Low disk space
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From: Shenan Stanley on 10 Apr 2010 08:19 Stan wrote: > Sister-in-laws laptop (XP Pro) getting low disk space and low > virtual memory messages. > > 6gig HDD, I uninstalled 3 apps totaling nearly 800 MB but C: > properties (there's just one partition) lists no change in free > space. (71MB free). Addendum: Virtual mem increased now down to 9 > MB free space. > Did manage to run 2 online virus scans, (can't update AVG not > enough free space) and a updated Spybot s&d, and no malware found. > > I'm currently trying to find a diagnostics for this Toshiba HDD but > just started looking. > > Can't defrag not enough free space. > > Error checking reports: 10152 bytes free. > > Sys info reports: Total VM 2GB > Available VM 1.96 GB > Page file space 386.82 MB (system managed) > > Windows folder size= 4.04 GB > Size on disk= 4.08 GB > > Program Files folder = 521 MB > 528 MB > > Anyone know why the 800 MB doesn't show as free space? Windows XP and other applications can take (easily) between 4.5GB and 9GB. I would not suggest anyone with a drive smaller than 20GB even attempt to run a full featured version of Windows XP and install anything else of significance. In any case - you say you uninstalled what was reported as using 800MB and you gained nothing...? Perhaps the hibernation file quickly filled the gap and/or the pagefile? Coud be that they were already super-small because of the sad size of the drive and they had room suddenly. Although I don't believe you will be doing much with 6GB of space, here is what I can suggest: Uninstall AVG. Uninstall Spybot Search and Destroy. Install Avira AntiVir. Install MalwareBytes. Download/install the "Windows Installer CleanUp Utility": http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301 After installing, do the following: Start button --> RUN (no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard) --> type in: "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g! --> Click OK. (The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.) If you are comfortable with the stability of your system, you can delete the uninstall files for the patches that Windows XP has installed... http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm ( Particularly of interest here - #4 ) ( Alternative: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm ) You can run Disk Cleanup - built into Windows XP - to erase all but your latest restore point and cleanup even more "loose files".. How to use Disk Cleanup http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312 You can turn off hibernation if it is on and you don't use it.. When you hibernate your computer, Windows saves the contents of the system's memory to the hiberfil.sys file. As a result, the size of the hiberfil.sys file will always equal the amount of physical memory in your system. If you don't use the hibernate feature and want to recapture the space that Windows uses for the hiberfil.sys file, perform the following steps: - Start the Control Panel Power Options applet (go to Start, Settings, Control Panel, and click Power Options). - Select the Hibernate tab, clear the "Enable hibernation" check box, then click OK; although you might think otherwise, selecting Never under the "System hibernates" option on the Power Schemes tab doesn't delete the hiberfil.sys file. - Windows will remove the "System hibernates" option from the Power Schemes tab and delete the hiberfil.sys file. You can control how much space your System Restore can use... 1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. 2. Click the System Restore tab. 3. Highlight one of your drives (or C: if you only have one) and click on the "Settings" button. 4. Change the percentage of disk space you wish to allow.. I suggest moving the slider until you have just about 1GB (1024MB or close to that...) 5. Click OK.. Then Click OK again. You can control how much space your Temporary Internet Files can utilize... Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a size between 64MB and 128MB.. - Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer. - Select TOOLS -> Internet Options. - Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the following: - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK) - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 64MB and 128MB. (It may be MUCH larger right now.) - Click OK. - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or more.) - Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet Explorer. You can use an application that scans your system for log files and temporary files and use that to get rid of those: Ccleaner (Free!) http://www.ccleaner.com/ Other ways to free up space.. JDiskReport http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/index.html SequoiaView http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/ Those can help you visually discover where all the space is being used. You should now perform a full CHKDSK on your system drive (C:)... How to scan your disks for errors http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265 * will take time and a reboot You should now perform a full Defragment on your system drive (C:)... How to Defragment your hard drives http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848 * will take time Uninstall any and all third-party firewall applications (ZoneAlarm, etc) and utilize the built-in Windows Firewall only. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
