Virus??? Running out of C-drive space!

[Protagonist]

No matter how much space i free up on C-drive\, after a few days I get a
pop-up Low space on C drive.
"C:\Documents and Settings" folder is over 4 gig, when a week ago
deleted 2 gig of file there. Found a Watson text file was some 2 gig size.
Now I'm getting the Low disk space on C pop-up again. Shows 2 meg FREE on C.
I click on each directory in doc and settings directory, but don't add
up to 4 gig , I don't see what makes it 4 gig size.
Intresting thing happend a few weeks ago, Limewire had my shared folder
set to C;| document and settings, when I never set that foder for share.
Changed it, than when later rebooted my PC and started Limewire, it was
there again as a shared folder.
Changed it back a few times reboot, did it again.
I just un-installed Limewire, but my Document and setting folder getting
big and I don't know why?. Hidden file, bad reporting of disk space or
VIRUS DOES THIS?
Strange, don't know what to delet any more. Also, some of my programs
don't work any more.
Any ideas?
Thx, JS!
WinXP

 

[badgolferman]

No matter how much space i free up on C-drive\, after a few days I
get a pop-up Low space on C drive. "C:\Documents and Settings"
folder is over 4 gig, when a week ago deleted 2 gig of file there.
Found a Watson text file was some 2 gig size. Now I'm getting the
Low disk space on C pop-up again. Shows 2 meg FREE on C. I click on
each directory in doc and settings directory, but don't add up to 4
gig , I don't see what makes it 4 gig size. Intresting thing happend
a few weeks ago, Limewire had my shared folder set to C;| document
and settings, when I never set that foder for share. Changed it,
than when later rebooted my PC and started Limewire, it was there
again as a shared folder. Changed it back a few times reboot, did it
again. I just un-installed Limewire, but my Document and setting
folder getting big and I don't know why?. Hidden file, bad reporting
of disk space or VIRUS DOES THIS? Strange, don't know what to delet
any more. Also, some of my programs don't work any more. Any ideas?
Thx, JS! WinXP

Enable Show Hidden Files in Windows Explorer. Right-click on each
folder and select Properties. That will tell you the size of the
folder. Check your Nethood folder especially. I have seen that become
immense if you have a My Network Place icon where it synchronizes the
remote site and your own computer.

 

[jen]

No matter how much space i free up on C-drive\, after a few days I get a
pop-up Low space on C drive.
"C:\Documents and Settings" folder is over 4 gig, when a week ago deleted
2 gig of file there. Found a Watson text file was some 2 gig size.
Now I'm getting the Low disk space on C pop-up again. Shows 2 meg FREE on
C.
I click on each directory in doc and settings directory, but don't add up
to 4 gig , I don't see what makes it 4 gig size.
Intresting thing happend a few weeks ago, Limewire had my shared folder
set to C;| document and settings, when I never set that foder for share.
Changed it, than when later rebooted my PC and started Limewire, it was
there again as a shared folder.
Changed it back a few times reboot, did it again.
I just un-installed Limewire, but my Document and setting folder getting
big and I don't know why?. Hidden file, bad reporting of disk space or
VIRUS DOES THIS?
Strange, don't know what to delet any more. Also, some of my programs
don't work any more.
Any ideas?
Thx, JS!
WinXP

Run virus scans?

-jen

 

[Larry Sabo]

No matter how much space i free up on C-drive\, after a few days I get a
pop-up Low space on C drive.

Get iDisk (http://www.memecode.com/idisk.php), freeware. It shows
space used as a bar chart, worted with larges parent folder to
smallest. Double-click any folder and is shows same for subfolders,
etc.

 

[Virus Guy]

Now I'm getting the Low disk space on C pop-up again.

Start - > search -> files of folders (or how-ever you bring up that
horrible search app for XP).

Search based on file size (search for anything larger than, say, 1 mb,
or 10 mb). Search your root C directory, make sure hidden and system
files are checked.

This should bring up a list of ALL files larger than 1 mb or 10 mb in
size. Sort the list by size. Examine list and look for anything
suspicious.

That is a far quicker way than a directory-by-directory search for
large files.

 

[Phil Weldon]

'Protagonist' wrote, in part:
| No matter how much space i free up on C-drive\, after a few days I get a
| pop-up Low space on C drive.
| "C:\Documents and Settings" folder is over 4 gig, when a week ago
| deleted 2 gig of file there. Found a Watson text file was some 2 gig size.
| Now I'm getting the Low disk space on C pop-up again. Shows 2 meg FREE on
C.
| I click on each directory in doc and settings directory, but don't add
| up to 4 gig , I don't see what makes it 4 gig size.
..
_____

First question, Hiro, how large is your C drive, for a few GBytes to be a
problem?
Second question, what files did you delete?
This is an overview of 'Dr. Watson', a Windows error debugging tool produces
text files named 'drwtsn32.log',
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308538 .
This details how to disable 'Dr. Watson'
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=188296 .

Or it could be the dreaded 'Snow Crash' virus.

