Keeping XP partition small

  • Thread starter Thread starter JimD
  • Start date Start date
J

JimD

I'm trying to keep my XP partition below 7.5GB or so, in order to fit
its image on one DVD. The paging file, documents, and recycle bin are
on separate partitions. New programs are installed on their own
partition as well. System restore points are set to a minimum. Temp
files are cleared every day. In spite of these steps, C: slowly keeps
growing. One problem is Program Files, filled with applications which I
wasn't initially given the opportunity to point to a different
partition. Another is that Documents and Settings expands seemingly
outside my control. What more can I do to help keep C: within my target
size? Can Program Files be safely redirected to another partition?
Thanks in advance.
 
JimD said:
I'm trying to keep my XP partition below 7.5GB or so, in order to fit
its image on one DVD. The paging file, documents, and recycle bin are
on separate partitions. New programs are installed on their own
partition as well. System restore points are set to a minimum. Temp
files are cleared every day. In spite of these steps, C: slowly keeps
growing. One problem is Program Files, filled with applications which I
wasn't initially given the opportunity to point to a different
partition. Another is that Documents and Settings expands seemingly
outside my control. What more can I do to help keep C: within my target
size? Can Program Files be safely redirected to another partition?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I use Treesize to look for space saving deletes...
http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml

Do a search for *.DMP files and delete them, they can be huge.
Start | Run <type in> drwtsn32 <enter>
You can turn off DMP file creations there.

Relocate your TEMP directory
RIght click "my computer" - properties - Advanced - Environment
Variables. (edit TEMP and TMP).
 
JimD said:
I'm trying to keep my XP partition below 7.5GB or so, in order to fit
its image on one DVD. The paging file, documents, and recycle bin are
on separate partitions. New programs are installed on their own
partition as well. System restore points are set to a minimum. Temp
files are cleared every day. In spite of these steps, C: slowly keeps
growing. One problem is Program Files, filled with applications
which I wasn't initially given the opportunity to point to a different
partition. Another is that Documents and Settings expands seemingly
outside my control. What more can I do to help keep C: within my
target size? Can Program Files be safely redirected to another
partition? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

No it can't [afaik], other than what you have already done, uninstalling
applications would be you best avenue to reduce the bloat. What about
hibernation files, do you have this enabled?

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
actually, if you really want to do it you can copy it to another volume
using a boot disk and then mount the new volume into the existing programs
file directory.

Its a tedious pain though and would be a very bad thing to do in this
situation.

--
Manny Borges
MCSE NT4-2003 (+ Security)
MCT, Certified Cheese Master

There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who do understand binary
and those who don't.
Michael Stevens said:
JimD said:
I'm trying to keep my XP partition below 7.5GB or so, in order to fit
its image on one DVD. The paging file, documents, and recycle bin are
on separate partitions. New programs are installed on their own
partition as well. System restore points are set to a minimum. Temp
files are cleared every day. In spite of these steps, C: slowly keeps
growing. One problem is Program Files, filled with applications
which I wasn't initially given the opportunity to point to a different
partition. Another is that Documents and Settings expands seemingly
outside my control. What more can I do to help keep C: within my
target size? Can Program Files be safely redirected to another
partition? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

No it can't [afaik], other than what you have already done, uninstalling
applications would be you best avenue to reduce the bloat. What about
hibernation files, do you have this enabled?

--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
Click to expand...
 
Things to look at:

1. C:\Windows\Installer
2. C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads
3. Mail files support C:\Documents and Settings\[USERNAME]\Local
Settings\Identities\{USERNAME CLSID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\*. Try to
keep these Compacted from Outlook Express and cleaned out
4. Compress files using Windows Cleanup Tool of files seldom used.
5. USERNAME temp folders
6. C:\Windows\Temp
7. C:\Windows\$NtUninstall.... folders
8. C:\i386 folder
9. C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles
10. Unused C:\Windows\Media files (Schemes you will never use)
11. Unused C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper files never to use

A lot of these can be backed up to a CD/DVD, and placed in CD/DVD drive when
needed. For example, $NtUninstall folders can be reference on the CD/DVD,
C:\i386 as well, .... You just need to change the pointer in the registry
to point to the correct location(s).

Also, you can use Windows Backup to backup your drive. It will not back up
dynamic files (pagefile.sys, hiberfil.sys, ....). The list is in Backup.
You can backup to a file and then burn that file to a CD/DVD.
 
Just one additional comment, those locations are fine except for the
Windows\Installer - be careful working in this location. You can end
up with broken "Updates" by removing or changing content in there.

Lawrence J. Gardner said:
Things to look at:

1. C:\Windows\Installer
2. C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads
3. Mail files support C:\Documents and Settings\[USERNAME]\Local
Settings\Identities\{USERNAME CLSID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express\*. Try to
keep these Compacted from Outlook Express and cleaned out
4. Compress files using Windows Cleanup Tool of files seldom used.
5. USERNAME temp folders
6. C:\Windows\Temp
7. C:\Windows\$NtUninstall.... folders
8. C:\i386 folder
9. C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles
10. Unused C:\Windows\Media files (Schemes you will never use)
11. Unused C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper files never to use

A lot of these can be backed up to a CD/DVD, and placed in CD/DVD drive
when needed. For example, $NtUninstall folders can be reference on the
CD/DVD, C:\i386 as well, .... You just need to change the pointer in the
registry to point to the correct location(s).

Also, you can use Windows Backup to backup your drive. It will not back
up dynamic files (pagefile.sys, hiberfil.sys, ....). The list is in
Backup. You can backup to a file and then burn that file to a CD/DVD.

JimD said:
I'm trying to keep my XP partition below 7.5GB or so, in order to fit its
image on one DVD. The paging file, documents, and recycle bin are on
separate partitions. New programs are installed on their own partition
as well. System restore points are set to a minimum. Temp files are
cleared every day. In spite of these steps, C: slowly keeps growing.
One problem is Program Files, filled with applications which I wasn't
initially given the opportunity to point to a different partition.
Another is that Documents and Settings expands seemingly outside my
control. What more can I do to help keep C: within my target size? Can
Program Files be safely redirected to another partition? Thanks in
advance.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks to a few of your tips, I've now reduced my C: partition to about
5.20GB, with no apparent effect on system performance. Very pleased.
(Doug Knox has a helpful utility at his site that flushes unnecessary
hotfix NTuninstall files.)

JimD
 
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