Windows 10 disk space
I have a computer running Windows 10 Pro with the latest updates. It has a 500GB hard drive on C: The hard drive is losing 5 to 10 GB more of free space everyday. I have been deleting programs and data, but then it still losing more free space. I am running a premium antivirus program that is updated and I am not experiencing any other symptoms, so I don't think it is a virus. I ran the program WinDirStat to try and determine the cause but so far haven't figure it out. I purchased a new 1 TB Hard drive, but did a hard drive clone so I could preserve everything on C: Drive including programs. Unfortunately when I installed the new hard drive, Windows Disk Manager forced me to do a partition between C: and D: Drive at 500GB each, because it was a clone. So I moved a lot of the files taking up space (MP4, MP3, etc) from C: to D: drive and uninstalled a lot of applications, as well as deleted files in C:\windows\temp and C:\users\user\appdata\loca
McKnife
Right click the shortcut to windirstat and select "run as administrator" - now it will show you the real stats. As Administrator, it may count all files admins have access to and not only files your unelevated, restricted user has access to.
ASKER
Hi McKnife, thanks for the fast reply. I am running WinDirStat as an admin right now. What do I need to look for? Thanks again.
Check log files.
I've seen antiviruses creating log files and filling up the disk really fast.
I've seen antiviruses creating log files and filling up the disk really fast.
"What do I need to look for?" - windirstat shows which folders are very large. So you will need to look for large folders. Folders with several GBs. The windows folder and program files can normally be left alone, since they are system-internal.
I use treesize pro (free trial available) and then check the age of the files.
ASKER
thanks for all the help. Running WinDirStat in Admin mode definately helps. It still could be a virus as mentioned but I am not seeing any other symptoms and I am using a premium (high rated antivirus, that I keep updated on a regular basis, as well as doing regular scans). The only thing I can come up with is my temp internet files and user\appdata\local temp folder might be taking up the space. I wish I could find an application that would allow me to merge the C: and D: logical drives all into 1 drive (C:). as I mentioned I had upgraded from a 500GB Hard drive to 1TB, but I did a clone of the 500GB dirve so, Windows disk manager forced me to create a D: Drive for the extra 500GB space.
Another vote for Treesize...just run it and you will find out what is eating your space
In my case i had some sync with my Nas and it was storing offline files somewhere deep into WIndows if i remeber correctly.
Turned off sync and space regained.
In my case i had some sync with my Nas and it was storing offline files somewhere deep into WIndows if i remeber correctly.
Turned off sync and space regained.
Share the findings with us, what folders and folder contents did you find which make you think "it could be a virus"?
For the merge you need either a 3rd party application that will do this like Minitool Partition Wizard or if you have the room in C: just move the files to C: and delete the D: partition and expand the C: read solution 2 from here : https://www.easeus.com/partition-master/extend-c-drive-windows-10.html
Its always good to take a backup...there is a slim chance that might go wrong....so better safe than sorry.
Its always good to take a backup...there is a slim chance that might go wrong....so better safe than sorry.
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@John Tsioumpris and David Johnson, CD I tried the method you mentioned when first installing the hard drive ( expand the partition ). However, WIndows Disk Manager wouldn't let me expand it (it was grayed out). and when researching becuase I had cloned the new 1TB from an older 500GB drive, it wouldn't allow it. I am open to purchased a 3rd party application, as you mentioned such as e Minitool Partition Wizard, as long as it will allow me to merge the C: and D: Drives together (unlike Disk Manger which isn't allow me to expand c: drive).
@McKnife I am not sure it is a virus, I just read the comment above about it could be a virus. I have owned the computer for a long time and it only seemed to start occuring in recent months. Perhaps I only noticed because I was finally running low on disk space. I just figured 5 to 10 GB of space being used per day seems kind of high.
