Optimising data on Harddisk using XP Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter ttan98
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ttan98

Refers to my T23 laptop. The folder containing the System Vol. Info
seems to be very large , 3.5G of data.

My other T22 laptop which is older, only holds 500Mb of data.

Can anly advise me on how to reduce the data stored in the T23? I have
already removed all the restored points except the most recent one
 
Your objective should be to achieve15% to 20% free space!The more the
better. However, remember that further Windows Updates will bring that
down again.

To investigate how you are using hard disk space you need to
make sure that you can see all files. 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.

Download Dirsize.dll plug-in and place the file in Windows\System32
folder. Select Start, Run and type "regsvr32 dirsize.dll" without the
quotes and hit ENTER. Next in Windows Explorer open a folder and set it
to Detail view. From the View menu, click Choose Details. Put a
checkmark near Folder Size, and click OK. Use CTRL and + key (Numeric
Keypad) combination to resize the column width, so that the Folder Size
column is displayed correctly. To apply this setting for all the
folders, click Tools, Folder Options. In the View tab and click Apply to
all folders. You can download Dirsize from:
http://markd.mvps.org/

You can most likely create extra free space by a number of measures.

You can limit the disk space used by System Restore. Right click on the
My Computer icon on your Desktop and select, Properties, System Restore,
Settings. This will give you the amount of Disk Space allocated to
System Restore in terms of % of size of Drive and megabytes or
gigabytes. The default maximum is 12%, which is often excessive. You can
move the slider to the left to reduce the size of the allocation. If you
tell me the size of the partition I can suggest a size. Once the
allocated space is fully taken the oldest restore point is removed
when a new restore point is created ( or it should be ).

Try Start, All Programmes, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Delete all
but the most recent Restore Point ( Start, Programs, Accessories, System
Tools, Disk Cleanup, More options). Run Disk Defragmenter by selecting
Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter.

How is the drive formatted -FAT32 or NTFS? To get this information
whilst in Windows Explorer place the cursor on the C drive, right click
and select Properties? More opportunities here depending on the answer.

Select Start, Control Panel, Internet Options, Temporary Internet
Options, Settings. What is the Disk Space Allocation?


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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Many thanks Gerry!!!!

It works... except, your instruction mention "run dirsize.dll", it
should be replaced with "run dirsize.exe"

One question is there any danger to uncheck
1. hidden extension and
2. protect OS files
permanently, will your program work if I uncheck them again!!!
 
No unless you are one of those computer users who think when you need
more free disk space you just delete a few more files. Regrettably there
are some visitors to these newsgroups who think the way to remove
unwanted programmes is to delete the programme files without thinking of
the consequences of using such inappropriate methods.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
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Thanks for your response, I like to ask a few more questions:

1 After one has updated many files from Microsoft, incl. security, XP
upgrades etc, many files are generated such as $NTUninstal*.*. Can I
delete safely? I have read somewhere in PCMag it is safe.

2. You have answer my queries in my previous message, can I check the
file extension box and OS files?

Your answers please. Thanks....
 
Hi

You did not answer my earlier question. How is the drive
formatted -FAT32 or NTFS? To get this information,
whilst in Windows Explorer, place the cursor on the C drive, right click
and select Properties? More opportunities here depending on the answer.

The $NTUninstal folders are there for a purpose, namely to be able to
uninstall individual updates if they prove to cause problems. What was
said in PC Mag is to an extent true as the folders are not immediately
needed to run the system. However, if you encounter major problems you
can as a result of their removal be forced to employ more extreme
solutions than desirable and ones which many prefer not to have to use.
I would not remove these folders until I have looked at your answer to
my question ( first paragraph ) as both questions relate to the same
folders.

I did answer your earlier question 8 hours ago.

One question is there any danger to uncheck
1. hidden extension and
2. protect OS files
permanently, will your program work if I uncheck them again!!!

No danger but I would leave things as they are so that you can see the
files the next time you need to see them.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry said:
Hi

You did not answer my earlier question. How is the drive
formatted -FAT32 or NTFS? To get this information,
whilst in Windows Explorer, place the cursor on the C drive, right
click
and select Properties? More opportunities here depending on the
answer.

Sorry I did not ans it. I use FAT32 for 2 reasons, 1. My disk is only
40G at 5400rpm and 2. I assume FAT32 is a little faster. I understand
it sufffers other disadvantages....


The $NTUninstal folders are there for a purpose, namely to be able to
uninstall individual updates if they prove to cause problems. What was
said in PC Mag is to an extent true as the folders are not immediately
needed to run the system. However, if you encounter major problems you
can as a result of their removal be forced to employ more extreme
solutions than desirable and ones which many prefer not to have to
use.
I would not remove these folders until I have looked at your answer to
my question ( first paragraph ) as both questions relate to the same
folders.

All these occupy a large space on the hard disk. To be able to remove
them would be useful...Maybe I can archive them in a DVD.

Again thanks for your help...


ttan98
Click to expand...
 
FAT32 is not really for Windows XP, unless you are dual booting with
Windows 98 or Windows ME. Some users, however, prefer to stick with
FAT32 after upgrading from Windows 98 or Windows ME.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/ntfs_or_fat32_file_system.htm

http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm

http://aumha.org/win5/a/ntfs.htm

Using NTFS with a 4 kb cluster size gets you better disk space
utilisation, which becomes more significant as the disk gets larger,

Fat 32
512 MB - 8191 MB 4 KB 4%
8192 MB - 16383 MB 8 KB 10%
16384 MB - 32767 MB 16 KB 25%
Larger than 32768 MB 32 KB 40%

These percentages are to a certain extent offset by the overheads of
having an MET file but the gain in disk space remains significant.
However, file compression, only available with the NTFS, offers further
significant savings of disk space. Your $NTUninstall folders are where
significant gains can be obtained using file compression.

I would not archive $NTUninstall folders on another disk. It is fine to
archive data files but not ideal in the case of system files.

Did you reset your System Restore Disk Allocation? I would make it 5%.

Select Start, Control Panel, Internet Options, Temporary Internet
Options, Settings. What is the Disk Space Allocation?

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry,

I reset my system restore to about 5% or close to 800Mb. Thanks for
your advise. You are a great help...

ttan98
 
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