Help with Toshiba Canvio external hard drive: Bought a Toshiba Canvio 3 external hard drive a couple of months ago and had it set to back up my desktop. Only have one problem. It has...

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

Bought a Toshiba Canvio 3 external hard drive a couple of months ago and had it set to back up my desktop. Only have one problem. It has now has now 361gb free of 2.72 tb. It has like 3 times more info that the computer it's backing up. Which says 566gb free of 1.80 tb. I can't find any info on deleting old backups, which is what it must be doing...right? I set it to monthly backup to buy me some time to figure this out.
The only paperwork I got was put cord b into slot c , etc.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

b2bjacks wrote:

Bought a Toshiba Canvio 3 external hard drive a couple of months ago and had it set to back up my desktop. Only have one problem. It has now has now 361gb free of 2.72 tb. It has like 3 times more info that the computer it's backing up. Which says 566gb free of 1.80 tb. I can't find any info on deleting old backups, which is what it must be doing...right? I set it to monthly backup to buy me some time to figure this out.
The only paperwork I got was put cord b into slot c , etc.

It sounds like you have it set to do a full backup instead of incremental backups. What back up program are you using?

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

NTI Backup now EZ is the software. It has three sections, Cloud back up(off) File and Folder Backup and Complete System Back up. Should the complete system be backed up once and then turned off??

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

:thumbup: What b2bjacks said. You're probably doing a full backup at the interval you set.
I have a Toshiba drive but I found the backup/restore software didn't do the job and, in fact, ruined 2 separate internal drives when I did try to do a restore.
Anyhow, since it's not that old, I'd contact Toshiba and ask a tech if it's safe to delete old backups.
Then, change the setting to incremental.

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

Indi wrote:

I'd contact Toshiba and ask a tech if it's safe to delete old backups.
Then, change the setting to incremental.

I already deleted the oldest backup to see if I could restore some memory and i didn't do anything at all. It disappeared, but didn't give me any memory back.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

b2bjacks wrote:

I already deleted the oldest backup to see if I could restore some memory and i didn't do anything at all. It disappeared, but didn't give me any memory back.

What type of computer are you using and what is the current operating system?

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

It' a hp envy 700-216 desktop with windows 8.

Jerry M

I am having a similar problem with my toshiba drive. How do you set for incremental v. full back up? when setting it up i didn't see any choice of one or the other. I assumed it would be incremental. thanks

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

b2bjacks wrote:

It' a hp envy 700-216 desktop with windows 8.

The last windows computer I used ran windows 7. When you clicked on the globe in the lower left hand corner of the screen you had a dropdown list come up and show several options. One of those options was Control Panel. When you opened Control Panel you got 8 options. The first was System & Security. If you clicked on the option backup & Restore it takes you to where you can set up backup using windows to do the back up. As a side note; windows 7 does not erase old backups. You have to erase them manually. That is one of the reasons I now use an iMac.

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

Of the three sections Cloud/File and folder/complete system, I un-clicked cloud and complete. And only have file and folder checked. I did find a modify button. And got a secondary box that had 4 sections. E-mail/office/music-pics and video/ and a 4th. I unchecked all but the music-pics-video. So going forward that's all that should be backing up. They did have more secondary boxes and I could have un checked video and didn't . Can't now as I chose to backup now because it had been awhile.
So I "think" I'm good. EXCEPT, I want that memory back. I deleted yet another older complete back up file and it didn't help. I'm wondering if there is way I can just dump everything and start from square one and un check complete back up after one complete back up is done. I may have to get a hold of someone from Toshiba.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

b2bjacks wrote:

Of the three sections Cloud/File and folder/comple... (show quote)

You may have to restart your computer to get the space back.

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

jethro779 wrote:

You may have to restart your computer to get the space back.

I deleted a file about 5 days ago and have rebooted at least twice since then and it didn't help. BUT I'll try again.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

b2bjacks wrote:

I deleted a file about 5 days ago and have rebooted at least twice since then and it didn't help. BUT I'll try again.

Could it be the files still takes up space because it is in the trash can/wastebasket?

b2bjacks Loc: Sequim, Washington

Dngallagher wrote:

Could it be the files still takes up space because it is in the trash can/wastebasket?

I hadn't the first time, but thought about it last night. I emptied the trash and gained 4 gb of memory. To 365gb from 361gb left, not much, but some. But since I hadn't backed up in while and I was doing that and now have 346gb left. I'd be ok with just dumping and starting over correctly, but there doesn't seem to be that option. I sent an e-mail last night to the NTI techies, we'll see if I get a good answer today.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

b2bjacks wrote:

I hadn't the first time, but thought about it last night. I emptied the trash and gained 4 gb of memory. To 365gb from 361gb left, not much, but some. But since I hadn't backed up in while and I was doing that and now have 346gb left. I'd be ok with just dumping and starting over correctly, but there doesn't seem to be that option. I sent an e-mail last night to the NTI techies, we'll see if I get a good answer today.

4 GB is not much for a backup - you might want to get real familiar with the backup software and make sure you get an initial full backup and subsequent incremental backups (only what changed since the full backup) Nothing worse then thinking your backups are fine and need them to find out they don't have what you need to restore.

There are other backup software options besides what came with the drive - it is possible another backup program would do a better job, or be simpler to use.

I cannot image that the drive requires the use of the bundled backup software - if it does, get another drive ;)