@McKnife I am not sure it is a virus, I just read the comment above about it could be a virus. I have owned the computer for a long time and it only seemed to start occuring in recent months. Perhaps I only noticed because I was finally running low on disk space. I just figured 5 to 10 GB of space being used per day seems kind of high.
Can you post a screenshot of Disk Manager...grayed out sounds a bit strange....
Share the findings with us, what folders and folder contents did you find which make you think "it could be a virus"?
It would really be easy if you could provide a screenshot of the contents of such a huge folder.
It would really be easy if you could provide a screenshot of the contents of such a huge folder.
ASKER
@John Tsioumpris I had already installed the extra unallocated space as D: Drive a while back when doing this, because I had saw the option to expand was grayed out in Disk Manger and researched when cloning a dirve to a larger size drive you would have to install it as another logical drive. If I had the search link to the article I would post it, but this was a few months ago and I can't remember the source. I am going to be signing off soon as it is very late where I am and I have to get up in a few hours. If the 3rd party tool is going to work then I would prefer to just get the tool and move on, rather then trouble shoot and redo using Windows DIsk Manager.
ASKER
@McKnife. I would prefer not to post the log I think I have enough to help me at this point as I did locate some folders and files that i hadn't notice before to free up more space, so that should buy me a few more days to try and find a 3rd party disk management tool that will allow me to merge the C: and D: drives together.
@John Tsioumpri
I think I recall more info on why I couldn't do this on the Window DIsk Mangement, apparently they were not adjacent partitions. On the website for the Minitool Partition Wizard Pro edition, it indicates" Move/Resize PartitionMove non-adjacent partitions together for extending purpose; enlarge C drive". So I am guessing this will work to merge C: and D: Drive together.
@John Tsioumpri
I think I recall more info on why I couldn't do this on the Window DIsk Mangement, apparently they were not adjacent partitions. On the website for the Minitool Partition Wizard Pro edition, it indicates" Move/Resize PartitionMove non-adjacent partitions together for extending purpose; enlarge C drive". So I am guessing this will work to merge C: and D: Drive together.
Not adjacent partitions is an issue...but it depends on how much free space you have on C and if you have some extra backup mean to store temporarily your data...
The idea is like this
|____| (the hidden partition of Windows)
C:
D:
...the list goes on
You just delete every partition after C...in the end you should have
|____| (the hidden partition of Windows)
C:
and a large unallocated space (a black one)....when you reach here you just extend C and that's about it.
BE EXTRA carefull about backups....whatever you do take safe backups before everything....just use every mean you have (offline,online...it doesn't matter) but do safe keep your files...its a simple simple case but a lot of things can go wrong....
The idea is like this
|____| (the hidden partition of Windows)
C:
D:
...the list goes on
You just delete every partition after C...in the end you should have
|____| (the hidden partition of Windows)
C:
and a large unallocated space (a black one)....when you reach here you just extend C and that's about it.
BE EXTRA carefull about backups....whatever you do take safe backups before everything....just use every mean you have (offline,online...it doesn't matter) but do safe keep your files...its a simple simple case but a lot of things can go wrong....
ASKER
@David Johnson, CD
thanks for the info. I am not familiar with the disk[part list disk # of OS Disk you mentioned above.
So even with the 3rd Party software, OMEI Partition software (I am guessing the standard edition is all I would need). I would still need to delete or move the receovery partition. How do I move the recovery partition to the End of the disk? If I delete the recovery partition, is there a way to recreate after merging C: and D: Drive?
thanks for the info. I am not familiar with the disk[part list disk # of OS Disk you mentioned above.
So even with the 3rd Party software, OMEI Partition software (I am guessing the standard edition is all I would need). I would still need to delete or move the receovery partition. How do I move the recovery partition to the End of the disk? If I delete the recovery partition, is there a way to recreate after merging C: and D: Drive?
ASKER
@John Tsioumpris with this method, will it affect the programs/data on C: Drive? I have a lot of programs running and that is why I did a hard drive clone when upgrading the Hard DRive from 500GB to 1TB. I think I am more confused, so it looks like I can't use the Windows Disk Manager becuase the logical paritition C: and D: are not contiguous, or am I misunderstanding.
