Freeing Up Online Storage Space

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Vejdin,

 

Thanks for that. I am away from the PC with Norton (in bedroom - wife asleep!!) - I will try this tomorrow and post the result.

 

Thanks.

 

Kev Judge

Hi,

 

I'm new to the forum.

 

I have searched the forum but can find similar, but not the same, answers to my question.

 

The question is how do I free up Norton 360 online storage space?

 

I have a file, call it xyz_1, which is large (about 100 megs) which I update about 3 times a week, everytime I update the file I increment the number after the underbar, so xyz_1 goes to xyz_2 to xyz_3 etc.

 

After a couple of weeks xyz_1, say, is no longer relevant to me and I have no need for it to be backed up. I right click on the file and say 'Exclude from backup'.

 

I have now reached my online storage limit but xyz_1 is still stored online - no longer backed up but still stored online. How can I delete it from the online storage so as to store later increments of the file?

 

No matter how much online storage I buy I will eventually fill the space up as the file is updated.

 

I may be a bit quick in this question - does selecting 'Exclude from backup' eventually delete the file from the online storage?

Vejdin,

 

I tried your solution and it would, I assume, work. The problem is that I stopped the deletion process after about 10 minutes. Everything seemed to be going OK it was just the length of time.

 

If the deletion I tried is typical it would take me about 4 hours to delete the files! Is it possible to delete a whole folder of files or do the files need to be selected individually?

 

If individually the easiest option is not to use the service, it would take less time to manually archive the required files to a CD.

 

Heres hoping.

 

Kev

 

 

Hi Kev,


You can only delete individual files, you cannot delete folders. However, you can use the option "Select All" to select all files in a folder. I've used this option to remove documents and it's fast enough. I have no idea why it takes so long for you. How did you understand that it would take about 4 hrs to delete files?

Vejdin,

 

The files I want to delete are about 4 levels down a folder 'tree', i.e. about 4 sub-folders down.

 

The Norton 360 takes about 5 minutes to list the top level folders, then about a minute each to list the next level down once I try to drill down.

 

I then selected the files I wanted to delete, in one folder, and told Norton 360 to delete them. After about 5 minutes it was still saying 'deleting'.

 

This means it has taken 15 minutes so far - I then abandoned the operation as it was just taking so long.

 

If we assume that it takes 15 minutes to drill down and delete (I took 15 minutes before abandoning the process) 1 file, or indeed a set of files, I have files in about 15 to 20 folders I want to delete, multiply 16 by 15 minutes and you have 4 hours.

 

I have a fast internet connection and the only time I have any noticeable problems is with the Norton online backup.

 

Maybe I have something set incorrectly? I don't know but I have now tried on 3 different occasions and the above times are fairly typical.

 

Regards,

Kev

 

 

Vejdin,

 

To give you some idea of the timings I have just timed each stage of the process. Please forgive me if my descriptions of each window are not exact - I was doing the timings on another PC to what I am writing this message on.

 

Started Norton 360

Pressed 'Manage Backup' in the backup area - 90 seconds until the next window opened.

Presed 'Change' in the 'Backup Destination' 60 seconds until the Window had properly loaded.

Pressed 'Delete Previously Backed Up Files' - 240 seconds until something like a File Manager Appeared.

To navigate down 5 sub-folders - 290 seconds.

Selected 3 files to delete.

Waited 300 seconds to for files to delete - they hadn't after 300 seconds - I have left the Window open deleting the files.

 

This has now taken me 980 seconds to get to stage where the 3 files have not yet been deleted.

 

If we knock off the time to get to the 'File Manager' type window it would be a reasonable assumption that it would take me about 300 seconds to navugate to another Folder then 300 seconds to select and delete the files, i.e. 10 minutes.

 

The files I want to delete are spread about a bit so it takes me about 10 minutes to delete some files, now I want to delete about 30 or so files (or sets of files) - 30 x 10 is 300 minutes or 5 hours.

 

Have you any comments? It seems to me that the navigating around and the actual deleting of the files is taking the time.

 

Thanks.

 

Kev

 

 

Apparently, it takes too much time on your PC. I recommend you to repeat all those steps, make sure no other tasks are runing (including Norton 360 tasks):

 

Go to "Manage Backup", but this time wait untill you see at the bottom of the configuration window the following text: "Norton 360 is searching your system for files to backup". Now wait untill it disappears, then try to delete files.

 

Is Norton 360 working faster now ? Is there any difference ? What kind of backup you use - full or quick ?

2 Likes

Vejdin,

 

I am using Quick Backup.

 

I have got to the stage where the text "Norton 360 is searching your system for files to backup" is at the bottom of the window, I left it for 15 minutes and it is still searching. Is this correct? It seems quite a long time.

 

Something that is maybe relevant is that most of the files I am backing up are not in the default Norton locations of 'My Documents' and desktop. I have 2 hard drives on my PC - C and F. 99% of the files I am backing up are on the F drive. They are in a single folder with about 20 sub-folders at the first level - most will have 2 or 3 sub-folders - some more.

 

I will let you know if deleting the files is quicker once the text disappears.

 

Thanks for your ongoing help.

 

Kev

The text "Norton 360 is searching your system for files to backup" took 55 minutes to go away - therafter the deleting of online files was a LOT quicker - it is OK once the task of searching for 'files to backup' has finished.

 

May I pass a couple of comments on please: -

 

1. It would be an improvement to allow users to delete directories.

 

2. The delete 'files previously backed up' button should be elsewhere - their seems no logical connection with where it is at the monet - the 'change locations' area.

 

3. If I want to delete files that have previously been backed up why do I have to wait for Norton to 'search my system for files to backup' .

a. I want to delete files - finding what files to backup does not seem connected with the task of deleting files already backed up.

 

Thanks for your support and time - it is appreciated. I am now deleting the files already backed up so have resolved the situation.

 

Kev

1 Like

Hi Kev,

 

As I thought, deleting files is slow because Norton 360 is searching for new files. It takes about 3-4 minutes for me but I must admit I use default backup locations and backup only documents. I agree with your comments, and I believe backup in Norton 360 v3.0 will be improved. If you have other questions, feel free to ask!

1 Like

Vejdin,

 

I got a new PC on Saturday (a LOT faster) - searching for 'files to backup' now takes about 5 minutes so, hopefull, deleting old files will be a lot quicker.

 

Thanks.

 

Kev Judge

Hi Guys,

 

Just wanted to provide a little more information on the process and why things may take a little bit of extra time. When you run a backup, the a list of the data which is backed up (a catalog) is generated - along with some other stuff. You can see this file in the working directory of N360 as you run your backup. When you need to run a restore, or to purge files from your backup, first this file has to be loaded. Once it is loaded you should be able to browse through the backed up files with little to no delay.

 

On the plus side, this process ensures that your backup is intact and that your files are stored (and encrypted) properly.

 

If you have any specific questions or problems feel free to send me a PM and I will do my best to get back to you ASAP. It looks as though Vejdin already has things well under control :smileyhappy:

 

~scott

To delete files: from Norton 360’s main window go to Backup, and select Manage Backup. In “Backup Destination”, click the “Change” button, then click on â€śDelete previously backed up files”. Locate the file you want to delete and select it. Finally, use the “Remove selected files” option to remove files. That’s it! :slight_smile:

Message Edited by Vejdin on 06-16-2008 01:10 AM