Calli
What hard drives do you have and how are they partitioned? What are
their sizes and how much free space is on each? Where is your pagefile
and what are the settings? On which partition is Windows?
If you are using the Norton Protected Recycle Bin or Rollback RX Pro
these can create significant free disk space issues. The programmes
create hidden folders, which can grow to colossal sizes. I would also
be interested to know if you are using Ghost?
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.
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.
Folder Size -a useful tool for use with Windows Explorer when
investigating how disk space is being used.
http://foldersize.sourceforge.net/
Use the Search option in Windows Explorer to search for files over 1
mb. You sort the result in order of size by clicking on size over the
list of files. Search All Users ensuring you have selected Advanced
Options and clicked on the box before Search System Folders, Search
Hidden Files and Folders and Search Sub-Folders.Have you changed the
three default settings for System Restore,Temporary Internet Files and
the Recycle Bin?
The default allocation to System Restore is 12% of 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 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.
When you have made these changes restart your computer and run Disk
Defragmenter.
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Hope this helps.
Gerry
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FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
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