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Windows Server 2012/R2 manages the backups itself. It claims to not fill the harddisk and manage itself, which backups to keep and which to replace by others. But maybe there is the need to get rid of more backups than the automatic retention decides. To keep e.g. only 30 backups: Run Cmd as admin WBADMIN DELETE BACKUP -keepVersions:30 Or more general: WBADMIN DELETE BACKUP -keepVersion: -BackupTarget: To delete individual backups see the further examples: WBADMIN DELETE BACKUP -version:03/31/2006-10:00 WBADMIN DELETE BACKUP -backupTarget:f: -deleteOldest Note that the time must be given in UTC. So, while it shows up in the user interface as CEST "16:00" it has to be specified as "14:00" on the command line. Sources: Wbadmin

If you want to go back to another complete system state you cannot simply do this via the in-Windows based Server Backup and Restore GUI. Likely it will tell you some message like: "WBADMIN START SYSTEMSTATERECOVERY". How to get into the repair disk: Start/restart the computer, Press F8, Select Repair Your Computer Select Troubleshooting System Image Recovery ... The command line accessible from the repair disk allows you to restore any available restore point. To query available restore points execute " wbadmin get versions ". On the repair disk this first gives you no available resources. If your backup is e.g. on drive D: keep in mind that this is in the repair disk now E:. So, wbadmin get versions -backupTarget:e: This should now give you all the available backups and their suitability to restore a system (bare-metal backup). Backup time: 22.11.2014 16:00 Backup target: Fixed Disk labeled D: Version identifier: 11/22/2014-15:00 Can rec...

If you want to go back to another complete system state you cannot simply do this via the in-Windows based Server Backup and Restore GUI. Likely it will tell you some message like: "WBADMIN START SYSTEMSTATERECOVERY". One fully graphical supported way is to use the so-called repair disk. Start/restart the computer, Press F8, Select Repair Your Computer Select Troubleshooting System Image Recovery ... The big shortcoming of that tool is that it only shows you the latest system restore point, which might be after what you want to recover. If you really want to restore to a very specific point (e.g. one week earlier where a certain issue did not happen yet) you will have to use the command line accessible from the repair disk. Note: The command line in a normal running Windows will can neither execute the respective restore command. Sources: Windows 2008 R2: Recover the Operating System or Full Server How to restore a system image in Windows Server 2012 ...