Cannot backup in full

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
November 30, 2020
3 replies
2147 views

When I try to do a full backup to either of two external hard drives, E: or G:, I get the error message "Cannot complete backup. Your system is low on disk space". The Organizer computes the backup size as 210 GB, yet File Explorer shows 1119 GB free on E: and 795 GB free on G:, and 676 GB free on C:. I still can do incremental backups to older full backups on these drives. What's the problem and solution here for full backups?

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MichelBParis

Legend

Why did I ask you about your scratch disks?

You reported the error message:

"Cannot complete backup. Your system is low on disk space".

For me, that does not mean the free space on the destination drive, but the free space used by the system to allow more space than the RAM. The fact that your screenshot does not show any scratch disk is not normal. Were you able to assign the C drive as scratch disk (make the checkbox appear on the first line as in my screenshot?)

Why is the calculated space for this backup only 210 GB, whereas the actual size of my last full backup, as reported by file explorer properties, 476GB, and at that time I had many fewer pictures than now?

Good question. Only you can estimate the true size from the Explorer. So that looks like a second mystery which may be linked with the first one... or not. Did you get the same 210 GB estimate when trying to backup on G or E?

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freethedataAuthor

Inspiring

In your screen shot, you show the C: drive as not active scratch disk, so I didn't check it. Will try again with C: checked.

And I got the same calculated backup size for both external disks.

They are having a Black Friday sale on PSE 2021; wonder if i will get the same error if i try a backup from PSE 2021?

As mentioned above, i already did an uninstall and reinstall of PSE 2018 with no different results.

And also as mentioned above, i got the same error when i went back to PSE 12 and tried to do a full backup of the PSE 12 catalog.

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freethedataAuthor

Inspiring

Tried again with C: checked as active scratch disk; same results.

Will try optimize/ repair catalog. I have noticed in my experience with computers that the displayed error message often has no relation to the true error,

MichelBParis

Legend

About scratch disks:

What do your present settings look like?

A screenshot would clarify your situation.

Here is one. The two chosen (active) drives are internal drives with enough space. The C drive is ignored (not enough free space). You choose the order of drives using the two up and down arrows just on the right of the drives list.

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freethedataAuthor

Inspiring

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freethedataAuthor

Inspiring

It should be enough to click on the left column on the C: drive, like in my screenshot. Does the checkbox appear?

Then, would the error message be the same?

The general rules for scratch disks:

- You have conventional internal drives: choose another another drive than the C drive

- Don't use external drives

- If you have SSD drive, they are highly recommended if they are big enough

About location or your media files: no problem to store them on external drives, that's what I do.

Location of the catalog file: you can choose. Theoretically better in the default location, especially if the drive is big enough. I do sore both my catalog and media files on the same external drive. No noticeable loss in speed.

Made no difference--still got the insufficient space error.