Another question on Documents and Settings XP Home. SP3

[willshak]

In my Windows XP Home SP3 C:\Documents and Settings\, I have 3 user
profiles.
1. Administrator
2. All Users
3. My login user profile

What is 'All Users' used for? I am the only user of this computer and am
also the Administrator.
Can the profile 'All Users' be deleted, since no one else uses this
computer, or are there settings that I and Administrator need and are
not in the Administrator or my profiles?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In my Windows XP Home SP3 C:\Documents and Settings\, I have 3 user
profiles.
1. Administrator
2. All Users
3. My login user profile

What is 'All Users' used for? I am the only user of this computer and
am also the Administrator.
Can the profile 'All Users' be deleted, since no one else uses this
computer,

No. Don't even try.

or are there settings that I and Administrator need and are
not in the Administrator or my profiles?

Correct. It contains settings universal to all users on the computer. It
isn't hurting anything - leave it be.

 

[JS]

No don't delete it, as some things are located
here for however many or few accounts you have.

As an example: Place a shortcut in:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\
an that shortcut will appear on everyone desktop.

 

[willshak]

No. Don't even try.


Correct. It contains settings universal to all users on the computer. It
isn't hurting anything - leave it be.

Thanks, but if it could have been removed, I'd have another gig of space
on my C:\ drive. I have less than a gig there now.
I'll leave it be.

 

[Daave]

Thanks, but if it could have been removed, I'd have another gig of
space on my C:\ drive. I have less than a gig there now.
I'll leave it be.

Do you mean you have less than 1GB of free space on your hard drive? If
so, you need to address this! How large is your hard drive? Do you have
an external hard drive?

Shenan's advice will help you *safely* reclaim more free space:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/ec6ae4bbd543b3b0?hl=en

Also, you might want to consider purchasing a newer, large hard drive
(they are quite affordable and you can easily clone the contents of your
current one to the new one).

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks, but if it could have been removed, I'd have another gig of space
on my C:\ drive. I have less than a gig there now.
I'll leave it be.

If you have less than 1GB on the C: drive, you have a serious problem.
Is that a partition on a larger drive with lots of free space
available on other partitions on the drive, or is 1GB all that's
available on the entire drive?

If the former, you need to change the drive's partition structure. If
the latter, you should buy another larger drive.

 

[willshak]

Do you mean you have less than 1GB of free space on your hard drive? If
so, you need to address this! How large is your hard drive? Do you have
an external hard drive?

It's an old Sony VAIO PCV-RX860 (old in computer years, that is) The HD
is listed as 80 gig with a C and D partition and was bought shortly
after the release of Windows XP.
According to 'My Computer', C: is 16.0 GB in size with 624 MB free.
D: is 58.5 GB in size with 28.9 GB left.
In the past, I have moved almost all Program files, My Documents, and
deleted programs I don't use anymore.
No new programs or apps are installed on the C: drive if they can be
installed on the D: drive.

I do have a USB external drive of 150 GB partitioned as I: and J:, but
it is just used as a safety backup. I had to have a Windows re-install 2
years ago and lost all on the C: drive, so I keep copies of the
Documents and settings, mail, unmovable C: drive programs, and other
stuff from the C: drive there.

Shenan's advice will help you *safely* reclaim more free space:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/ec6ae4bbd543b3b0?hl=en

I have cleaned up the stuff on C and reduced the system restore size to
1 MG as directed.

Also, you might want to consider purchasing a newer, large hard drive
(they are quite affordable and you can easily clone the contents of your
current one to the new one).

I do have a new internal Seagate HD waiting to be installed, but it is
beyond my skill and comfort level to clone the old drives to it.
I'll have to get it done by someone more knowledgeable.

 

[willshak]

If you have less than 1GB on the C: drive, you have a serious problem.
Is that a partition on a larger drive with lots of free space
available on other partitions on the drive, or is 1GB all that's
available on the entire drive?

No, I have about 30 GB free on the D drive.

If the former, you need to change the drive's partition structure. If
the latter, you should buy another larger drive.

Like I told Daave, My Skill and comfort levels are not up to the task.
I do have another internal HD waiting to be installed. If I can get
someone who knows how to resize the partition, I'll just have him/her
install and clone the new HD instead.
Thanks.