From: Stan on 10 Apr 2010 08:51 Dumped temp files already; file size is 50 MB. It's an old computer given to her, came with WIN98. Fellow that gave it to her put XP on it. (For Paul, yes I mean 6 GB) Yeah, new computer is in order but money is scarce for sister-in-law. "DL" <invalid(a)nowhere.com> wrote in message news:eAr0pzJ2KHA.4936(a)TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Start > Run. %temp% > Delete all files found (some may be in use) > Internet Options > Delete all temp files, & set temp size to 50mb > But at the end of the day the HD is too small, I find it hard to believe > your Tosh was originally supplied with winxp > > "Stan" <bhrichREMOVE(a)aol.com> wrote in message > news:OyqaRfE2KHA.3568(a)TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... >> Sister-in-laws laptop (XP Pro) getting low disk space and low virtual >> memory messages. >> >> 6gig HDD, I uninstalled 3 apps totaling nearly 800 MB but C: properties >> (there's just one partition) lists no change in free space. (71MB free). >> Addendum: Virtual mem increased now down to 9 MB free space. >> >> Did manage to run 2 online virus scans, (can't update AVG not enough free >> space) and a updated Spybot s&d, and no malware found. >> >> I'm currently trying to find a diagnostics for this Toshiba HDD but just >> started looking. >> >> Can't defrag not enough free space. >> >> Error checking reports: 10152 bytes free. >> >> Sys info reports: Total VM 2GB >> Available VM 1.96 GB >> Page file space 386.82 MB (system managed) >> >> Windows folder size= 4.04 GB >> Size on disk= 4.08 GB >> >> Program Files folder = 521 MB >> 528 MB >> >> Anyone know why the 800 MB doesn't show as free space? >>
From: Stan on 10 Apr 2010 11:43 Paul, Thanks for the wealth of info. I'll be going through that as time permits today. "Paul" <nospam(a)needed.com> wrote in message news:hpos1k$8ss$1(a)speranza.aioe.org... > Stan wrote: >> Sister-in-laws laptop (XP Pro) getting low disk space and low virtual >> memory messages. >> >> 6gig HDD, I uninstalled 3 apps totaling nearly 800 MB but C: properties >> (there's just one partition) lists no change in free space. (71MB free). >> Addendum: Virtual mem increased now down to 9 MB free space. >> >> Did manage to run 2 online virus scans, (can't update AVG not enough free >> space) and a updated Spybot s&d, and no malware found. >> >> I'm currently trying to find a diagnostics for this Toshiba HDD but just >> started looking. >> >> Can't defrag not enough free space. >> >> Error checking reports: 10152 bytes free. >> >> Sys info reports: Total VM 2GB >> Available VM 1.96 GB >> Page file space 386.82 MB (system managed) >> >> Windows folder size= 4.04 GB >> Size on disk= 4.08 GB >> >> Program Files folder = 521 MB >> 528 MB >> >> Anyone know why the 800 MB doesn't show as free space? > > Have you reviewed the software in usage on the computer ? > > Is there something like Norton GoBack ? > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_GoBack > > ******* > > In terms of reviewing what is currently on the disk, you can > use a graphical tool such as SequoiaView. > > http://w3.win.tue.nl/nl/onderzoek/onderzoek_informatica/visualization/sequoiaview// > > http://www.win.tue.nl/cgi-bin/usr/sequoia/download3.cgi > > ftp://ftp.win.tue.nl/pub/home/sequoia/Sequoia1_3XPInstall.exe > > (AV scan of the installer) > http://www.virustotal.com/reanalisis.html?15d83cd0e68404925a986b05e5f830973fd842b46545db6ffa7c4d0f4346ab83-1270865559 > > Perhaps you'll be able to spot some usage of the disk that is > relatively large in the graphical display. I use SequoiaView > for spotting "file hogs" on my C: partition. > > ******* > > The Process Monitor tool, is supposed to be able to watch file system > activity. > > http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx > > In the example here, you can see the usage of the File Summary, to get > some idea of what was going on. > > http://ask-leo.com/i_have_constant_disk_activity_and_i_dont_know_why_how_can_i_tell_what_program_is_doing_it.html > > There used to be a tool called FileMon, which concentrated on files, > but that has been replaced by ProcMon. I found it slightly easier > to get FileMon to produce useful output. In ProcMon, when you start > the program, a "Filter" dialog will pop up. Add an entry to that, > which says "Operation" "Is" "WriteFile". The WriteFile item is at the > very end of a long menu. Once you apply at least one filter > condition in that dialog, and commence capture, then you'll see > a log of ongoing activity. If there are multiple green entries, they > might all be in effect at the same time. You can add or remove them, > in the Filter