Weird Disk Space Issue

[Corbin O'Reilly]

I have a strange problem with my ThinkPad T61 running Windows XP Pro. The
laptop has a 120 hard drive, the C-Drive is 105 GB where Windows XP is
installed and there is 15 GB ThinkPad recovery partition. Here is the
problem. The other day I noticed I had only 1.5 GB of free disk space left
on the C-Drive. I knew that was impossible. I opened up Windows Explorer for
the C-Drive and added up the space used by all the folders and files listed
on the root of the C-Drive, including the hidden ones. The total comes to 52
GB being used but Windows says I am using 103.5 GB. I have no idea where the
other 51.5 GB is. It is really strange. I have never seen a problem like
this before. Anyone have an idea what might be going on here? Thanks for the
help.

 

[Gerry]

Corbin

You do not have enough free disk space on your C partition i.e. you need
a minimum of 15% of the partition free and preferably 20%. After you
have copied the Disk Defragmenter Report I suggest you do what follows.

The default allocation to System Restore is 12% on your C partition
which is over generous. I would reduce it to 700 mb. Right click your My
Computer icon on the Desktop and select System Restore. Place the cursor
on your C drive select Settings but this time find the slider and drag
it to the left until it reads 700 mb and exit. When you get to the
Settings screen click on Apply and OK and exit.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point.

I would be interested in seeing a Disk Defragmenter report. Open Disk
Defragmenter and click on Analyse. Select View Report and
click on Save As and Save. Now find VolumeC.txt in your My Documents
Folder and post a copy. Do this before running Disk Defragmenter as it
is more informative.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Big Al]

I have a strange problem with my ThinkPad T61 running Windows XP Pro. The
laptop has a 120 hard drive, the C-Drive is 105 GB where Windows XP is
installed and there is 15 GB ThinkPad recovery partition. Here is the
problem. The other day I noticed I had only 1.5 GB of free disk space left
on the C-Drive. I knew that was impossible. I opened up Windows Explorer for
the C-Drive and added up the space used by all the folders and files listed
on the root of the C-Drive, including the hidden ones. The total comes to 52
GB being used but Windows says I am using 103.5 GB. I have no idea where the
other 51.5 GB is. It is really strange. I have never seen a problem like
this before. Anyone have an idea what might be going on here? Thanks for the
help.

http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml
Try tree size free.

Its a freeware version of a graphical tree size program.
Its great for just this kind of inspection.

 

[Corbin O'Reilly]

I found out what the problem was. The ThinkPad has a backup utility on it
that apparently ran recently. It backed up the C-Drive to a hidden folder
also located on the C-Drive. I deleted the data out of that folder and now I
am good to go. Thanks.

 

[Gerry]

Corbin

Thanks for letting us know the outcome.



~~~~


Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jon Breen]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Do you have Norton Ghost installed by any chance?? If so, uninstall that
annoying program and free up your space. Whilst you're at it uninstall
Norton Internet Security or any other Symantec product if you have them
installed, since they're the biggest pile of dog poo on this planet. You
will find your PC will work a hell of a lot quicker too once uninstalled.

I am of course presuming that you have Symantec software installed, if not
it could be something to do with your System Restore. In which case right
click on "My Computer", click on the "System Restore" tab, tick the box next
to "Turn off System Restore" and then click the "Apply" button.

Hope this helps,
J

P.s. Seriously everyone really should know that Symantec is rubbish, as a
guy who has to remove viruses and spyware every working day I find Norton as
much use as Microsoft Windows Bob.