 

[Daave]

on 7/20/2009 10:20 AM (ET) Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] wrote the
following:
In my Windows XP Home SP3 C:\Documents and Settings\, I have 3
user profiles.
1. Administrator
2. All Users
3. My login user profile

What is 'All Users' used for? I am the only user of this computer
and am also the Administrator.
Can the profile 'All Users' be deleted, since no one else uses
this computer,
No. Don't even try.

or are there settings that I and Administrator need and are
not in the Administrator or my profiles?
Correct. It contains settings universal to all users on the
computer. It isn't hurting anything - leave it be.

Thanks, but if it could have been removed, I'd have another gig of
space on my C:\ drive. I have less than a gig there now.
I'll leave it be.

Do you mean you have less than 1GB of free space on your hard drive?
If so, you need to address this! How large is your hard drive? Do
you have an external hard drive?

It's an old Sony VAIO PCV-RX860 (old in computer years, that is) The
HD is listed as 80 gig with a C and D partition and was bought shortly
after the release of Windows XP.
According to 'My Computer', C: is 16.0 GB in size with 624 MB free.
D: is 58.5 GB in size with 28.9 GB left.
In the past, I have moved almost all Program files, My Documents, and
deleted programs I don't use anymore.
No new programs or apps are installed on the C: drive if they can be
installed on the D: drive.

Do yourself a favor and use the D: partition *only* for data (documents,
music, photos, etc.). C: should be used for the OS *and* all your
programs since when programs get installed, system files are usually
affected and you want to keep all that on one partition as a rule.

The good news is you have nearly 29 GB of free space on your hard drive.
However, you (or someone you know and trust) will need to use a
third-party partition utility to assign most of that unused space on D:
to C:. Once this is done, you'll have that much needed breathing room.

Or just get a larger hard drive.

I do have a USB external drive of 150 GB partitioned as I: and J:, but
it is just used as a safety backup. I had to have a Windows
re-install 2 years ago and lost all on the C: drive, so I keep copies
of the Documents and settings, mail, unmovable C: drive programs, and
other stuff from the C: drive there.

Good. Backups are important!

However, only standalone programs may be copied (successfully). All the
other programs (most of them I am sure) would need to reinstalled from
scratch if the need would arise. That is why many of us recommend
regularly imaging or cloning your hard drive (which eliminates the need
to reinstall the OS and service packs and updates and programs).

I have cleaned up the stuff on C and reduced the system restore size
to 1 MG as directed.

Very good. So how much free space do you now have on C:?

I do have a new internal Seagate HD waiting to be installed, but it is
beyond my skill and comfort level to clone the old drives to it.
I'll have to get it done by someone more knowledgeable.

Very smart. Happy computing!

 

[JS]

How to free up some disk space:
Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info,
cookies, temp files, auto complete and other junk.
Note that when CCleaner is first installed most if not all the options
are checked which is far too aggressive. So I recommend unchecking
all the items listed in 'Applications' tab and in the 'Windows' tab
selectively place a check mark for only those options that are of some
value in increasing the amount of free space on your PC.
The 'Analyze' button allows you preview (without actually deleting)
what and how much hard drive space you will get back.
Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any
other/additional folders you want files deleted from.
http://www.ccleaner.com/

If you recently installed Windows XP Service Pack 3:
Look for an odd folder name which is located here
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\cf8ec753e88561d..........\
Note: the apparent random set of letter and number may vary from my
example above but whatever the name is, it will be more than
600MB in size and can be safely deleted.
You may also see a number of other folders or files located in the:
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\ directory
They also can be deleted.

You can also free up more disk space by reducing
the number of 'System Restore' points:
Select Start/Control Panel/System, then in the System Properties window
click on the System Restore tab.
Next select the drive letter where Windows is installed (usually C,
Then click on the Setting button
Now in the Drive Settings window move the Disk space usage slider to the
left to reduce the amount of drive space System Restore points will use.
This will remove some of the older restore points and free up some space.

Disable Hibernation and delete hiberfil.sys file (If you have it enabled):
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...sys-hibernation-file-in-windows-xp-and-vista/
and:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/hibernate.mspx
and: http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/hiberfil-sys-xp.html

If you are using IE7 and then installed SP3 read the info below.
IE7 users will find the folders listed below on their hard drive:
$NtServicePackUninstallIDNMitigationAPIs$
$NtServicePackUninstallNLSDownlevelMapping$
They are needed to uninstall IE7. However, if you installed IE7 and
then installed XP SP3 you can no longer uninstall IE7 and these
folders can also be deleted.

