unwanted message bubbles

[steve]

I am getting a constant message bubble that tells me that my HDD is full and
that I can remove unwanted files and programs by clicking the bubble.
I keep clicking to get rid of it, but it pops upagain and again. How do I
get rid of it permanently. P.S. How can the computer possibly know what
files and programs it can get rid of? This is dangerous, no?
--

 

[Malke]

I am getting a constant message bubble that tells me that my HDD is full
and that I can remove unwanted files and programs by clicking the bubble.
I keep clicking to get rid of it, but it pops upagain and again. How do I
get rid of it permanently. P.S. How can the computer possibly know what
files and programs it can get rid of? This is dangerous, no?

How much space is left on your hard drive? Do you have only the one hard
drive/one partition?

Make more room on the hard drive, copy your data files (music, pictures,
documents, etc.) to an external hard drive and then delete them from the
internal hard drive. Uninstall programs you don't use.

Malke

 

[Don Phillipson]

I am getting a constant message bubble that tells me that my HDD is full and
that I can remove unwanted files and programs by clicking the bubble.
I keep clicking to get rid of it, but it pops upagain and again. How do I
get rid of it permanently?

Arrange things so that the HDD is less full than whatever
percentage triggers this WinXP utility.

P.S. How can the computer possibly know what
files and programs it can get rid of? This is dangerous, no?

The next window of MSDisk Cleanup answers your question
by listing half a dozen types of file that may be selectively configured
to delete, e.g. *.BAK files, Temporary Internet Files and so on.
These are listed in a separate window, where each group must
be positively selected by the user, because MS aimed to be helpful
rather than dangerous in this respect. MS designers knew the OS
would run into trouble whenever running with less than 1 Gb or
approx. 7 per cent free hard drive space.

 

[JS]

First use Windows 'Disk Cleanup' to create more space on your C: drive.
Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

Next: Empty the Recycle Bin.

If you recently installed Windows XP Service Pack 3:
Look for an odd folder name which is located here
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\cf8ec753e88561d..........\
Note: the apparent random set of letter and number may vary from my
example above but whatever the name is, it will be more than
600MB in size and can be safely deleted.
You may also see a number of other folders or files located in the:
C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\ directory
They also can be deleted.

You can also free up more disk space by reducing
the number of 'System Restore' points:
Select Start/Control Panel/System, then in the System Properties window
click on the System Restore tab.
Next select the drive letter where Windows is installed (usually C,
Then click on the Setting button
Now in the Drive Settings window move the Disk space usage slider to the
left to reduce the amount of drive space System Restore points will use.
This will remove some of the older restore points and free up some space.

Disable Hibernation and delete hiberfil.sys file (If you have it enabled):
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/...sys-hibernation-file-in-windows-xp-and-vista/
and:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/hibernate.mspx
and: http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/hiberfil-sys-xp.html

If you are using IE7 and then installed SP3 read the info below.
IE7 users will find the folders listed below on their hard drive:
$NtServicePackUninstallIDNMitigationAPIs$
$NtServicePackUninstallNLSDownlevelMapping$
They are needed to uninstall IE7. However, if you installed IE7 and
then installed XP SP3 you can no longer uninstall IE7 and these
folders can also be deleted.

Note: The recommended procedure before installing XP SP3 is to
uninstall IE7, then install XP SP3. Now you still have the ability to
install and uninstall IE7.

Next if you still need more space:
Remove the files used to uninstall updates to Windows
These folders and associated files in these folders are safe to remove,
however once deleted you will no longer be able to un-install a patch or
update that was associated with the deleted folder/files.
I would keep the most recent set (last two months just in case) of folders
and delete the older updates.
As a safety net I burned these folders to a CD before deleting them.
These files are located in the Windows folder and have folder names
like $NtUninstallKBXXXXXX$.
They are hidden folders so enable viewing of hidden files in Windows
Explorer.
Warning: One folder you should not delete is: $hf_mig$
Also See the following web pages on this issue:
http://www.pagestart.com/ntuninstall.html
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_hotfix_backup.htm

If you upgraded your PC from Windows 98 to Windows XP.
The $Win98UpdateUninstall$ can be deleted.

You can reduce the size of the Internet Explorer Disk Cache:
How and Why to Clear Your Cache:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/customizing/clearcache.mspx
Just follow the instructions but instead of increasing the size
(as stated in the article) decrease it.

Finally: Check the Recycle Bin one more time and empty it
if necessary as some of those files you deleted in the steps
mentioned above may find there way into the recycle bin.

If you have more than one partition or drive then:
How to Change the Default Location of Mail and News Folders:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307971/en-us

Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder
(Example: move it to the D drive)
See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310147
Also:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/how_to_move_my_documents.htm

How to move the Spool folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q308666

Can I move or delete my C:\I386 directory to free up some space?
See:
http://ask-leo.com/can_i_move_or_delete_my_i386_directory_to_free_up_some_space.html
Note: C:\i386 is not to be confused with the
C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 folder which should not
be moved or deleted as Windows File Protection needs those files

 

[steven]

I'm sure your right, but it is all greek to me. I don't want to delete
anything. and have far too much I'm forced to do as it is, and so little
time. I cannot afford to pay someone as I am a student. I just use my
computer for music and the kind of information such as partition size is
unknown (should be in properties as I know where that is). I don't need more
space, I want to get rid of the annoying message bubbles only. Perhaps M$
will bring out a version of windows that doesn't need so many pointless
things to be deleted. and will function with a full hard drive.

 

[Malke]

I'm sure your right, but it is all greek to me. I don't want to delete
anything. and have far too much I'm forced to do as it is, and so little
time. I cannot afford to pay someone as I am a student. I just use my
computer for music and the kind of information such as partition size is
unknown (should be in properties as I know where that is). I don't need
more space, I want to get rid of the annoying message bubbles only.
Perhaps M$ will bring out a version of windows that doesn't need so many
pointless things to be deleted. and will function with a full hard drive.

No operating system will function with a full hard drive. All modern
operating systems need some space. Surely you should be able to figure out
how to copy music, pictures, and other data files to an external hard drive
and then delete the original files from your computer. Surely you should be
able to figure out what large programs you have installed that you aren't
using any more.

If you seriously can't figure those things out, ask a computer-savvy friend
to help you.

Malke

 

[JS]

Then try Windows 'Disk Cleanup' to create more space on your C: drive.
It's easy to use and for the most part safe to use. Read the KB article
below before you start.

Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

 

[Olórin]

Tried Google?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=xp+disk+full+warning+turn+off&meta=

Squillions of hits.

But you'll be swearing in Greek when you completely run out of room if you
don't keep an eye on things.

It may all be greek, but it's not hard, just alien to you right now. It will
pay you to learn the basics of XP housekeeping.