dialog. > > What I'd be looking for on ProcMon is: > > 1) Remove a small file from the system. (Toss in wastebasket) > 2) Let ProcMon capture activity while you're deleting that item > from the wastebasket. > 3) Some process on the computer will be watching for blank space > to appear, before it starts writing again. > 4) Give it some time, and then stop the trace (control-E) in ProcMon and > see what ended up doing writes to the file system. That process > could be the thing using up the disk. > > ProcMon produces tons of data, and so the trick is filtering it > effectively. It took me quite a while, to figure out the filter > event I was looking for (to emulate FileMon) was the Operation one. > > It may take you more than one attempt, to track down the culprit. > For example, maybe "WriteFile" is not the way that the space is > getting eaten. > > There is another program, called Handle, that is supposed to show what > files are open. So the sysinternals pages do have a wealth of > tracing tools of one sort or another. (Sysinternals was bought by > Microsoft, and the two principle staff members now work for Microsoft.) > I hope you find a solution, before you run out of files to discard :-) > > If you go to the System control panel, you might try disabling System > Restore if it is currently enabled. That could be used as a way to free > up some space. The space used for that, is in C:\System Volume > Information. > Mine currently has about 2.6GB in it. Of course, a "rabid writer" > will quickly eat up the freed space, so I expect this will only help > you the one time. System Restore is a useful function, and I don't expect > on such a small drive, that the space used amounts to much. > > HTH, > Paul
From: Stan on 10 Apr 2010 12:15 Shenan, most of what you suggest is already done. Hibernate and restore have been turned off by Windows itself. I did lower Temp Internet file size to100. I'll try installer cleaner if I can get it down loaded at all. AVG wants to make a back up before uninstalling and there's no space so AVG objects and stops. Maybe there's away to turn the backup feature off. I'm aware of deleting $uninstall files but have not done so yet. Well, let me try some of your and Paul's suggestions and I'll get back. "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:OpKnmgK2KHA.4752(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Stan wrote: >> Sister-in-laws laptop (XP Pro) getting low disk space and low >> virtual memory messages. >> >> 6gig HDD, I uninstalled 3 apps totaling nearly 800 MB but C: >> properties (there's just one partition) lists no change in free >> space. (71MB free). Addendum: Virtual mem increased now down to 9 >> MB free space. >> Did manage to run 2 online virus scans, (can't update AVG not >> enough free space) and a updated Spybot s&d, and no malware found. >> >> I'm currently trying to find a diagnostics for this Toshiba HDD but >> just started looking. >> >> Can't defrag not enough free space. >> >> Error checking reports: 10152 bytes free. >> >> Sys info reports: Total VM 2GB >> Available VM 1.96 GB >> Page file space 386.82 MB (system managed) >> >> Windows folder size= 4.04 GB >> Size on disk= 4.08 GB >> >> Program Files folder = 521 MB >> 528 MB >> >> Anyone know why the 800 MB doesn't show as free space? > > Windows XP and other applications can take (easily) between 4.5GB and 9GB. > I would not suggest anyone with a drive smaller than 20GB even attempt to > run a full featured version of Windows XP and install anything else of > significance. > > In any case - you say you uninstalled what was reported as using 800MB and > you gained nothing...? Perhaps the hibernation file quickly filled the > gap and/or the pagefile? Coud be that they were already super-small > because of the sad size of the drive and they had room suddenly. > > Although I don't believe you will be doing much with 6GB of space, here is > what I can suggest: > > Uninstall AVG. Uninstall Spybot Search and Destroy. > Install Avira AntiVir. Install MalwareBytes. > > Download/install the "Windows Installer CleanUp Utility": > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301 > > After installing, do the following: > > Start button --> RUN > (no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your keyboard) > --> type in: > "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up\msizap.exe" g! > --> Click OK. > (The quotation marks and percentage signs and spacing should be exact.) > > If you are comfortable with the stability of your system, you can delete > the > uninstall files for the patches that Windows XP has installed... > http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm > ( Particularly of interest here - #4 ) > ( Alternative: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm ) > > You can run Disk Cleanup - built into Windows XP - to erase all but your > latest restore point and cleanup even more "loose files".. > > How to use Disk Cleanup > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312 > > You can turn off hibernation if it is on and you don't use it.. > > When you