Note: The recommended procedure before installing XP SP3 is to
uninstall IE7 or IE8, then install XP SP3. Now you still have the ability to
install and uninstall IE7 or IE8.

Next if you still need more space:
Remove the files used to uninstall updates to Windows
These folders and associated files in these folders are safe to remove,
however once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install a patch or
update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.
I would keep the most recent set (last two months just in case) of folders
and delete the older updates.
As a safety net I burned these folders to a CD before deleting them.
These files are located in the Windows folder and have folder names
like $NtUninstallKBXXXXXX$.
They are hidden folders so enable viewing of hidden files in Windows
Explorer.
Warning: One folder you should not delete is: $hf_mig$
Also See the following web pages on this issue:
http://www.pagestart.com/ntuninstall.html
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

If you upgraded your PC from Windows 98 to Windows XP.
The $Win98UpdateUninstall$ can be deleted.

You can reduce the size of the Internet Explorer Disk Cache:
How and Why to Clear Your Cache:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/customizing/clearcache.mspx
Just follow the instructions but instead of increasing the size
(as stated in the article) decrease it.

Finally: Check the Recycle Bin one more time and empty it
if necessary as some of those files you deleted in the steps
mentioned above may find there way into the recycle bin.

If you have more than one partition or drive then:
How to Change the Default Location of Mail and News Folders:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307971/en-us

Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder
(Example: move it to the D drive)
See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310147
Also:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how_to_move_my_documents.htm

How to move the Spool folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308666

MS Office: Move the Local Install Source (MSOCache) location
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/825933
(See the section titled: Move LIS Cache folder to a new drive location)
Note: If your computer already had more than one hard drive or partition
when you installed MS Office, Office will place the MSOCache on the drive or
partition with the most available free space during the install process.


--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com

on 7/20/2009 10:20 AM (ET) Lanwench [MVP - Exchange] wrote the
following:
In my Windows XP Home SP3 C:\Documents and Settings\, I have 3 user
profiles.
1. Administrator
2. All Users
3. My login user profile

What is 'All Users' used for? I am the only user of this computer
and am also the Administrator.
Can the profile 'All Users' be deleted, since no one else uses this
computer,
No. Don't even try.

or are there settings that I and Administrator need and are
not in the Administrator or my profiles?
Correct. It contains settings universal to all users on the
computer. It isn't hurting anything - leave it be.

Thanks, but if it could have been removed, I'd have another gig of
space on my C:\ drive. I have less than a gig there now.
I'll leave it be.

Do you mean you have less than 1GB of free space on your hard drive? If
so, you need to address this! How large is your hard drive? Do you have
an external hard drive?

It's an old Sony VAIO PCV-RX860 (old in computer years, that is) The HD is
listed as 80 gig with a C and D partition and was bought shortly after the
release of Windows XP.
According to 'My Computer', C: is 16.0 GB in size with 624 MB free.
D: is 58.5 GB in size with 28.9 GB left.
In the past, I have moved almost all Program files, My Documents, and
deleted programs I don't use anymore.
No new programs or apps are installed on the C: drive if they can be
installed on the D: drive.

I do have a USB external drive of 150 GB partitioned as I: and J:, but it
is just used as a safety backup. I had to have a Windows re-install 2
years ago and lost all on the C: drive, so I keep copies of the Documents
and settings, mail, unmovable C: drive programs, and other stuff from the
C: drive there.

Shenan's advice will help you *safely* reclaim more free space:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/ec6ae4bbd543b3b0?hl=en

I have cleaned up the stuff on C and reduced the system restore size to 1
MG as directed.

Also, you might want to consider purchasing a newer, large hard drive
(they are quite affordable and you can easily clone the contents of your
current one to the new one).

I do have a new internal Seagate HD waiting to be installed, but it is
beyond my skill and comfort level to clone the old drives to it.
I'll have to get it done by someone more knowledgeable.

 

[willshak]

How to free up some disk space:
Take a look at CCleaner as a tool to remove Internet history info,
cookies, temp files, auto complete and other junk.
Note that when CCleaner is first installed most if not all the options
are checked which is far too aggressive. So I recommend unchecking
all the items listed in 'Applications' tab and in the 'Windows' tab
selectively place a check mark for only those options that are of some
value in increasing the amount of free space on your PC.
The 'Analyze' button allows you preview (without actually deleting)
what and how much hard drive space you will get back.
Also available is customization, see Options/Custom to add any
other/additional folders you want files deleted from.
http://www.ccleaner.com/

I do have the Norton Utilities cleanup which I use on occasion.

