How to Remove Windows Backup Files

Delete older computer backups from your hard drive.

Your Windows 7 machine creates automatic backup files for you using the backup tools. It saves them on your hard drive, so eventually the backups take up several megabytes of hard drive space. As you accumulate backups, deleting old ones frees up hard drive space, and you do not lose critical backup files. The Windows system keeps track of each backup, so you choose from a list and delete each old backup one-by-one.

Instructions

1. Click the Windows "Start" button and click the "Control Panel" menu item. Click "System and Security" to open a list of options.

2. Click "Back Up Your Computer" to open a new screen. Click the "Change Settings" link. In this window, click the button labeled "View Backups" to see a list of backups saved to the computer's hard drive.

3. Click the backup you want to delete and click the "Delete" button. Click "Yes" in the confirmation screen. Repeat this step for each backup you want to remove from the machine.

References

• Dummies: How to Delete Old Backup Files in Windows 7