hard drive nearky full - what can i do?

pepsi_max2k

Run CCleaner, spybot s&d, ad-aware.

Click start > run, type "cleanmgr /sageset:50", select C:, select all but the compression options. Then start > run, type "cleanmgr /sagerun:50".

Open the add/remove programs dialog (start > settings > control panel > add/remove programs on xp) and look through the list. delete anything you recognise and don't neded. click add/remove windows components on the same screen and remove anything you recognise and don't need.

if you can, run disc defragmenter (my computer > right click on C drive > defragment option).

if you have never relied on it before, turn off system restore or at least remove old restore points (start > run > "cleanmgr" > more options > clean up button under system restore).

right click the recycle bin > properties > lower the percentage use.

under C:/windows/prefetch, remove the entire contents.

follow either http://www.tweakhound.com/vista/tweakguide/index.htm or http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/xptweaks/supertweaks1.htm depending on your OS, especially the clean/defrag/optimize page, and do anything involving cleaning, most importantly removing the SP2 uninstall file for XP.


also delete all unneeded documents, burn as much as you can to disc, and... get a larger hard drive?

timbim_2

What AV do you run? May seem totally unrelated, but Sophos can flare up and consume HDD space.

esbo

superjaggybunnet wrote: »

The hibernation mode file can take up around 1.5gb.

If you do not use this option then delete this and free up the space.

The page file will be a similar size and you can run without one if you have plenty of
RAM. I have 1.25GB and used to run without one. Certainly if you have 2GB
memory you would be fine without one I expect. So those two mods would save
about 3GB. If you run out of RAM the machine would probably lockup so you need
to use the task manager to make sure you have a safe margin.

Thats in - control panel - system - advanced - performance - advanced - change -
then select no page file
I would not attempt it with 1/2 a gig or less though.

zebedy

Thanks everyone, I've started following your recommendations but have more questions. (N.B. I have VISTA on my laptop)

So, I downloaded ccleaner and ran it and it has freed up 447 MB (thanks, I'll continue to run it regularly)

I want to reduce the size of my recycle bin but it doesn't show up as a percentage. I can either select "HP recovery space available 4.99 GB" or "Local disk (C) 69.5GB" and then below this I seem to have Settings, Custom Size (ticked) Max (MB) 511 - so not a percentage. Should i reduce this to 250? and which should i have selected HP Recovery or local C??

I want to delete the hibernation mode - how do i do this?

I want to do the delete system restore points thing suggested by slewis1972 but those instructions don't resemble anything i see when I click on Properties (I have Vista - does this make a difference)

I can't do the start.run cleanmgr/sagset:50 as I don't have a run button (Vista) so i don't know how to get to it.

No idea how to "defrag the c"

Please be patient with me!! I am trying i just don't get the lingo
many thanks for all your answers so far

esbo

To delete the hiberation file
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/10/25/how-to-turn-off-and-disable-hibernation-in-windows-vista/
As for the page file, I thought you were using XP, VISTA needs more memory to run so I think you would need over 2GB before running wihout a page file.

I don't think it is too wise to delete all your system restore points, especially when you are removing stuff. I would stay well away from the recovery partion too.
The system restore points are there for an important purpose, recovering your system if it get screewed up. If you delete all your recovery options and encounter a problem you will be in big trouble, you won't be able to get your computer working again without 'major surgery'. I think these should be the last things on your list to do, if you do them at all. Add remove programs is a more sensible place to start.

I don't think defragging will save any disc space at all, just make your system run slightly faster.
It takes a long time to run. On XP it is control panel - administrative tools - computer management - disk defragmenter, but it won't save any space, it just gathers all the pieces of a file into one continueous file.

esbo

Is there a pagefile.sys in c: and if so how big is it?
Also do you know how much RAM is isinstalled on your machine?

BritBrat

Boot to DOS then type:

format c:

Assuming The drive is "C" and it will be empty, no windows to boot with nothing just empty.

Works everytime.

Jokes over.

Buy another hardrive and install it in a spare bay you may have.

motorguy

BritBrat wrote: »

Buy another hardrive and install it in a spare bay you may have.

How many spare bays does your laptop have?