Windows XP: What’s eating up my hard drive space?
- 1/9/09 3:15 PM
Same on Vista 64 bits
by sdifiore - 1/10/09 12:46 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm starting to believe there is some virus, or something else around...
I lost 150MB in 3 days...
The solution was retur the last Vista full system back up that for my luck, I do then montly, and download alterd files form my Mozy account...
I would have lost everithing if I didn't took this dramatic action...
Definitely there is something around in the net...
Desktop search engines : bloating
by verdyp - 1/10/09 1:33 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have found that Local Desktop Search Engines tend to accumulate constantly all versions of your past emails or your last web pages where you have navigating, by constantly trying to reindex them as soon as they are discovered in your Internet cache, or in your mailbox.
Well, emails are not the most important in size (even if Desktop Search engines tend to accumulate them, including the spams you have deleted as soon as you received them...)
Most desktop search engines (including Windows Search, or Google...) also do not offer a way to clean up them from old versions of files or web pages. They completely ignore all those things that you have cleaned elsewhere but that they have indexed. They are basically tuned only to fill up the drive they are installed on, and will start cleaning up only after there remains no more space for them).
Consider uninstalling ALL local desktop search engines (Windows, Google..): I've not seen any reason why they would be useful, and create more problems than what they solve. My opinion is that a search engine should run on its OWN system with its OWN storage and should only index things that are made accessible to them through a network. But NEVER on a system used for your applications or working on your documents, or from which you are navigating the web.
Consider choosing applications that allow performing searches fmore efficiently when you really need to do that, or to better organize your data so that you will no longer have to wonder where your precious past data is saved or archived.
YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO DISKEEPER AS A DISK DEFRAMENTER
by SLOVEHEART1 - 1/10/09 1:40 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
YOU SAY YOU HAVE APPROX., 2GB LEFT ON YOUR HARD DRIVE AND IT NEEDS TO BE DEFRAGMENTED. WELL THE BEST DEFRAGMENTER OUT THERE IS DISKEEPER, IT HAS SEVERAL CONFIGURTABLE OPTIONS, BUT IT WILL WORK ON DRIVES WITH (I BELIEVE) 1-2 GB LEFT, AND IT IS FAST AND HAS A BOOT DEFRAGMENTER, WHICH DEFRAGMENTS BEFORE BOOT UP TO DEFRAGMENT FILES ONLY ABLE TO BE ACCESSED FOR THIS BEFORE INITIALIZATION, ALSO IT CONSOLIDATES LARGE DIRECTORIES AND LISTS YOUR FRAGMENTED FILES WHICH STILL REMAIN, ON MY COMPUTER IT IS ABOUT 5 - 10 FILES ON A 750 GB DRIVE!!! IT DOES A GREAT JOB, AND CAN AND SHOULD BE SET TO AUTO DEFRAGMENT (WORKS IN THE BACKGROUND. IT WILL WORK WITH FAT32 NTFS FILE SYSTEMS. CHECK IT OUT AT HTTP://WWW.DISKEEPER.COM.
desktop search engines
by verdyp - 1/10/09 1:41 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Also the way they are working, all desktop search eignes are creating very large files that are constantly growing and trying to fill every gap of free space in your drive, creating heavy disk drive fragmentation at an incredibly high speed; fully defragmenting a drive one day will have an effect only for the next one or two days, if a search engine is constantly reindexing your drive. So you'll find that you spend most of the time to use your PC by just trying to administrte it without lot of success (running various cleaing tools, defragmenting it for hours...). This is non sense ! The time lost there is MUCH more important that the small time that a local search engine is supposed to save.
Really, abandon all local search engines and accept the fact that, sometimes, your local searches may be long if there is no precomputed index: even in this case, it has never exceeded the huge time lost in running a complete defragmentation or cleaning up your drive. My time is more precious is better saved by reducing the administration cost, and a local search engine just contributed to a MUCH higher loss of time in administrating the system.
