Need to trim some fat from C:\...

[Jeff N.]

I need to free up some space on C:\ and no room to expand the partition. I
thought 7GB would have been plenty for XP. I intended for C:\ to only be
used for the OS and nothing else except which needs to go there. I don't
store pictures or any documents on C:\, although some programs setup camp
there. Not worth moving to another partition. System Restore only
allocates about 500MB. Temp folders empty, TIF's and Page File on other
partitions.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Guest]

you could move "my documents" or your email folders... they can get quite
large depending on how you use the computer. Good luck

 

[SlowJet]

7 GB should be plenty with about a G free.
I just checked a SYS/BOOT partition that has lots of programs,, OFFICE 2003,
a large PHOTO IMAGE software, 1.5 GB page file , about 100 MB of restore
points, PDF reader 6, and some more and the used space is 5.6 GB.
The includes SP1 backup and all the pacth uninstall folders, Net 1.1 and Net
1.1 SP1, everything but Media Player 10.

SJ

 

[Jeff N.]

As I said, since I don't keep anything in My Documents, it's pointless to
move. TIF's and OE store are already on another partition.

 

[Jeff N.]

Yeah, I have about 1.2 GB left, but was having some issues burning a CD. I
move the temp folder for that elsewhere. I have a huge MFT Zone and not
sure if that was causing that issue.

 

[SlowJet]

OH, and how did you that?
A large MTF size (zone is the expansion size i think) would be good for
zillions of small files but on a 7GB partition you probable couldn't use
more than a 60 MB MFT. How big is it?

SJ

If you have a GB of mem or more you could probably run fine with a 256 MB
page file. You could say 256, 512 just in case.

 

[Jeff N.]

MFT Zone is about 255MB. I think I found a folder apparently created by a
program that allows for undeleting files that I can probably toss. I
wouldn't be against removing archived updates, but forget the best way to do
that.

Jeff

 

[Alex Nichol]

I need to free up some space on C:\ and no room to expand the partition. I
thought 7GB would have been plenty for XP. I intended for C:\ to only be
used for the OS and nothing else except which needs to go there. I don't
store pictures or any documents on C:\, although some programs setup camp
there. Not worth moving to another partition. System Restore only
allocates about 500MB. Temp folders empty, TIF's and Page File on other
partitions.

A thought: When you put the page file elsewhere, did you leave a
notional amount on C:? Say initial 2 max 70? Without that, it is
inclined to make an enormous file there, regardless. I presume you
have moved 'My Documents' to a different drive. Also have hibernation
off, to save the size of the hibernation file (same size as RAM).

Then in the Windows folder you can remove any $NTUninstall folders
(including $NTServicePackUninstall) provided you do not want to
uninstall that update; and the ServicePackFiles folder can with benefit
be compressed on an NTFS drive, as can system32\dllcache. Also delete
files from Windows\DownloadedInstallations (downloading SP2 will put a
lot of files in there)

 

[Jeff N.]

Hi Alex, per your article I read a long time ago, a min of 2MB and a max of
50MB for Page File is left on C:\. I moved My Documents once, but it only
saved maybe 100MB and I never put anything in there anyway. What I really
could benefit from is moving Documents and Settings folder for some
application data is the space hog.

Hibernation has long since been disabled for this computer is alive 24/7.
I'll toss the $NT* files for no update issues here; that will gain me quite
a bit. I'll compress the folders you mentioned and clean out the bit of
files in Downloaded Installations since the last time I did.

Thanks for the tips, that should get me squared away,
Jeff

 

[Alex Nichol]

What I really
could benefit from is moving Documents and Settings folder for some
application data is the space hog.

You *might* be able to move the Application data folder in the same way
(R-drag; Move here); but not safely the whole D&S because of the need of
the logon process to find it for the User's registry hive. Also worth
checking on Applications that have pushed themselves into Program files
and then insist on having their data in with them. I discovered one
such on a friend's machine (an eBay Auction manager) that had a GB of
data there in its own folder. Fortunately that one was possible to
uninstall and re-install on a different drive

 

[jeffrey]

Hi,

You can move the Documents and Settings folder to another drive, but its an
involved process. You have to make between 50 to 100 registry changes. If
you want to know how, then respond back and I will reply with the details.
I found this on Google and it works, I have done it on over 160 systems now.

Jeff

 

[Jeff N.]

Thanks Alex, I got a bit over 2GB free now. Although MFT Zone still
flucutates consuming 500MB at present. But I can research what that is all
about.

Jeff

 

[Jeff N.]

Hi Jeff, I'd be interested in checking out the info.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[jeffrey]

Hi,

Before you do this, remember to back up your registry.

process to change the Documents and Settings folder from C drive to D drive
or other drive.

1. Create a folder called Documents and Settings on D drive



2. Change folder options to `show hidden files and folders`



3. Uncheck the `hide protected operating system files`



4. Create a new profile with admin rights called Mover



5. Log off the computer and log on as Mover



6. Go to C drive Documents and Settings folder and copy all files except
for Mover to D drive Documents and Settings folder



7. Click on start, then run and type in regedit and click OK



8. Using the find function (F3) search for all instances of C:\documents
and settings and change it to D:\documents and settings. Change any
%systemroot%documents and settings to D:\documents and settings and any
%systemdrive%\documents and settings to D:\documents and settings. If one
registry entry has documents and settings also homepath, change the homepath
from C:\ to D:\



9. Change any C:\docume~1 to D:\docume~1



10. Double check all changes before closing regedit



11. Shut down the system, wait, then restart and log in as mover again and
go through steps G to I to confirm everything was changed



12. Reboot the computer and log in as administrator, either rename the
C:\documents and settings or delete it



Jeff

 

[Jeff N.]

Thanks for the info!

Jeff

Hi,

Before you do this, remember to back up your registry.

process to change the Documents and Settings folder from C drive to D
drive or other drive.

1. Create a folder called Documents and Settings on D drive



2. Change folder options to `show hidden files and folders`



3. Uncheck the `hide protected operating system files`



4. Create a new profile with admin rights called Mover



5. Log off the computer and log on as Mover



6. Go to C drive Documents and Settings folder and copy all files
except for Mover to D drive Documents and Settings folder



7. Click on start, then run and type in regedit and click OK



8. Using the find function (F3) search for all instances of
C:\documents and settings and change it to D:\documents and settings.
Change any %systemroot%documents and settings to D:\documents and
settings and any %systemdrive%\documents and settings to D:\documents
and settings. If one registry entry has documents and settings also
homepath, change the homepath from C:\ to D:\



9. Change any C:\docume~1 to D:\docume~1



10. Double check all changes before closing regedit



11. Shut down the system, wait, then restart and log in as mover
again and go through steps G to I to confirm everything was changed



12. Reboot the computer and log in as administrator, either rename
the C:\documents and settings or delete it



Jeff

 

[jeffrey]

Your welcome

I found the actual instructions a few months back when doing a web search.
If you did an unattended install, you can define where the Documents and
Settings folder would go.

Jeff