Only 2GB left on HD. What do I do next?

Norman-B

I have an 78GB hard drive. I have only 2GB left unused. I also have a 250GB external hard drive, where I backup to.
I have deleted as much as I can from my HD. I really would like to make more space. Not knowing anything about this, can someone please advise me how to create more space on my HD (in layman terms, please)

aliEnRIK

make the 'max restore size' smaller

Run CCLEANER to remove any garbage ~
Download CCLEANER
http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds/downloading-slim
Run the CLEANER scan (UNTICK 'cookies')

Use the 250 backup drive to cut and paste all your documents to

Use defraggler to try to make the 'running' of the drive smoother
http://www.piriform.com/defraggler

Make sure theres nothing running thats eating space (Other 'backup' programs or programs that store information thats not needed)

AJ84

With the above but also check the usual places
Clear Temp Internet Files
Clear Temp Folder (Usually c:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\Local Settings\Temp) This collects a LOT of junk over time.
Have you got documents/music etc in your my documents? Might be time to move these to your ext. drive?

aliEnRIK

CCLEANER will remove the temp files

Norman-B

Rik (correct?) thanks for the very prompt reply!

Can you explain this, please .....'make the 'max restore size' smaller'.

Thanks,

Norm

Norman-B

AJ84 wrote: »

With the above but also check the usual places
Clear Temp Internet Files
Clear Temp Folder (Usually c:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\Local Settings\Temp) This collects a LOT of junk over time.
Have you got documents/music etc in your my documents? Might be time to move these to your ext. drive?

I have loads of family photos on my PC. If I'm honest, I'm petrified of clearing them off my PC and just replying on my external HD. I have just downloaded Winkflash but still worried about my photos.

Thanks for the reply.

GunJack

Also, if running vista (or XP, same principle applies), follow this post......

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=25746315&postcount=7

if you've never done this before, it could save you 10-12 GB of space

aliEnRIK

Norm ~ have you got XP or Vista?
XPs easy ~

• Reduce the size of the system restore repository to the minimum
  • (Ctrl Pnl > Performance/Maintenance > System > System Restore Tab > Move slider all the way down to between 2-6%)

Vista a tad more difficult ~
Open the Start Menu in Vista and type cmd. This will show you cmd.exe at the top of the results. Right click on cmd.exe and choose Run as Administrator. This will open a black window, called a DOS prompt, with a flashing cursor.
Type:
vssadmin list shadowstorage and hit enter.
Then type ~

vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /Maxsize=4GB and press enter

aliEnRIK

Norman-B wrote: »

[/B]

I have loads of family photos on my PC. If I'm honest, I'm petrified of clearing them off my PC and just replying on my external HD. I have just downloaded Winkflash but still worried about my photos.

Thanks for the reply.

Its easy as pie
Simply goto (For example) a folder with music in
RIGHT click the music folder and select COPY

Then goto the backup drive and wherever you want the folder to go RIGHT click and select PASTE

It will then COPY the contents over

Once copied make sure theyre there ok (Open a few up to make sure they work) then go back to the document on C drive and DELETE them all

Norman-B

I'm using XP.

aliEnRIK

Norman-B wrote: »

I'm using XP.

Open the control panel
> Performance/Maintenance > System > System Restore Tab > Move slider all the way down to between 2-6%