Phil Weldon

| No matter how much space i free up on C-drive\, after a few days I get a
| pop-up Low space on C drive.
| "C:\Documents and Settings" folder is over 4 gig, when a week ago
| deleted 2 gig of file there. Found a Watson text file was some 2 gig size.
| Now I'm getting the Low disk space on C pop-up again. Shows 2 meg FREE on
C.
| I click on each directory in doc and settings directory, but don't add
| up to 4 gig , I don't see what makes it 4 gig size.
| Intresting thing happend a few weeks ago, Limewire had my shared folder
| set to C;| document and settings, when I never set that foder for share.
| Changed it, than when later rebooted my PC and started Limewire, it was
| there again as a shared folder.
| Changed it back a few times reboot, did it again.
| I just un-installed Limewire, but my Document and setting folder getting
| big and I don't know why?. Hidden file, bad reporting of disk space or
| VIRUS DOES THIS?
| Strange, don't know what to delet any more. Also, some of my programs
| don't work any more.
| Any ideas?
| Thx, JS!
| WinXP

 

[Gabriele Neukam]

On that special day, Larry Sabo, ([email protected]) said...

Get iDisk (http://www.memecode.com/idisk.php), freeware.

Interesting. Until now, I had only heard of Treesize (a rather ancient
program) SpaceMonger and SequoiaView. Another disk space examiner.
Good.


Gabriele Neukam

(e-mail address removed)

 

[kurt wismer]

On that special day, Larry Sabo, ([email protected]) said...


Interesting. Until now, I had only heard of Treesize (a rather ancient
program) SpaceMonger and SequoiaView. Another disk space examiner.
Good.

i use explorerxp (http://www.explorerxp.com) to see where my drive space
is being used up... it's just a windows explorer replacement that shows
folder size in the same column as file size (and has tabbed browsing and
some other stuff)...

 

[Protagonist]

Get iDisk (http://www.memecode.com/idisk.php), freeware. It shows
space used as a bar chart, worted with larges parent folder to
smallest. Double-click any folder and is shows same for subfolders,
etc.

Great tool, Idisk! (o: Thanks!
Looks like, solved my problems.
Idisk found 2 files, which Explorer or other programs never showed to
me, hiden or un-hiden.
In C:\ root was a big file "Uploads" 6.85 gig size, full of lot of small
zip files, some 12,033 files. Largest was 799kb, but most 0 bytes. Don't
know what they are! Maybe Limwire or a virus created it???? Deleted them.
Another 3.2 gig, file name "Complete" in -Document and settings- folders.
Delted that too! Who cares!
Now I have over 10 gig free on C drive.
I just have to defrag my C drive now, I think.
Big thank you again!
Julius

 

[Protagonist]

Protagonist wrote:




Start - > search -> files of folders (or how-ever you bring up that
horrible search app for XP).

Search based on file size (search for anything larger than, say, 1 mb,
or 10 mb). Search your root C directory, make sure hidden and system
files are checked.

This should bring up a list of ALL files larger than 1 mb or 10 mb in
size. Sort the list by size. Examine list and look for anything
suspicious.

That is a far quicker way than a directory-by-directory search for
large files.

Thanks, Idisk solved my problem.
Found 2 files UPLOADS and COMPLETE on C drive, total over 10 gig size.
Used Explorer for search before, never found them.
Deleted both filesn now I have lot of space.
Maybe a virus playing trick on me????
It was weird how Limevire was acting, changing the shared folders
settings on every booth up.
Julius

 

[Larry Sabo]

Get iDisk (http://www.memecode.com/idisk.php), freeware.

Great tool, Idisk! (o: Thanks! [snip]
Big thank you again!
Julius

Hey, that's great. I use iDisk all the time when about to burn a fresh
CD containing my favorite diagnostic/troubleshooting/anti-virus
programs, to ensure they will fit on the CD, and to decide what to
trim if they won't.

Cheers,
Larry

 

[Offbreed]

Maybe a virus playing trick on me????
It was weird how Limevire was acting, changing the shared folders
settings on every booth up.
Julius

I think maybe you want to look for back doors, or reinstall.

 

[Virus Guy]

Found 2 files UPLOADS and COMPLETE on C drive, total over 10 gig
size. Used Explorer for search before, never found them.

XP is a pain in the ass for playing a shell game with you as far as
hiding files and directories no matter how much you tell it to show
you everything.

Deleted both filesn now I have lot of space.
Maybe a virus playing trick on me????
It was weird how Limevire was acting, changing the shared folders
settings on every booth up.

I don't think you mentioned that you use p2p software. That is
certainly a red flag.

Also, there is a class of trojans that don't get much press, but
basically they turn your computer into someone's private file-sharing
machine. Hackers use them to share movies, music, wares, etc.

 

[jen]

[snip]

Thanks, Idisk solved my problem.
Found 2 files UPLOADS and COMPLETE on C drive, total over 10 gig size.
Used Explorer for search before, never found them.
Deleted both filesn now I have lot of space.
Maybe a virus playing trick on me????
It was weird how Limevire was acting, changing the shared folders settings
on every booth up.
Julius

You probably do have malware. Look here:
http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39692


-jen