In this article, I will discuss methods to fix low disk space issues on the recovery drive in Windows 10.
Extend Recovery Partition
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Disk Management by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Disk Management”. |
| 2 | Right-click on the recovery partition and select “Extend Volume”. |
| 3 | Follow the on-screen instructions to extend the volume and allocate additional disk space to the recovery partition. |
| 4 | Once the process is complete, close Disk Management and restart your computer to apply the changes. |
Run Disk Cleanup Program
To run the Disk Cleanup program on Windows 10 for low disk space recovery, follow these steps. First, click on the Windows icon in the taskbar, then type “Disk Cleanup” in the search bar. Next, select the Disk Cleanup app from the search results. In the Disk Cleanup window, select the drive you want to clean up and click OK. The program will calculate how much space you can free up.
Check the boxes next to the files you want to delete, then click OK. Finally, click Delete Files to remove the selected files and free up space on your drive. This simple process can help you reclaim valuable storage space on your Windows 10 system.
Disable System Protection
1. Click on the Start button and type “Control Panel” in the search bar.
2. Click on “System and Security” and then on “System.”
3. In the System window, click on “System protection” on the left-hand side.
4. Select the drive you want to disable System Protection for and click on “Configure.”
5. In the System Protection for (Drive Name) window, select “Disable system protection” and click “OK.”
Unhide Protected Operating System Files
1. Open File Explorer and go to the “View” tab.
2. Check the box next to “Hidden items” to show hidden files and folders.
3. Go to the “View” tab again and click on “Options.”
4. In the Folder Options window, go to the “View” tab.
5. Uncheck the box next to “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)” and click “Apply.”
Delete Unnecessary Files Manually
- Step 1: Open File Explorer by pressing Windows key + E.
- Step 2: Navigate to the drive you want to clean up (usually C:).
- Step 3: Click on the drive, then select Properties.
- Step 4: Under the General tab, click on Disk Cleanup.
- Step 5: Check all the boxes for the types of files you want to delete, then click OK.
- Step 6: Confirm that you want to delete the files by clicking Delete Files.
Clone Recovery Drive for Backup
To create a backup of your recovery drive in Windows 10 to free up disk space, you can easily clone the drive. First, connect an external hard drive to your computer. Then, right-click on the Start button and select “Disk Management. ” Locate your recovery drive, right-click on it, and select “Clone Disk. ” Choose the external hard drive as the destination and follow the prompts to complete the cloning process. This will create a backup of your recovery drive and free up space on your computer.
Shred Unnecessary Files
You can also use a third-party software like EaseUS Partition Master to easily manage your disk space. This tool allows you to delete unnecessary files, resize partitions, and optimize your disk space for better performance. By shredding unnecessary files, you can reclaim valuable space on your recovery drive and keep your system running smoothly.
Remove Recovery Drive Letter
To remove the recovery drive letter in Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Open Disk Management: Right-click on the Start button and select Disk Management.
2. Locate the Recovery Drive: Look for the recovery drive in the list of drives. It usually has a small capacity and is labeled as “Healthy (Recovery Partition).”
3. Change Drive Letter: Right-click on the recovery drive and select “Change Drive Letter and Paths.” Then, click “Remove.”
4. Confirm: A warning message will pop up, confirming that removing the drive letter may cause programs to no longer run correctly. Click “Yes” to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I free up space on my recovery drive?
To free up space on your recovery drive, you can use the cleanup program in Windows 10. Open Run by pressing “Win” + “R”, type “cleanmgr”, and press Enter. Select the recovery drive, choose unnecessary files, and click “OK” to clear up space.
Why is my recovery D drive almost full?
Your recovery drive is almost full because it is a partition on the main hard disk where files are being stored or written to by backup and restore tools, causing it to fill up quickly.
How do I increase the size of my recovery drive?
To increase the size of your recovery drive, you can use command prompt to check the WinRE status, shrink the OS partition, and create a new recovery partition on your disk.
How much space do I need for a recovery drive?
To create a recovery drive, you will need a USB drive with a minimum of 16 gigabytes of space. Make sure the USB drive is empty as the process will erase any existing data on it.
