Low Disk Space every boot

[Guest]

I have been getting the "low disk space" message every time i boot up, saying
that i only have 20MB-200MB left on the C drive, which i know is completely
wrong. I have deleted numerous files and transfer countless files to my
external hard drive for the past week, and if this keeps continuing, im not
going to have any more files to delete to create space!! (running Windows XP,
40GB hard drive, 2.8gh P4, 1gb RAM~ Dell 4600) In the past week i have
cleared at least 10GB from my hard drive since ive gotten the message.

When this occurs, windows explorer decides to restart itself countless times
in a row until i create more space, which has become annoying. Also, for some
reason, (dont know if this is related) my taskbar has been resetting its
settings and no programs show up on the taskbar and it removes the quick
launch bar. AND i have to go in and uninstall/reinstall the audio device
every boot up to get it to work.

I noticed that going to regedit everytime i boot up is a short term fix for
the taskbar problem, but i really dont feel like going through the trouble
everytime i turn my computer on.

I also have noticed that the processes running on my computer have
decreased, from 50 to around 38+ which is weird.

I know a decent amount of stuff about computers and have been able to keep
the computer going like this for a week or so. Also, i am debating buying a
new computer just because of this one is getting old, or is there a way that
i can avoid that and just fix this issue.

Any help would be much appreciated! thanks!!

 

[Gerry]

Are you using a backup programme such as Norton Ghost?

I am not sure whether you are seeing all files and folders. Go to Start,
Control Panel, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings and verify that
the box before "Show hidden files and folders" is checked and "Hide
protected operating system files " is unchecked. You may need to scroll
down to see the second item. You should also make certain that the box
before "Hide extensions for known file types" is not checked. Next in
Windows Explorer make sure View, Details is
selected and then select View, Choose Details and check before Name,
Type, Total Size, and Free Space. Even then there are still certain
folders that remain hidden and this regularly promps discussion about
"lost" disk space. The System Volume Information folders containing
System Restore points, which by default is allocated 12% of the drive /
partition, is just one example of what remains hidden.

It is likely that an allocation of 12% has been made to System Restore
on your C partition which is over generous. I would reduce it to 700
mb. Right click your My Computer icon on the Desktop and select System
Restore. Place the cursor on your C drive select Settings but this
time find the slider and drag it to the left until it reads 700 mb and
exit. When you get to the Settings screen click on Apply and OK and
exit.

Another default setting on a large drive which could be wasteful is
that for temporary internet files especially if you do not store
offline copies on disk. The default allocation is 3% of drive.
Depending on your attitude to offline copies you could reduce this to
1% or 2%. In Internet Explorer select Tools, Internet Options,
General, Temporary Internet Files, Settings to make the change. At the
same time look at the number of days history is held.

The default allocation for the Recycle Bin is 10 % of drive. Change to
5%, which should be sufficient. In Windows Explorer place the cursor
on your Recycle Bin, right click and select Properties, Global and
move the slider from 10% to 5%. However, try to avoid letting it get
too full as if it is full and you delete a file by mistake it will
bypass the Recycle Bin and be gone for ever.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

Disk Cleanup may not remove temporary files if they have been created or
accessed within the last seven days. If a virus scan is run then all files
that are scanned, including temporary files, may be marked as if having been
accessed at the time of the scan.

At the moment my Windows/temp folder occupies 20Gig of drive space because I
had Windows Live OneCare set to run a virus scan daily with the result that
the "date accessed" of the files in the temp folder never got to be more than
7 days old. This is agravated by OneCare seeming to create a temporary file
for its own use whenever it runs, of about 75Meg, which it fails to remove
when finished with what its doing.

 

[Gerry]

Did you make the original post?

Disk CleanUp has never been the most effective tool. You need to run it
in all user profiles as otherwise it only removes file with in the User
Profile it is being run. You should also restart the cpmputer before
running Disk CleanUp as otherwise the system may not have finished with
them. Was the box before Temporary Files checked before you ran Disk
CleanUp?

