Windows Vista forum: Hard drive says it's full when it's not... Please help!

Specifically, this post outlines several of the primary causes of high disk space usage and how to track the lost space down.

John

First, "memory" isn't the correct term for your issue primarily because hard drives use "storage space" not "memory". Memory is RAM and if you're receiving error messages about "memory", then it's something entirely different than the hard drive filling up with files.. Give us the EXACT message you're seeing and how much "space" is being shown on your "C:" drive.. Click on Start-Computer, then the C drive.. How much space is free and how much is used?

"And about system restore, it's already had to disable itself for lack of memory". System Restore doesn't disable itself.. Someone/something must physically disable SR. What do you see if you RIGHT click on "Computer", then choose "Properties", then the System Restore" tab.. Is the disabled box checked or unchecked? If it's UNCHECKed, then place a CHECK mark there and click on OK.

If you need to get rid of files, then do it. Obviously, there are more files on your system than just "data and program files" as you believe. (The operating system and program files will only take up a few GB's and you have 230 to deal with..) Find where they are and clean them out.. Don't do a search for files over 500 MB because the files probably aren't that large... Here's a link created for earlier versions of Windows but they should help with Vista as well. Clean out those "Temp" folders and Temporary Internet Files" folder.. Remove all the same files from any other user profiles that you have on the computer as well..:

How To Clean Unwanted Files From The Hard Drive

Hope this helps.

Grif

Forget the automatic stuff. Start doing a manual search of each folder while in Safe Mode using Windows Explorer. (Remember to change the Windows Explorer settings so you're seeing "All Files". RIGHT click on the Start button, choose "Explore'. When Windows Explorer opens, click on "Tools" in the upper left, choose "Folder Options", then click on the "View" tab. When that opens, place a dot/tick in "Show Hidden files and folders", then UNCHECK the boxes next to "Hide Extensions for known file types" and "Hide Protected operating system files", then click on OK, Apply, then OK..) RIGHT click on each folder on the left side of the screen, choose "Properties" and check their size.. Eventually, you should be able to fine where unusual amounts of space have been used..

Hope this helps.

Grif

A lot of them were package files. I downloaded AOL a while ago because that's what I use for my email, but I thought that I uninstalled it after I realized I didn't like the interface. Apparently not. I'm just glad I found the culprit!

I am have the same problem that you were talkinb about.. windows vista and low disk space. I was trying to do the steps you said to run in safe mode but when I click explore there are no tool options. Also how do I make sure I set windows explorer so that it shows all files?
Sarah

When I right click on the start it shows explore and explore all users but not explorer. Is that the same? If it is it doesn't show a "tools" button to click on, it opens up a window with all of my files. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks

I have read all these posts and they are the same problem I am having. My machine is almost 1 yr old and I hav etried these tips but like the last person I can't find Tools when I go in Explore. I looked left and right and the Tools menu is not there. What am I missing?

I've jst used 12 gb out of 36 gb but it shows my c: drive full...i'm so confused and angry.Is somemone hacking my disk space???any suggestion????plz help

ive been having the same problem that you've had, i thought it was a virus but i think it may be the vista shadow copy, which is a really flawed SR it takes 15% of your hard drive space for a backup, and i dont think that Vista shadow copy would delete the extra backups there is a really complicated process of changing it but im getting errors without so i dont know ecactly what to do.. yet

I think you should have started your own new discussion.

I'd go get CCLEANER and let it clean up using the defaults then create a new post.

This old discussion is quite old so we'll close with this post.
Bob