hibernate your computer, Windows saves the contents of the > system's > memory to the hiberfil.sys file. As a result, the size of the hiberfil.sys > file will always equal the amount of physical memory in your system. If > you > don't use the hibernate feature and want to recapture the space that > Windows > uses for the hiberfil.sys file, perform the following steps: > > - Start the Control Panel Power Options applet (go to Start, Settings, > Control Panel, and click Power Options). > - Select the Hibernate tab, clear the "Enable hibernation" check box, then > click OK; although you might think otherwise, selecting Never under the > "System hibernates" option on the Power Schemes tab doesn't delete the > hiberfil.sys file. > - Windows will remove the "System hibernates" option from the Power > Schemes > tab and delete the hiberfil.sys file. > > You can control how much space your System Restore can use... > > 1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. > 2. Click the System Restore tab. > 3. Highlight one of your drives (or C: if you only have one) and click on > the "Settings" button. > 4. Change the percentage of disk space you wish to allow.. I suggest > moving > the slider until you have just about 1GB (1024MB or close to that...) > 5. Click OK.. Then Click OK again. > > You can control how much space your Temporary Internet Files can > utilize... > > Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a > size between 64MB and 128MB.. > > - Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer. > - Select TOOLS -> Internet Options. > - Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the > following: > - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK) > - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to > something between 64MB and 128MB. (It may be MUCH larger right > now.) > - Click OK. > - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents" > (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 > minutes or more.) > - Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet > Explorer. > > You can use an application that scans your system for log files and > temporary files and use that to get rid of those: > > Ccleaner (Free!) > http://www.ccleaner.com/ > > Other ways to free up space.. > > JDiskReport > http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/index.html > > SequoiaView > http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/ > > Those can help you visually discover where all the space is being used. > > You should now perform a full CHKDSK on your system drive (C:)... > > How to scan your disks for errors > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265 > * will take time and a reboot > > You should now perform a full Defragment on your system drive (C:)... > > How to Defragment your hard drives > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848 > * will take time > > Uninstall any and all third-party firewall applications (ZoneAlarm, etc) > and utilize the built-in Windows Firewall only. > > -- > Shenan Stanley > MS-MVP > -- > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html >
From: "db" databaseben at hotmail dot on 11 Apr 2010 14:04
it must be a pretty old laptop. time to get a larger hard drive and move all the personal files off the internal drive. in doing so you will free up space. or you can also upload personal files to microsoft's skydrive website for free. it provides 5 gigs of free space. another free website is microsoft's office live in which office type files can also be stored for free and accessible via the file menu option in any office programs. and yet there is one more option and that is to move personal files to a usb memory stick. sticks are pretty large and can hold much of what is stored on that small internal hard disk. however, sticks are volatile and are risky to store data on them for long periods. -- db���`�...�><)))�> DatabaseBen, Retired Professional - Systems Analyst - Database Developer - Accountancy - Veteran of the Armed Forces - Microsoft Partner - @hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen > > "Stan" <bhrichREMOVE(a)aol.com> wrote in message news:OyqaRfE2KHA.3568(a)TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Sister-in-laws laptop (XP Pro) getting low disk space and low virtual memory messages. > > 6gig HDD, I uninstalled 3 apps totaling nearly 800 MB but C: properties (there's just one partition) lists no change in free > space. (71MB free). Addendum: Virtual mem increased now down to 9 MB free space. > > Did manage to run 2 online virus scans, (can't update AVG not enough free space) and a updated Spybot s&d, and no malware found. > > I'm currently trying to find a diagnostics for this Toshiba HDD but just started looking. > > Can't defrag not enough free space. > > Error checking reports: 10152 bytes free. > > Sys info reports: Total VM 2GB > Available VM 1.96 GB > Page file space 386.82 MB (system managed) > > Windows folder size= 4.04 GB > Size on disk= 4.08 GB > > Program Files folder = 521 MB > 528 MB > > Anyone know why the 800 MB doesn't show as free space? > |