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Virus/Malware eating my hard drive? [Closed]


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#16
Jimmy2012

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Hello dlinderyd,

Several years ago I recieved one of those phishing emails and kept it just for fun, as they were written in a terrible language back then.

I recommend that you try to remove it.

Can this really be eating up 30GB of hard drive and why would it show up now

I don't think this is causing that problem.


Has there been any change in your computer, or is it still the same?
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#17
dlinderyd

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Hi Jimmy,

Will find those emails and remove them. The space issue is still the same. Right now I have 1.3GB free.
However, I've read aobut Windows Vista Shadow copy and I'm starting to suspect that it may not be a virus or malware after all and that it's Shadow copy that is the issue. Let me know if you think the same or if you have any further tests/scans you think I should run.

I have a HP SmartMedia Server running Windows Home Server and this is handeling all our backups (and acts as a media server). I've had a bit of a problem with it and another of our laptops recently, but that's a separate issue. Backups are done each night on my laptop and when I check the log it shows what files have been backed up and what has not. Excluded files include hibernation and virtula memory files, as expected, but also Shadow Copy, which amounts to around 30GB! So this might actually be the issue.

However, from what I understand from the Windows Vista help, shadow copy should use no more than 15% of your hard drive for its backups. So for a partition of 60GB that should mean around 9GB, not 30GB. So there is something fishy going on still. With my HP SmartMedia Server in place there's no need for me to use Windows own backup functions, hence shadow copy should only save restore points when I install new software and/or drivers. When I have a look at the Windows Vista Backup Software I can't see that there are any scheduled backups of the any of the drives/partitions, but perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place.

When I show properties for the C-drive/partition and go to the tab "previous versions" there seems to be 2 or 3 shadow copies done each day (from what I understand it should only be once per day) and opening one of these and selecting all files I can read from the properties for all files in one of the shadow copies that they total around 30GB.

Now, two questions. Do you think that a virus or malware can be hiding as a shadow copy and would you know what to do about it? If not, do you know how to properly configure shadow copy so that it doesn't take up so much disk space and keep to its 15% of the drive? If these are questions for another thread or another forum please let me know and I'll go there instead.

In the meantime, thank you so much for your help and patience so far.
/Donald
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#18
Jimmy2012

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Hello dlinderyd,

Do you think that a virus or malware can be hiding as a shadow copy

I don't think this is being caused by malware.

If not, do you know how to properly configure shadow copy so that it doesn't take up so much disk space and keep to its 15% of the drive?

Please read the following link and see if this helps.
http://www.wikihow.c...n-Windows-Vista

If you have any questions or need any help please let me know.
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#19
dlinderyd

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OK. So, my system tells me that Maximum shadow storage space is unlimited. But according to the help it should be limited to 15% and that's what the link you sent me talks about as well. So how come mine isn't following these rules?

It is supposed to make copies of the registry if I understand correctly, but surely that can't amount to 30GB. So, it must be making backups of all sorts of things. Is my Home Server for some reason using the Shadow Copy facility? But those backups should only be incremental anyway and there are only Shadow Copies on my C-drive and not on the D or F-drive, so that doesn't make any sense either.

If I follow the instructions to reduce the allowed shadow copy space, how do I know that I can access a system restore point when I need it? What I mean is, what is the downside. I want to make sure that I still have the restore point capability. Any individual files can be accessed from my Home Server.

Edited by dlinderyd, 16 April 2009 - 04:12 PM.

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#20
Jimmy2012

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Hello dlinderyd,

If I follow the instructions to reduce the allowed shadow copy space, how do I know that I can access a system restore point when I need it?

That should not cause any problems as long as you give it enough space, I would reduce it down to around 3GB.

Edited by Jimmy2012, 17 April 2009 - 10:57 AM.

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#21
dlinderyd

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Thanks Jimmy.
Done.
One last question, why do you think my Vista didn't stick to the 15% limit the Help-file and your link talkes about?
Thanks for your help again.
/Donald
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#22
Jimmy2012

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Hello dlinderyd,

why do you think my Vista didn't stick to the 15% limit the Help-file and your link talkes about?

That, I am not sure on. From looking into this problem, it seems that sometimes it does this for some reason.
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#23
dlinderyd

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OK, thanks for your help again Jimmy.
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#24
Jimmy2012

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Hello dlinderyd,

Are you having any other problems with your computer?
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#25
Jimmy2012

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Due to lack of feedback, this topic has been closed.

If you need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member. This applies only to the original topic starter. Everyone else please begin a New Topic.
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