Experienced something similar recently
by dhardma1 - 1/10/09 2:07 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
There are many answers here but the bottom line is that a virus quite possibly a trojan is eating the hard drive space. I am not an expert I just knew that something was wrong when my computer was showing that my hard drive was down to 88mb of space and then the low disk message kept popping up. I deleted unused programs. Over a gb of them but the more I deleted the less space I had. It had gotten down to 22 mb of space. Then when I rebooted it went back up to 40 mb. Then as I used it mind you nothing was added it went back down to 20 mb. It kept going up and down but always less than 150 mb which is needed. After all the software I deleted the only thing I had a lot of was music and picture files which do not take a lot of space only kb's. So my brother told me it sounded like I got a virus and needed to do a clean install. I took it to the computer repair and it is still there. All my info that I wanted to keep is being backed-up on dvds and I had to order restore disks from Dell. I don't know if I got a virus from my daughter using Limewire or opening up an exe. file. I use AVG virus and spyware software and also Windows Defender. I also use ccleaner. It seems like no matter what type of anti-virus software you use it can never catch and quarantine all the viruses out there. It makes me wonder if there are some that can lower a hard drive's immunity like a computer version of HIV. I know that there is not anti-virus software that is 100% because I stopped messing around with McAfee when I got a virus inside of it. Crazy how a computer is so much similar to a human.
HD Being Eat Up?
by philw19642002 - 1/10/09 3:52 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Yeah you must have an older PC!! If I were you I would go to Tiger Dierst.com and order an External HD. Get a 250 or 300GB Hard Drive. Easy to connect to your PC and will give you enough memory for quit some time to come.Only about $55.00
Sounds crazy, but it has crossed my mind
by dangarbe - 1/10/09 4:16 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Marie (And Lee),
Happy New year to you both and all other readers.
Funny thing, I have noticed the same problem on my laptop.
I am having problems on my other computer with XP's SP3 looping, so I have been trying to get both syncronised and have downsized by back-upping all our files and software....
I also chaned the setting for Windows automatic downlaod and install to notifying me.
The funny thing is that, in the process, my laptop, no matyter how I try it is loosing memory space dramaticly.
I will be following some of the advice, such as virtual memory, here recommended.
But - And here's my big BUT - I have the feeeling, looking at all the updates and fixes Microsoft has sent, plus this nasty looping problem on my other computer problem, that it smellls ever so much as a scam by Microsoft for people like us to move on to Vista and/or Windows 7...
As I am not a conspiracy minded person, let alone I do not live in the US, but in Europe, I cannot help but have this feeling.
Plus, all the different ways sugggest officially by Microsoft on their help pages is not allowing me to get rid of XP's SP3...
I would like to contribute, once you have answered, with my experience as it my mutually help you and I.
Best Reagrds,
Daniel
Portugal
Eating up Hard Drive space.
by Philster714 - 1/10/09 4:35 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I had a similar problem, years ago, when using "System Suite" Firewall and Anti-Virus I had inadvertantly activated "file undelete" aspect on the program choices. Check your running toolbar and right click to see if you running firewall or anti-virus displays such a choice. If checked,"file undelete", you are saving a lot of garbage to your 'C' Drive and this overides other programs from cleaning up your drive. Hope this helps..just a hunch from my past expirences.
EMail images/movies? Unplug network. Many partitions =good
by DGGerman - 1/10/09 4:58 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
After reading over 200 responses what is really needed here ( as with many forums ) is a cleanup and a summary.
First some diagnostics.
A) Write down the time, date, free and used! space from properties of C: drive and each folder within C:.
B) disconnect from the network for as long as possible,
over night, while at work a couple of days!
C) Write down the time,date, free and used space as above.
1.If there is only a little change, your problem is network related activity
or you haven't waited long enough.
2. If there is a large change this points to a virus, anti-virus logs and search index updating.
D) Reconnect the network and
Write down the time,date, free and used space as above.
E) After a day or so,
Write down the time,date, free and used space as above.
A large change suggests network related activity.
This includes incoming emails, RSS feeds, automatic updates and firewall logs.
Emails with several videos or still images take up a lot of room ( as like 2 times their apparent size!).
Deleting them may be sending them to a "deleted items" folder not really removing them.
Now set up a reminder ( write it on your calendar) for next month to,
Write down the time,date, free and used space as above.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Next some breathing room.
As suggested by others ( some of which Marie has done)
1) restrict/reduce cache of browser, if possible relocate it to another volume for the future
2) restrict/reduce number of system restore points
3) restrict/reduce recycle bin
4) set folder properties to view hidden and system files
5) move $xxx MS update undo files to another volume
6) clean up the various TEMP directories
7) move LOG files to a directory on another volume
8) move your My Documents to another volume
now the biggie!
