Delete the client computer backup database

Updated: March 30, 2011

Applies To: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

When backup fails because of low disk space and you do not want to add another hard disk for backup, you can exclude some of the non-critical items that are included in the backup policy. However, you cannot run the backup database cleanup task manually or change the backup policy until there is more disk space available. You must delete client computer backups from the client computer backup database, and then you can change the backup retention policy or change a client computer backup policy.

To delete client computer backups manually

1. On a client computer, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Remote Desktop Connection. Log on to the server with your administrator user account and password.

2. Stop backup service:

   1. Click Start, and then click Command Prompt.

   2. At the command prompt, type net stop wss_computerbackupsvc, and then click ENTER.

3. Delete all of the files in the Client Computer Backups folder. For example, if the client computer backup files are in the ServerFolders\Client Computer Backup folder on the E drive, you would delete all the files in E:\ServerFolders\Client Computer Backups.

4. Start backup service:

   1. Click Start, and then click Command Prompt.

   2. At the command prompt, type net start wss_computerbackupsvc, and then click ENTER.

5. You can now change the backup retention policy or change a client computer backup policy. For information about changing the backup retention policy see, Change the computer backup retention policy. For information about changing a client computer backup policy, see Add or remove drives or folders for a client computer backup.