You can use cCleaner (freeware) which does a more thorough job.
http://www.ccleaner.com/ccdownload.asp
http://www.ccleaner.com/

With any cleaner you need to proceed with caution. To be safe you
should create a restore point before using cCleaner. cCleaner also
offers backup before removal.

When using cCleaner think twice before checking Autocomplete Form
History under Internet Explorer. You do get a warning but this one has
irritating consequences. You may need to restore your system's
recollection of passwords after use so keep a record off computer so
that they can easily be re-entered.

Leave the Scan for Issues option alone.

I am surprised that you managed to generate 20 gb of temporary files.
Was this over a long period? What programme created so much?


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

Did you make the original post?

Disk CleanUp has never been the most effective tool. You need to run it
in all user profiles as otherwise it only removes file with in the User
Profile it is being run. You should also restart the cpmputer before
running Disk CleanUp as otherwise the system may not have finished with
them. Was the box before Temporary Files checked before you ran Disk
CleanUp?

You can use cCleaner (freeware) which does a more thorough job.
http://www.ccleaner.com/ccdownload.asp
http://www.ccleaner.com/

With any cleaner you need to proceed with caution. To be safe you
should create a restore point before using cCleaner. cCleaner also
offers backup before removal.

When using cCleaner think twice before checking Autocomplete Form
History under Internet Explorer. You do get a warning but this one has
irritating consequences. You may need to restore your system's
recollection of passwords after use so keep a record off computer so
that they can easily be re-entered.

Leave the Scan for Issues option alone.

I am surprised that you managed to generate 20 gb of temporary files.
Was this over a long period? What programme created so much?

It is the Squirrel collecting Nuts for winter LOL.

 

[Guest]

Gerry, i have done almost everything that you have said and the problem still
exists! I dont know what else i can do, i could install another hard drive,
the one i have is an ATA drive, but im not sure that the extra one i have is
ATA or if it matters. Also, what connections do i need to be able to hook up
another hard drive.

 

[Gerry]

What is the make and model for the spare drive and your existing drive?

There are guidance notes / tutorials ob=n the internet but we need to
know more about the drives.

What is the make and model of your computer?

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information about
your computer:
Everest Home Edition (freeware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight
required text, right click and select copy. However, whilst this is
fine for posting small amounts of information into newsgroup messages
longer reports will irritate other newsgroup subscribers.

This programme may help you get a better idea how your drive is being
used
http://foldersize.sourceforge.net/


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

Did you make the original post?

Which post?

Disk CleanUp has never been the most effective tool. You need to run it
in all user profiles as otherwise it only removes file with in the User
Profile it is being run. You should also restart the cpmputer before
running Disk CleanUp as otherwise the system may not have finished with
them. Was the box before Temporary Files checked before you ran Disk
CleanUp?

I have Windows Live OneCare which runs Disk Cleanup Automatically as part of
a regular TuneUp schedule. There is no choice to run Windows Live OneCare in
any particular user profile. Since tuneup is set to run weekly, the computer
will have been rebooted several times in between.

You can use cCleaner (freeware) which does a more thorough job.
http://www.ccleaner.com/ccdownload.asp
http://www.ccleaner.com/

The problem is not that Disk CleanUp is not doing a thorough job. The
problem is that it is not doing its job at all!!

With any cleaner you need to proceed with caution. To be safe you
should create a restore point before using cCleaner. cCleaner also
offers backup before removal.

When using cCleaner think twice before checking Autocomplete Form
History under Internet Explorer. You do get a warning but this one has
irritating consequences. You may need to restore your system's
recollection of passwords after use so keep a record off computer so
that they can easily be re-entered.

Leave the Scan for Issues option alone.

I am surprised that you managed to generate 20 gb of temporary files.
Was this over a long period? What programme created so much?

Most of these Temporary files in the Windows/temp folder were created after
16 June 2007; which is about the date that I first installed Windows Live
OneCare.