9)For EACH directory in C: ( not the drive )
click properties
Write down the time,date, size and size on disk.
Then click advanced, compress -OK- apply to this folder, sub folders and files
Write down the time,date, size and "size on disk."
10) Write down the time,date, free and used space on C: as above.
Things that don't help with a "it keeps happening" problem.
hibernation file, paging file, buy a new disk ( oh Please!),
removing programs ( boy there's trouble there),
reformatting, reinstalling
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For many years I have been a proponent of multiple partitions.
A BIG one for Microsoft C:
A different not quite so big one for everyone else like installed programs.
A small one for browser cache ( prevents massive fragmentation when mixed with other data)
Now for me!
A separate one for emails ( another fragmentation issue)
A big one for my photos etc
Yet another for my "regular stuff" spread sheets, documents... and files created by all those installed programs.
That may sound like overkill, but avoiding fragmentation is better the the most powerful defrag tool.
When you do have to defragment the C: volume, no sense moving around my big photos.
Other reasons include isolation of hardware/software issues, backup and recovery. and upgrading.
Imagine getting Windows7 and NOT having to do anything with your data, photos or email because they are on separate volumes.)
Comments welcome here or privately to DGermancnf@Real-World-Systems.com
PS Marie: did you get this solved?
Summary appreciated.
by JohnMinn - 1/11/09 5:03 AM In reply to: EMail images/movies? Unplug network. Many partitions =good by DGGermanThere are some very good suggestions on the forum to locate the large files. I have a list program I use which will sort by size and therefore speed things up.
People do seem to forget that various video (such as .wmv) files eat up huge blocks of disk space.
As you might know, I am no fan of that which I call Blindows (blundering "Windows" due to the cumbersome "programming", however I do deal with it because so many individuals do depend on that "program".
I do wish I could get my friend from MS to tell me how he has been able to use the old Windows 3.11 and still handle the XP, Vista defendant programs. I have been "retired" for 30 years now and I am too old and too tired to go back to writing machine language routines. The "on board computer" just doesn't organize the way it formerly did.
I totally agree with you on the use of multiple partitions which make "housekeeping" so much more efficient.
For those of us who do the "deep digging", the standard housekeeping which we do does keep the clutter down and I do wish that everyone would set a time (once a week, once a month) to hash and trash the accumulated garbage. If they "must keep" certain files, then by all means DO NOT keep those big space eaters (wmv etc.) on C drive but move them to E drive and above.
However, getting people to do the "chores" doesn't always work so I then am in favor of the B I G hard drive theory. Not the best idea, but it does work for some.
The simplicity of the Seagate "migrator" makes that move simple enough for almost anyone IF IF IF they will just read the directions first.
What’s eating up my hard drive space?
by Khalilr1 - 1/10/09 5:01 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi all,
I compressed old files via Disk Cleanup (My Computer - Drive C - Properties - Disk Cleanup), it saved tremendous space on my Hard Disk. Try it.
Regards
Zone Alarm might be the problem
by TechWire - 1/10/09 5:10 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have heard that Zone Alarm creates a HUGE log file. There is a certain, safe way to remove it though. I saw it in PC World months ago.
Also, take a look at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/freeupdrivespace
A quick look at your files and Microsoft's tutorial
by opsman000 - 1/10/09 6:24 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
To Marie R.
A very easy way to see what is going on with the files on your drive is to click on My Computer, double click on Local Disk (C:). Click on View, Click on Details. This lists everything on your drive C:. Move your cursor over Size and click. This sorts everything on your drive according to size. I prefer to sort from largest down to smallest. To sort in the opposite direction just click on Size again.
The files are listed first, then the folders. To check the folders, click on the folder, then right click, click on Properties. This shows you the size of the folder. To investigate further, close the property box and double click on the folder. This will display the folder the same way as above.
This quick look should give you an idea where the space is being used.
A word of caution from personal experience: be careful what you decide to delete.
For a comprehensive analysis on how to locate and correct disk space problems go to Microsoft's excellent tutorial at this link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303079
Once more
by tealcat - 1/10/09 8:59 PM In reply to: A quick look at your files and Microsoft's tutorial by opsman000Once more, I am telling you that if you are running Avast anti-virus, and are having a low disk space problem, Avast is the culprit, not some virus, not Microsoft trying to force you to upgrade to Vista, not a fragmentation issue, not a swap file problem, not a problem of a back-up system eating all the disk space, not a desktop search engine problem. Everyone seems to have a problem with reading previous posts and failing to try solutions that DO solve the problem, and just keep posting their own pet theories.
