Don
You will need to watch System Restore. During the Update process it
creates a restore point of what exists before the update and a second of
what exists after. The one before is very large i.e. on my system 798 mb
compared to 42 mb after. After installation you can compress restore
points and on my system the 798 mb reduced to 495 mb. In my opinion you
need to retain the restore points for a while as if it emerges that you
have a problem then removal will prevent you easily undoing the update.
JS has made a number of suggestions. In the light of what I have said
above I would ensure that the disk space allocation to system restore is
at least 1 gb. Then
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. You can then compress the contents of the System Volume
Information folder in Windows Explorer by right clicking on the Folder
and selecting Properties, General, Advanced, check box before Compress
Contents to save Disk Space, OK, Apply, OK.
In Outlook Express place the cursor on Local Folders and select File,
Work Offline followed by File, Folder, Compact All. Do not attempt to
interupt or stop the process until it has completed. Close Outlook
Express when it has completed.
If you have cCleaner then run it otherwise elect Start, All Programs,
Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to Empty your Recycle Bin and
Remove Temporary Internet Files. Running Disk CleanUp after compacting
Outlook Express is important as the compacting process fills the Recyle
Bin and you need it empty before running the SP3 update.
Two other suggestions which are worth mentioning but I suspect will not
help with free disk space for the SP3 update.
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.
If you have the capacity to move files from C to another location here
are some further suggestions.
You can generate more space in the system partition by relocation of
folders.
For Temporary Internet Files select Start, Control Panel, Internet
Options, Temporary Internet Files. Settings, Move Folder.
To move the Outlook Express Store Folder select in Outlook Express
Tools, Options, Maintenance, Store Folder, Change.
http://www.tomsterdam.com/insideoe/files/store.htm
How to Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310147
You may also need to change Default File locations in the Microsoft
Office programmes you choose to move the My Documents folder. For Word
go to Tools, Options, File Locations, highlight Documents, click on
Modify and change file path. For Excel go to Tools, Options, General
and change default file path.
My Documents is one of a number of system created Special Folders
including My Pictures and My Music. These can more easily be relocated
using Tweak Ui. Download TweakUI, one of the MS powertoys, from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
In TweakUi select My Computer, Special Folders. You can scroll down to
see the full list of Special Folders to the left of the Change
Location button.
You can move programmes but to do this you have to uninstall and
reinstall.
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Hope this helps.
Gerry
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FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
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