Furthermore most of these temporary files were created at about the date and
time on which OneCare ran one of its schedules or when I run OneCare to view
scan reports.

 

[Gerry]

You are obviously not the person posting the original problem. I know
little about Windows Live OneCare. You need someone who does. You could
of course uninstall OneCare. You would do better to start your own
thread and not piggy back someone elses thread as this leads to
confusion. Hence my uncertainty when I replied to your first message.
Use the New Message option to start a new thread and then use Reply to
for follow ups.
http://www.microsoft.com/library/gallery/components/wn/3/locales/help/help_en-US.htm#GettingStarted

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

This thread concerns low disk space. I was raising the possibility that
failure of proper cleanup of temporary files is one possible reason for a
full hard drive. If the original poster has a regular virus scan in operation
then it seems to me possible that temporary files will never be removed.

Gerry, do you have any opinion on my postulate that a virus scan, of
whatever brand (be it OneCare, Norton, McAfee, Whatever) results in a file
being marked as having been accessed at the time that it is scanned. If it
does, then the disk cleanup utility that comes with windows XP will not
remove the temporary files if a virus scan has been done in the last 7 days.
Worse, disk cleanup will never remove temporary files if a virus scan is done
more than once a week.

I will take your suggestion and start a new thread on what may be a
deficiency with the disk cleanup utility.

Kenneth

 

[Gerry]

Kenneth

This thread was concerned about one users inability to reconcile free
and used disk space. You can see Temporary files so they are not hidden
users of disk space. I am trying to find out more about the use of Live
OneCare and to what extent it creates issues. The product is in it's
infancy. It may still be in Beta for all I know. I just haven't received
any feedback yet.

I have seen speculation recently on your virus scan point but I do not
know the answer. As I have said Disk CleanUp is not renowned for it's
efficiency. cCleaner does a better job, except with regard to removal of
System Restore points.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Bob Harris]

XP is usually correct about things like disk space.

Thus, instead of assuming that you know that you have plenty of space, get
some diagnostic tools to show have much space you really have.

Be sure to run any diagnostic tool as a system administrator, or other
user's and system files may be hidden from you.

The first tool is windows explorer, right-click properties and look at the
pie-chart.

However, windows explorer may not see all files.

For example, if you use the Norton Protected Recycle Bin, its files "hide"
from the operating system. Eevn if you right-click the cycle-bin to remove
protected files, it actually leaves some around, dependning on the rention
period set by the user (default is 7 days).

Another tool is Treesize, a free download from:
http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml

Treesize sorts files and directories by size. Treesize works through XP, so
it will not see files hidden from the operating system.

A general diagnostic tool is AIDA32. It can tell you a lot about the
computer, including the actual hard drive size and how much of that is
partitioned (i.e., useable by XP). It is no longer supported, but is still
available from: http://www.sofotex.com/AIDA32-download_L9326.html

Be careful when interpretting data from any tool, including windows
explorer, and when assuming that you know have large your hard disk really
is: 1GB = 1024MB = 1024*1024KB. Thus, my primary hard drive, which is
nominally 120 "Gig" (or so the box said), shows as 111.8GB in AIDA. It
shows as 114470MB in Partition Magic. Note that the pie chart in windows
explorer shows both GB and bytes and they are obviously not related by one
billion but by 1024*1024*1024.

Further, on some PCs a part of the hard drive is allocated to a hidden
recovery partition. Thus, a few Gig may not be available to XP.

Finally, if none of the above help solve the mystery, get a bootable LINUX
"live" CD. These run LINUX from the CD, without installing anything on the
jard drive. Many images are available free at:
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

KNOPPIX is easy to use, supports NTFS file systems, and has an explorer-like
interface. But, it is a large download.

Boot the PC into LINUX and examine the file system. Tricks that can hide
files from XP will generally not work to hide them from LINUX.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

This thread concerns low disk space. I was raising the possibility that
failure of proper cleanup of temporary files is one possible reason for a
full hard drive.

