hard drive space and duplicate program file folders

[Kelly]

I just bought a new computer with Windows Vista (which is completely new to
me). I've been loading and setting up all of the programs and files from the
old computer to the new one.

I don't understand why what took up 20+ gb on my old computer is taking 50+
gb on the new one. When I right clicked all of the folders in my c:\ drive
and added up the sizes, the totaled just over 29gb. But according to the
Computer view, I'm using 53+ gb. Can someone please tell me what's going on?

AND ... why are there 2 Program File folders: one is just Program Files and
the other is Program Files (x86)?

Thanks
kelly

 

[CBoom]

here is how you can retrieve the disk space:

http://computerboom.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-clean-up-lost-space-in-windows.html

I just blogged about it and made a video since this is a too common
question!

I am also making a higher resolution video of this
NOTE: where I type in the search box I write: disk and then select disk
clean up

AND.........

AND ... why are there 2 Program File folders: one is just Program Files and
the other is Program Files (x86)?

you are using windows vista 64 bit version, and the applications that are
not 64 bit but 32 bit get installed in that x86 folder

this is normal and you should not worry about it

 

[Tyro]

Vista's Program Files contains 64 bit programs and Program Files (x86)
contains 32 bit programs.

Tyro

 

[Kelly]

here is how you can retrieve the disk space:

http://computerboom.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-clean-up-lost-space-in-windows.html

I just blogged about it and made a video since this is a too common
question!

I am also making a higher resolution video of this
NOTE: where I type in the search box I write: disk and then select disk
clean up

AND.........



you are using windows vista 64 bit version, and the applications that are
not 64 bit but 32 bit get installed in that x86 folder

this is normal and you should not worry about it

I just don't get it ... I uninstalled a 806mb program but now have 2gb less
space on my computer. It's driving me nuts. I walked thru you Disk Cleanup,
but I don't think it's working.

 

[CBoom]

It must be system restore, aka shadow copy, aka previous versions..

I cant think of anything else..

are you SURE you did the disk cleanup exactly as shown in the video?

 

[Kelly]

yes, I'm sure. But after selecting the delete option twice (as per your
video), the program just closed and I didn't see a progession line showing
the deletion. When I start up the restore procedure, there are restore
points from today to yesterday when I first set up the computer.
It's quite frustrutrating.
kelly

 

[CBoom]

Kelly

then try this

start > in the search box write system restore, and click on the icon that
will appear saying system restore

then follow the directions in this screenshot below (note you must click the
blue link that says "open system protection")

http://i41.tinypic.com/2088k78.png

turning system restore off and on with clear all the old files

tell me if this helps

 

[Kelly]

That process just gave me back 42gb of space. BUT when should the restore
option be on or off. Isn't it a little dangerous not to have restore points?
Thank you very much CBoon!
kelly

 

[Peter Foldes]

Kelly

Is there Hard Drive activity as per the light on your computer. If there is then it
could be indexing at which time your total space on your HD shows a lot bigger. When
indexing is done the actual amount of space on the drive then will show correctly

 

[Jolly Polly]

I just bought a new computer with Windows Vista (which is completely new to
me). I've been loading and setting up all of the programs and files from the
old computer to the new one.

I don't understand why what took up 20+ gb on my old computer is taking 50+
gb on the new one. When I right clicked all of the folders in my c:\ drive
and added up the sizes, the totaled just over 29gb. But according to the
Computer view, I'm using 53+ gb. Can someone please tell me what's going on?

AND ... why are there 2 Program File folders: one is just Program Files and
the other is Program Files (x86)?

Thanks
kelly

I find that the hibernation file (hiberfil.sys hidden in the root of
your C drive) takes up a lot of space and since I never use it I turn it off

off command:
powercfg –h off

on command:
powercfg –h on

 

[CBoom]

yes if you see in the picture I sent you , I say to turn it back on again!

I say "put the checkmark back and press apply"

lol you need system restore!

after some time it will accumulate again... but try doing the disk cleanup
as I showed in the video...

Im not sure why it didn’t work the first time

Thank you very much CBoon!

No problem! ComputerBoom... http://computerboom.blogspot.com

 

[poweruser]

There a few things you can do to investigate where your space went. There
is this awesome tool called treesize free
http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml that tells you where all
your space went. As you go deeper into trees, you'll be amazed at the
savings you can make. Then there's certain places you can't cut down on.
The winsxs folder in Windows is one of those places. It may take up
gigabytes, but never delete it. Then there's system protection, that can
take up 15% of the drive. On a 500gig drive that's like 75gig, a nice
chunk. Also check for duplicate files using one of the freeware tools,
making sure they bring up byte for byte matches. The last thing that comes
to mind is the temporary folders, particularly
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp is worth cleaning up. You'll probably
need to show hidden files and protected operating system files first in
folder options. Good luck..

 

[Jim]

I use the ERUNT system and turned restore off .