Win XP Disk (or file!) problems

[Simon]

Hi,

Running XP Home on my daughters PC. It recently started getting win errors
from time to time, when I investigated she was running VERY low on HD space.
This is weird since she only has Win XP, Office XP, PSP, and a few other
bits (no sound, graphics, etc..), and it is a 15Gb drive! - but if I do a
file search (looking for large files) Win Explorer crashes and I get a
Serious Error message. If I delete some files, the space is filled up
again. The PC is not connected to the internet.

I have run Norton AV which found nothing.
I have done a chkdsk which reports all okay

I suspect there is a corrupt end of file marker or something, any
suggestions how to find the problem.

I have backed up all the Data and thinking of doing a total rebuild, but
would rather not!

Many thanks for any advice
S

 

[Harley Henderson [MSFT]]

Simon;

In a case like this your best bet will be to run a CHKDSK /F C: from a
command prompt to check the file system. It will most likely require
that CHKDSK be scheduled for the next reboot. If there are any file
system errors this will catch them and correct them. If this does not
help then there is most likly an application, or process on the
machine that is actualy using the space.

To assist in finding out if this is the case we have a resource kit
untility named DIRUSE.EXE that can be downloaded from our web site
that will identify what folders contain what files, and how big they
are.

Here is where you download the tool from.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...familyid=955d7f2f-73d9-4018-9dd7-42da210e62ee

This tool indicated that it is intedned for Windows 2000. It will run
on Windows XP as well.

By default it will install in to the C:\Program Files\Resource Kit
folder.

To run the tool open a command prompt and change to that directory.

Once there type in the following command

DIRUSE.EXE /S /M C:\ > REPORT.TXT

This will build a file named report.txt in the folder that you are
currently in. The file will list all of the folders on your C: volume
and how big they are in MB.

This should help identify where the disk space is being used it.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Thank you for choosing Microsoft products.

Best regards,

Harley Henderson MCSE 2000
Microsoft Enterprise Platform Support
Windows Server Setup Support Team

Microsoft Security Announcement: Have you installed the patch for
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-039? If not, Microsoft strongly
advises you to review the information at the following link regarding
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS03-039
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms03-039.asp and/or
to visit Windows Update at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com to
install the patch. Running the Windows Update scan will help to
insure you are current with all security patches, not just MS03-039.



Microsoft also highly recommends to all customers that you visit the
http://www.microsoft.com/protect site and perform the three
straightforward steps listed to improve your computer’s security.

 

[Jason Wisher]

DIRUSE.EXE /S /M C:\ > REPORT.TXT

Also see FolderSizes - http://www.foldersizes.com/

- JW