If you recently installed Windows XP Service Pack 3:
Look for an odd folder name which is located here
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\cf8ec753e88561d..........\
Note: the apparent random set of letter and number may vary from my
example above but whatever the name is, it will be more than
600MB in size and can be safely deleted.
You may also see a number of other folders or files located in the:
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\ directory
They also can be deleted.

I just did that.

You can also free up more disk space by reducing
the number of 'System Restore' points:
Select Start/Control Panel/System, then in the System Properties window
click on the System Restore tab.
Next select the drive letter where Windows is installed (usually C,
Then click on the Setting button
Now in the Drive Settings window move the Disk space usage slider to the
left to reduce the amount of drive space System Restore points will use.
This will remove some of the older restore points and free up some space.

I had done that from an earlier response. Reduced it to 1MG.

Disable Hibernation and delete hiberfil.sys file (If you have it enabled):
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...sys-hibernation-file-in-windows-xp-and-vista/
and:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/hibernate.mspx
and: http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/hiberfil-sys-xp.html

I just did that.

If you are using IE7 and then installed SP3 read the info below.
IE7 users will find the folders listed below on their hard drive:
$NtServicePackUninstallIDNMitigationAPIs$
$NtServicePackUninstallNLSDownlevelMapping$
They are needed to uninstall IE7. However, if you installed IE7 and
then installed XP SP3 you can no longer uninstall IE7 and these
folders can also be deleted.

Note: The recommended procedure before installing XP SP3 is to
uninstall IE7 or IE8, then install XP SP3. Now you still have the ability to
install and uninstall IE7 or IE8.

Next if you still need more space:
Remove the files used to uninstall updates to Windows
These folders and associated files in these folders are safe to remove,
however once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install a patch or
update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.
I would keep the most recent set (last two months just in case) of folders
and delete the older updates.
As a safety net I burned these folders to a CD before deleting them.
These files are located in the Windows folder and have folder names
like $NtUninstallKBXXXXXX$.
They are hidden folders so enable viewing of hidden files in Windows
Explorer.
Warning: One folder you should not delete is: $hf_mig$
Also See the following web pages on this issue:
http://www.pagestart.com/ntuninstall.html
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

I just deleted those $NtUninstall files.

How about all these xxxxxx.log files in C:\Windows, which appear to be
just txt files, some of start with KBxxxxxx.log (knowledge base?)?

If you upgraded your PC from Windows 98 to Windows XP.
The $Win98UpdateUninstall$ can be deleted.

Does not apply. Computer came with XP.

You can reduce the size of the Internet Explorer Disk Cache:
How and Why to Clear Your Cache:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/customizing/clearcache.mspx
Just follow the instructions but instead of increasing the size
(as stated in the article) decrease it.

I don't use IE, except when Firefox cannot handle the non-html
standards web site editing.

Finally: Check the Recycle Bin one more time and empty it
if necessary as some of those files you deleted in the steps
mentioned above may find there way into the recycle bin.

I just emptied the Recycle bin.

If you have more than one partition or drive then:
How to Change the Default Location of Mail and News Folders:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307971/en-us

That only applies to Outlook Express, which is installed, but I do not
use it at all. (Thunderbird)

Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder
(Example: move it to the D drive)
See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310147
Also:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how_to_move_my_documents.htm

I had done that some time ago.

How to move the Spool folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308666

I just did that. (checked the printer afterwards. It works)

MS Office: Move the Local Install Source (MSOCache) location
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/825933
(See the section titled: Move LIS Cache folder to a new drive location)
Note: If your computer already had more than one hard drive or partition
when you installed MS Office, Office will place the MSOCache on the drive or
partition with the most available free space during the install process.

I do not have MS Office installed. (OpenOffice)

My C: drive size.
Before doing all the above: 624 MB
After doing all the above: 2.18 GB

Thanks very much for all the links, and thanks to the others who helped.
This is a great group.
I can defer having to pay someone to re-partition my C: drive or install
a new HD for now.

Maybe I can defrag the C: drive now. It is 33% fragmented.

 

[JS]

"How about all these xxxxxx.log files in C:\Windows, which appear to be
just txt files, some of start with KBxxxxxx.log (knowledge base?)?"

CCleaner has an option which should delete these file also.
Most of these file are created during a Windows Update session.

If you have no failures during an update then the log files can be
deleted.