This is a new topic, but an evolution of my earlier post shown below (included for continuity).
Since my problem was time-sensitive, I proceeded cautiously along the solution path I speculated on in that post. I’ve been working with and building my own PCs since 1988, but I’m primarily a hardware guy.
On my filled-to-capacity 6 TB My Book (Drive G:), I deleted the File History folder, then the WD Backup.swstor folder, leaving only the Install_Western_Digital_Software_for_Windows.exe file. I learned around the same time that support for WD Discovery and WD Backup was ending, so I removed those apps from my system and downloaded the recommended Acronis True Image for Western Digital. I installed True Image, and ran a backup of my entire computer with it (about 0.4 TB). The install and backup were accomplished seemingly without a hitch, but when the backup concluded, it reported an error message: “File System error is found. Consider checking the disk using Check Disk Utility.” I then ran chkdsk G: /f on My Book, but nothing changed, and I am unable to access the backup on My Book, even though File Manager indicates that G: contains a folder titled with the name I gave the backup, and that folder contains the approximate total amount of data as the data stored on my computer HDD (0.4 TB). Anyone know how I can resolve this dilemma and access my True Image backups?
Original Message:
I made a bonehead move when I set up my new My Book 6TB back in May, intending to use it as a real-time backup of each file that I change or create in my Documents folder, while automatically deleting the older version from My Book (similar to a RAID 1 solution). I thought that the Win10 Windows File History backup would be the right way to do it, but I did not realize at that time that File History just backs up the entire list of folders I selected, over and over again, without deleting anything. As a result, my 6TB external HDD quickly filled to capacity with hourly File History backups. My question is how do I remove everything that File History added to My Book without destroying WDD software that was pre-installed? In Windows File Explorer, under the My Book G: location, there is a separate folder titled File History, and another tltled WD Backup.swstor, both with the same modification date of 5/15/2022. There is also a file titled Install Western Digital Software for Windows. I have already turned off File History backups in Win10. Is the remedy for my dilemma to simply delete the two folders with the 5/15 modification date? Is there some precaution I should be aware of with deleting the WD Backup.swstor folder?