If anybody's hard drive gets full because of undeleted temporary
files, he is in *dire* need of more hard drive space. For almost
anyone, simply deleting temp files would makes so small a difference
as to be inconsequential. I've never seen any drive with enough
undeleted temporary files to make a significant difference in amount
of free space.

If the original poster has a regular virus scan in operation
then it seems to me possible that temporary files will never be removed.

Gerry, do you have any opinion on my postulate that a virus scan, of
whatever brand (be it OneCare, Norton, McAfee, Whatever) results in a file
being marked as having been accessed at the time that it is scanned.

I'm not Gerry, but let me point out that running a virus scan followed
by a quick look at your temp folder would demonstrate that your
"postulate" is false. I can't speak for *every* anti-virus program,
but I've never seen this occur.

If it
does, then the disk cleanup utility that comes with windows XP will not
remove the temporary files if a virus scan has been done in the last 7 days.

As I said above, anti-virus programs don't do that, so it doesn't
matter when the last scan was done.

But where did you get the idea that disk cleanup won't remove a
temporary file that's been accessed within the last seven days? please
cite a web page that states that, if you know one. If that's true,
it's news to me. As far as I know, the only rule preventing the
deletion of a temporary file is that it can't be deleted if it is
currently in use (open).

 

[Guest]

If anybody's hard drive gets full because of undeleted temporary
files, he is in *dire* need of more hard drive space. For almost
anyone, simply deleting temp files would makes so small a difference
as to be inconsequential. I've never seen any drive with enough
undeleted temporary files to make a significant difference in amount
of free space.

My winows/temp folder currently occupies 25Gigbytes and Disk Cleanup tool
will not remove them.

I'm not Gerry, but let me point out that running a virus scan followed
by a quick look at your temp folder would demonstrate that your
"postulate" is false. I can't speak for *every* anti-virus program,
but I've never seen this occur.

I have done exactly this. After running Tuneup from Windows Live
OneCare(which includes a virus scan which it runs after running disk cleanup)
every one of the several hundred files in the Windows/temp folder and all
other files on the computer are marked as Date Accessed as the date on which
tune up was run. I am now waiting until 7 days have lapsed to run tuneup
again to see if disk cleanup removes the temporary files.

As I said above, anti-virus programs don't do that, so it doesn't
matter when the last scan was done.

But where did you get the idea that disk cleanup won't remove a
temporary file that's been accessed within the last seven days? please
cite a web page that states that, if you know one. If that's true,
it's news to me. As far as I know, the only rule preventing the
deletion of a temporary file is that it can't be deleted if it is
currently in use (open).

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/261897#top
Says that "The Disk Cleanup tool does not delete temporary files that are
less than seven days old" (although it says that this KB article applies to
windows Millenium)

http://www.pctipsbox.com/force-disk-cleanup-to-purge-all-temporary-files/
Says...
"If you’ve ever run the Windows XP’s Disk Cleanup utility, you probably
discovered that your temporary files occupy a significant amount of space.
You might select the Temporary Files check box in order to allow the Disk
Cleanup utility to delete the files in the Temp folder, but the Disk Cleanup
utility will not remove all of the files. The reason for this oddity is that
the configuration for the Disk Cleanup utility does not allow deletion of
files accessed in the last seven days."

 

[Gerry]

As I said earlier Disk CleanUp is not the most efficient tool to use. If
you search your My Computer for files with a tmp file extension you will
most likely find others scattered in other folders. There a few on my
computer. Those in my Temp folder are all less than 48 hours old so I
cannot check whether Disk CleanUp observes a 7 day rule. I use cCleaner
and this does not remove files accessed in the last 48 hours. This is a
default setting, which the user can uncheck. Clearly both DiskCleanUp
and cCleaner check specific folders and tmp files placed in other places
do not get removed.

