Dave_Molinaro
asked on
What is filling up this hard drive?
8GB hard drive with only 741MB free space after deleting most major programs. Add/Remove Program window image is attached (Jeanette's Software) and the total space taken by programs therein comes no where near 8GB. What is filling up this hard drive? We do need Earthlink, Earthlink Email, MS Securty Essentials and MS Office. I have also used Ccleaner to clean the hard drive. WindowsXP Home Service Pack 3. How can I free up more space? Thank you.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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first unhide hidden folders.
From the desktop screen click on Start, then Control Panel, followed by Panel Options.
Click on the View Tab and check the radio button "show hidden files and folders" and press OK.
You will now be able to see all of the hidden files and folders on your computer. You can right click on the hidden folder and uncheck the hidden box and apply the changes to unhide it.
now under "my computer" go to c:\windows\temp
delete everything in there.
go to %temp% and delete everything in there also.
( c:\documents and settings\%USERNAME%\local settings\temp )
now to cleanup the IE cache.
Using Internet Explorer as your browser, open up Internet Explorer 8
Once open and completely loaded, click on the "Safety" menu at the top of the page.
Check the box next to: "Temporary Internet Files and History"
Click the "Delete" button.
Wait for the computer to completely process this, and once it finished, you're courser should return and you can close out of the "Safety" menu and resume your activity.
see what you get back then.
From the desktop screen click on Start, then Control Panel, followed by Panel Options.
Click on the View Tab and check the radio button "show hidden files and folders" and press OK.
You will now be able to see all of the hidden files and folders on your computer. You can right click on the hidden folder and uncheck the hidden box and apply the changes to unhide it.
now under "my computer" go to c:\windows\temp
delete everything in there.
go to %temp% and delete everything in there also.
( c:\documents and settings\%USERNAME%\local settings\temp )
now to cleanup the IE cache.
Using Internet Explorer as your browser, open up Internet Explorer 8
Once open and completely loaded, click on the "Safety" menu at the top of the page.
Check the box next to: "Temporary Internet Files and History"
Click the "Delete" button.
Wait for the computer to completely process this, and once it finished, you're courser should return and you can close out of the "Safety" menu and resume your activity.
see what you get back then.
SOLUTION
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Its all from the OS and the applicationsd, also the swap files. 8 GB hard disk is too small and difficult to make space, you should replace and get a bigger one.
Agree with vadmin.
Download jdisk report tool & it will show it you graphically.
http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/
You will need java installed for it to work.
Ravi.
Download jdisk report tool & it will show it you graphically.
http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/
You will need java installed for it to work.
Ravi.
ASKER
dauman:
Ccleaner had removed most of the files you referenced.
torimar:
That Windirstat tool is amazing but, unfortunately, beyond my ability to manage its results. What files would one normally remove? I will check out Spacemonger.
Leew:
Went from 741MB free to 1.21GB free after disabling System Restore. Wow!
vAdmin:
I know that I am asking an awful lot from a very little HD
qrtraders:
I will check out jdisk
Thank you all. It is amazing what you all know!
Ccleaner had removed most of the files you referenced.
torimar:
That Windirstat tool is amazing but, unfortunately, beyond my ability to manage its results. What files would one normally remove? I will check out Spacemonger.
Leew:
Went from 741MB free to 1.21GB free after disabling System Restore. Wow!
vAdmin:
I know that I am asking an awful lot from a very little HD
qrtraders:
I will check out jdisk
Thank you all. It is amazing what you all know!
grtraders:
I already recommended two free programmes that represent file and folder sizes graphically. Why suggest another one that even may require a Java installation, if this thread is all about saving space?
Dave_Molinaro:
Please use Spacemonger over WinDirStat, it has a more striking representation. The purpose of using it is to show you directly whether there are a) one or more strikingly big single files that one could investigate about (ask Google or us), b) which folders take up most space among those that do not have an essential status.
For instance: If your system is all set well and for good the way it is now, then you probably will not consider uninstalling what is installed. In this case, there are a couple of pretty large folders that you could empty/delete. These are:
\windows\ServicePackFiles - you will not be able to uninstall SP3 or SP2 or whatever SP you manually installed
\windows\$Ntuninstallxxxxx
\windows\Installer - all programmes that were installed via MSI, the MS installer, will no longer be uninstallable via 'Add/Remove Software'
Also, if you have a folder 'C:\i386' this may be removed if you possess a separate Windows installation CD.
It's up to you to decide what you need to keep and what not. Spacemonger will immediately let you see how much space might be saved.
I already recommended two free programmes that represent file and folder sizes graphically. Why suggest another one that even may require a Java installation, if this thread is all about saving space?
Dave_Molinaro:
Please use Spacemonger over WinDirStat, it has a more striking representation. The purpose of using it is to show you directly whether there are a) one or more strikingly big single files that one could investigate about (ask Google or us), b) which folders take up most space among those that do not have an essential status.
For instance: If your system is all set well and for good the way it is now, then you probably will not consider uninstalling what is installed. In this case, there are a couple of pretty large folders that you could empty/delete. These are:
\windows\ServicePackFiles - you will not be able to uninstall SP3 or SP2 or whatever SP you manually installed
\windows\$Ntuninstallxxxxx
\windows\Installer - all programmes that were installed via MSI, the MS installer, will no longer be uninstallable via 'Add/Remove Software'
Also, if you have a folder 'C:\i386' this may be removed if you possess a separate Windows installation CD.
It's up to you to decide what you need to keep and what not. Spacemonger will immediately let you see how much space might be saved.
ps:
You might consider 'outsourcing' those files to a USB thumbdrive. That is of course much better than a deletion, just in case.
You might consider 'outsourcing' those files to a USB thumbdrive. That is of course much better than a deletion, just in case.
@Torimar
sorry posted in haste. Later say your links.
Ravi.
sorry posted in haste. Later say your links.
Ravi.
ASKER
Great advice! l learned a lot from these experts. On this tiny hard drive I now have in excess of 2GB free. Thanks so much.
ASKER
Jeanette--Software2.doc