Should I format HD

will-he-payitoff

Just backed up all the files I need on hard drive, which was about 500MB. My HD has about 16GB of used space. What is the 15+ GB doing I checked the drive on explorer and there seems to be loads of stuff on there that I have no idea what it is. I have removed all programmes that I no longer use but this has made no difference. Would I be better off just formatting the drive? If so what do I need to have to get it up and running again?

fwor

It's likely to be a combination of stuff you thought you uninstalled but which actually left crud behind, the hidden files that Windows Updates leave behind - which can be huge - and misc system stuff like system restore data.

Assuming you're running Windows, take a look at the hidden folders in the /Windows directory that start $NtUninstall... If you're sure you won't want to remove an update then you can delete them.

Generally with Windows up to XP a HD format and fresh install does tend to liven things up as well as get rid of a lot of dross. Not sure if the same if true of Vista, though.

In preparation you'll need all of the latest drivers for all of your motherboard devices and add-on cards, etc, plus (obviously) any licence keys for the software. You may also want to back up your browser Favourites and your email client account config and mailbox/mailbag.

aliEnRIK

Download CCLEANER
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
Run the top 2 scans (Backup the registry when it asks)
My mates Vista has 3 logons and its used over half of his 80 gig drive. Im currently quite confused as to where the hell its gone as yet.

Conor_3

aliEnRIK wrote: »

My mates Vista has 3 logons and its used over half of his 80 gig drive. Im currently quite confused as to where the hell its gone as yet.

Once again for those who didn't get it the first half dozen times....:rolleyes:

System Restore and Volume Shadow Copy service will be using the space.

To recover it:
Click on Start, Computer, Right click on C: Drive, select properties. Select Cleanup, files from all users. In next window select more options tab then clean up under System Restore Points.

aliEnRIK

Cheers for that Conor. Ill check his when im next round (I couldnt for the life of me find how to vary the system restore size, and assumed it COULDNT be THAT large!)
Is there any way of regulating the space system restore uses?

aliEnRIK

ahhhh
Heres a guide ~
http://www.davescomputertips.com/articles/vista/change_vista_system_restore_size.php
Knocked mine down. Ill sort me mates out after chrimbo

Conor_3

Might be worth altering the scheduling of it as well.

Click on Start and type Task Scheduler in the search box then run it, you'll find an entry for System Restore. Edit the properties and click on the triggers tab. Mine had an entry for system startup and one for every day. I deleted the system startup which improved boot time no end and changed the daily one to do it once every week.

bookduck

you could always get the free TREESIZE program which show you in many ways how your HD space is being used.

will-he-payitoff

Thanks conor for the system restore, thats cleared about 3 gig

Fwor looked in windows and I have about 350 files starting $NtUninstall can I just delete all these? what are they?

Conor_3

They're windows update installation files which allow you to uninstall or roll back an update if it causes problems. In CrapCleaner, there's an option in the advanced section to delete those.