclusion, deleting the System Volume Information folder on Windows 10 can be done safely by following the steps outlined above. However, it’s important to understand the importance of the folder and its contents before proceeding with the deletion. Creating a backup of your system is highly recommended in case any issues arise after the deletion.