Marie is my sister, and she and I have both told you that the problem was solved by uninstalling Avast, and then removing it's folder from Windows/Program Files.
Now, how many will still reply to Marie's post after reading this post? Those who do will seem to be idiots.
The Obvious
by mijcar - 1/10/09 9:00 PM In reply to: What’s eating up my hard drive space? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I was going to read all the best suggestions, but after just a few that didn't list the blatently obvious, I decided I would just leap in. I apologize if all of my suggestions are to be found somewhere further down the posts.
Both my wife and I run partitioned harddrives with 35 Gb C-drives and, yes, space can be tight.
1. Use your D-drive for all vital data that you can. Forget "My documents"! Now, there is a way to change "My Documents" to the D-drive and it's slick and really works. If that appeals to you, you can find out how to do it in the Windows Help system, but I am not going to tell you. Why not? Because your security improves when you don't use My Documents. If perchance, you download malware, much of it will only infect the directory in which it is downloaded. I had to decide which was more important to our household. Our data or our system. I decided it was our data. So my downloads are still to My Documents in the C-drive and all my vital data is in a folder in the D-drive. Keeping your data on the D-drive will free up a lot of space.
2. Does your computer have Hibernation activated. Check your power settings and see if it is. The space set aside for hibernation is HUGE. Most people just don't need it. If you don't plan on shutting down your computer, putting the power plug and leaving your computer alone for a couple of weeks, stick with Standby and you will be just as happy and have a lot more space.
3. Did you install any Adobe product in recent years? Adobe stores the bulk of the installation program on your C-drive. Supposedly, the purpose is so you can update your product without having to insert the installation disk. It's a lot of space to sacrifice for a small convenience.
4. What about Microsoft Office? Microsoft Office follows the same procedure as Adobe although their installation programs take up much less space.
5. Downloaded Norton products also follow the above strategy although they don't usually use too much room. If you've copied the installation file to a memory stick or CD, you don't need the installer on your computer for any purpose at all.
6. I noticed that you were given advice about System Restore. The advice to remove all restore points except the most recent is good advice. Just make sure you are totally satisfied with that restore point before you do this.
Easy way to do this: Program>Accessories>System Tools>Clean Up. Select either drive as the clean-up option, then when you are given a list of options, ignore the first tab, click on the second one and you will be given the option to remove all but the most recent restore point.
7. Some computers come with a hidden partition that is used to restore your computer to its initial state. If you have a CD or DVD that does the same thing, you might consider finding out how to remove it. Don't just leap in and delete that partition, though; you probably have a lot of registry and software links to that partition and can cause serious problems if you just go ahead and remove it.
8. Do you keep media in your C-drive. Windows Media Player and similar products will rip and/or convert copies of every single media file that you listen to, have access to, etc, UNLESS you tell it otherwise. Check your settings in all your media players, even the ones you don't use, and look in MY MUSIC and similar folders in my documents to see if they have a lot of files in them. The best way to handle these is to invest in a cheap portable USB harddrive and make that your default location for media files.
The same advice applies to picture files. If you own a Hewlitt Packard product or most of their competitors, you will find that it installs by default software that inventories all your pictures for you and organizes them. Sometimes the price of all this organization can be a fair piece of your harddrive, particularly if you have more than one program doing the same task. Especially check your Microsoft imaging software to see it any of it is doing this. Good advice, keep all your pictures and music files on that portable harddrive I mentioned.
9. Other downloaded installation software might end up hanging out in your documents folder, either directly or in one of your systems folders. Explore that folder by opening up My Computer or Windows Explorer (same thing), click on tools, Folder Options, View and checking the entry SHOW HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS, then uncheck HIDE PROTECTED OPERATING SYSTEM FILES. But make sure you use this as a basis for exploring. Don't delete anything unless you know the ramifications of that decision.
Invest in a good registry cleaner. But don't use it as a cleaner so much as a way of identifying folders that might no longer be needed.
Do a lot of checking on Google when cleaning up by this kind of browsing.
Good luck,
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