I have now found out that Disk CleanUp observes a 7 day rule, unless the
Registry is modified:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/cleantemp.htm

Accessing a file is apparently a factor taken into account.

My AVG Free Anti-Virus runs every morning at 8..00. Looking at the
Temporary Internet folder there is no evidence that a scan changes
access dates. You are using Windows Live OneCare and I do not know
whether this behaves differently. I am not sure to what extent an
experienced user would say the programme has a proven record.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

What is your exact version of Windows XP.

Have you downloaded TV programmes of the Internet?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My winows/temp folder currently occupies 25Gigbytes and Disk Cleanup tool
will not remove them.

Why not? What happens when you try? Have you tried to remove them
manually? What happens when you try that?

25GB is an enormous size. I've never seen one that big.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/261897#top
Says that "The Disk Cleanup tool does not delete temporary files that are
less than seven days old" (although it says that this KB article applies to
windows Millenium)

http://www.pctipsbox.com/force-disk-cleanup-to-purge-all-temporary-files/
Says...
"If you’ve ever run the Windows XP’s Disk Cleanup utility, you probably
discovered that your temporary files occupy a significant amount of space.
You might select the Temporary Files check box in order to allow the Disk
Cleanup utility to delete the files in the Temp folder, but the Disk Cleanup
utility will not remove all of the files. The reason for this oddity is that
the configuration for the Disk Cleanup utility does not allow deletion of
files accessed in the last seven days."

Then it looks like I am wrong about the seven days. Thanks for the
information.

The second link you provide talks about how to perform a registry edit
to remove the seven day restriction. That's probably a good thing to
do. The restriction makes no sense to me.

 

[Jim]

My winows/temp folder currently occupies 25Gigbytes and Disk Cleanup tool
will not remove them.
I have done exactly this. After running Tuneup from Windows Live
OneCare(which includes a virus scan which it runs after running disk
cleanup)
every one of the several hundred files in the Windows/temp folder and all
other files on the computer are marked as Date Accessed as the date on
which
tune up was run. I am now waiting until 7 days have lapsed to run tuneup
again to see if disk cleanup removes the temporary files.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/261897#top
Says that "The Disk Cleanup tool does not delete temporary files that are
less than seven days old" (although it says that this KB article applies
to
windows Millenium)

http://www.pctipsbox.com/force-disk-cleanup-to-purge-all-temporary-files/
Says...
"If you've ever run the Windows XP's Disk Cleanup utility, you probably
discovered that your temporary files occupy a significant amount of space.
You might select the Temporary Files check box in order to allow the Disk
Cleanup utility to delete the files in the Temp folder, but the Disk
Cleanup
utility will not remove all of the files. The reason for this oddity is
that
the configuration for the Disk Cleanup utility does not allow deletion of
files accessed in the last seven days."

So, Disk Cleanup for whatever reason cannot clean out the windows\temp
folder on the OP's computer.
What happens when you try to delete the files manually?
What are the permissions on these files?
Jim

 

[Gerry]

Ken

If you are advocating no restriction ( changing 7 to 0 ) then it could
important to advocate restarting the computer before running Disk
CleanUp. cCleaner defaults to 2 days. SFAIK AVG 7.5 Free does not change
access dates, which supports your earlier comments about anti-virus
programmes.

--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Ken

If you are advocating no restriction ( changing 7 to 0 ) then it could
important to advocate restarting the computer before running Disk
CleanUp.

Nope. Although I frequently see that advice, I disagree with it.
Restarting isn't necessary. The only temp file you should shouldn't
delete is one that is in use. And since Windows won't let you delete
an open file, it's safe to (try to) delete them all.

But one caveat to the above: note that there are some program
installations which work in two steps. The first step concludes by
writing temporary files and rebooting. The second step starts
automatically after rebooting and needs to find those files there (and
then deletes them when it's done).

As long as you're not doing the temp file deletion while in the middle
of such an installation, rebooting isn't necessary.