Without being on the spot we are more likely guessing
Do post a screenshot to help the case....
If programs are not registered to work from D: and use D only for storage you should be fine.
Do you have extra disks for backup ? i always recommend at least 1 full image before everything (preferably 2)
Do post a screenshot to help the case....
If programs are not registered to work from D: and use D only for storage you should be fine.
Do you have extra disks for backup ? i always recommend at least 1 full image before everything (preferably 2)
ASKER
In Disk Mangement, the DISK 0 is showing in this order:
- Healthy OEM-partition
- Recovery (Healthy System, active, primary partition) NTFS
- C: Drive (Healthy Boot, Page File, Crash dump, Primary Partition) NTFS
- D: Drive New Volumne (Healthy Logical Drive) NTFS
- Healthy OEM-partition
- Recovery (Healthy System, active, primary partition) NTFS
- C: Drive (Healthy Boot, Page File, Crash dump, Primary Partition) NTFS
- D: Drive New Volumne (Healthy Logical Drive) NTFS
So it would require either to delete the D partition and expand C (provided you have copied D files to another drive in order to copy-paste them back after the expanding)or use a 3rd party application to shrink D,move partition to create empty space before D,expand C,copy files from D to C,delete shrinked D,expand again C(applications do these in 1 go...but underneath they do follow this order)
How much space is left on C and D?
How much space is left on C and D?
ASKER
@ John Tsioumpris. Yes I have data backup, but not a mirror image. I do have the old drive as well (with the OS, Programs nad all the data), that i used to clone the new drive. So based on my last post showing the partitions, do I just need to delete, the partitions: Healthy OEM-partition and - Recovery (Healthy System, active, primary partition) NTFS ? And then delete the D: Drive partition, and then Expand the size of C: Drive to recovery the extra space from D: ?
ASKER
I think I am missing a step John. I had already tried to expand the size of the C: Drive when I initially installed it, but Disk Mnagement wouldn't allow it, so I need to do another step, or wil lthe 3rd party software allow me to do this without deleting the other 2 recovery partitions?
DELETE ONLY D
IF you have made sure you have copied the files of D to the other disks
Don't touch the other partitions
IF you have made sure you have copied the files of D to the other disks
Don't touch the other partitions
Post a screenshot...of your current status along with the inability to expand C
Taking a look at my own disk management maybe your expansion is blocked by Recovery partition
In this case the easy solution if i wanted to expand C to reclaim space from my D partition (maybe i should do it to get C to a nice round 200GB... :) )would be to use a 3rd party application ....the hard way is described here : http://woshub.com/extend-volume-blocked-by-windows-recovery-partition/
Sorry for the dual post but after inserting the image i just couldn't write below
Sorry for the dual post but after inserting the image i just couldn't write below
ASKER
@John Tsioumpris. I tried doing again in Windows Disk Manager. I deleted D: drive partition. This time Expand Partition was no longer grayed out, however, I have forgotten that last time I could not expand the size as well. Anwyay, I downloaded the AOMEI Partition tool and I was able to merge C: and D: Drive. It seems to be working fine. Thanks for everyones help. One file that looked suspect was a Dell update file that was located in a WIndows System folder. I was still having the issue and deleted even more programs but at the rate I will run out of space again, so I kept searching for answers and found how to adjust System Restore Size and run the disk cleanup to delete old restore points. Those are features I never really touch, even though I have been using Windows OS for many years. I didn't notice the amount of space being used by the system restore in WinDir Tree Application, otherewise I probably would have found the answer before. My only concern now is how much space I should use for System Restore, it was set a very high number before and also I think I had old restore points and that is why I kept losing 10GB of free space daily. The strange thing is though, I didn't notice the problem until the past few months, and I have had this computer for many years.