window auto updates for window xp,sp2

[Guest]

I have auto updates for xp from 2004-2007, should the previous years updates
be deleted, or must the files remain on computer. The files are using up too
much space on disk.
I have 250mg of ram but very little free space remaining.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have auto updates for xp from 2004-2007, should the previous
years updates be deleted, or must the files remain on computer. The
files are using up too much space on disk.
I have 250mg of ram but very little free space remaining.

RAM and Hard Drive Space are not the same.

256MB of memory is probably what you have. That is the dynamic space used
by your running applications - OS included. With Windows XP I recommend
512MB or more - 1GB being optimal for most people, although many could do
without even the 512MB number. Windows XP *will* run better at 512MB and
up.

Hard disk drive space - that's the static storage area. That is where all
your stuff resides whether you are using/viewing them or not. Things are
loaded from this area into the RAM for your real-time usage.

You *do not* want to uninstall (using the Add or Remobve Programs control
panel) the updates. That would be pointless and dangerous. What you can do
is remove the backup (uninstall files) associated with those updates.
However - I hate to say it - but if you are running so slim on space that
this piddly amount is a concern - you are performing a stop-gap solution and
you need to do MUCH more. Buying a larger internal hard drive is *not*
stretching the bounds.

You can cleanup a lot - however - and perhaps see just how far you can
stretch before you break and buy said new drive:

If you are comfortable with the stability of your system, you can delete the
uninstall files for the patches that Windows XP has installed...
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

Used Disk Cleanup?
Is hibernate turned on and do you use that feature?
Uninstalled unnecessary applications lately?

You can run Disk Cleanup - built into Windows XP - to erase all but your
latest restore point and cleanup even more "loose files"..

How to use Disk Cleanup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

You can turn off hibernation if it is on and you don't use it..

When you hibernate your computer, Windows saves the contents of the system's
memory to the hiberfil.sys file. As a result, the size of the hiberfil.sys
file will always equal the amount of physical memory in your system. If you
don't use the hibernate feature and want to recapture the space that Windows
uses for the hiberfil.sys file, perform the following steps:

- Start the Control Panel Power Options applet (go to Start, Settings,
Control Panel, and click Power Options).
- Select the Hibernate tab, clear the "Enable hibernation" check box, then
click OK; although you might think otherwise, selecting Never under the
"System hibernates" option on the Power Schemes tab doesn't delete the
hiberfil.sys file.
- Windows will remove the "System hibernates" option from the Power Schemes
tab and delete the hiberfil.sys file.

You can control how much space your System Restore can use...

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click the System Restore tab.
3. Highlight one of your drives (or C: if you only have one) and click on
the "Settings" button.
4. Change the percentage of disk space you wish to allow.. I suggest 5% or
higher.
5. Click OK.. Then Click OK again.

You can control how much space your Temporary Internet Files can utilize...

Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
size between 128MB and 512MB..

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right
now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
(the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
minutes or more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
Explorer.

You can use an application that scans your system for log files and
temporary files and use that to get rid of those:

Ccleaner (Free!)
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Other ways to free up space..

SequoiaView
http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/

DX Hog Hunt
http://www.dvxp.com/en/Downloads.aspx

JDiskReport
http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/index.html

Those can help you visually discover where all the space is being used.

 

[joseph2k]

RAM and Hard Drive Space are not the same.

256MB of memory is probably what you have. That is the dynamic space used
by your running applications - OS included. With Windows XP I recommend
512MB or more - 1GB being optimal for most people, although many could do
without even the 512MB number. Windows XP *will* run better at 512MB and
up.

Hard disk drive space - that's the static storage area. That is where all
your stuff resides whether you are using/viewing them or not. Things are
loaded from this area into the RAM for your real-time usage.

You *do not* want to uninstall (using the Add or Remobve Programs control
panel) the updates. That would be pointless and dangerous. What you can
do is remove the backup (uninstall files) associated with those updates.
However - I hate to say it - but if you are running so slim on space that
this piddly amount is a concern - you are performing a stop-gap solution
and
you need to do MUCH more. Buying a larger internal hard drive is *not*
stretching the bounds.

You can cleanup a lot - however - and perhaps see just how far you can
stretch before you break and buy said new drive:

If you are comfortable with the stability of your system, you can delete
the uninstall files for the patches that Windows XP has installed...
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spack.htm

Used Disk Cleanup?
Is hibernate turned on and do you use that feature?
Uninstalled unnecessary applications lately?

You can run Disk Cleanup - built into Windows XP - to erase all but your
latest restore point and cleanup even more "loose files"..

How to use Disk Cleanup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310312

You can turn off hibernation if it is on and you don't use it..

When you hibernate your computer, Windows saves the contents of the
system's memory to the hiberfil.sys file. As a result, the size of the
hiberfil.sys file will always equal the amount of physical memory in your
system. If you don't use the hibernate feature and want to recapture the
space that Windows uses for the hiberfil.sys file, perform the following
steps:

- Start the Control Panel Power Options applet (go to Start, Settings,
Control Panel, and click Power Options).
- Select the Hibernate tab, clear the "Enable hibernation" check box,
then
click OK; although you might think otherwise, selecting Never under the
"System hibernates" option on the Power Schemes tab doesn't delete the
hiberfil.sys file.
- Windows will remove the "System hibernates" option from the Power
Schemes
tab and delete the hiberfil.sys file.

You can control how much space your System Restore can use...

1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click the System Restore tab.
3. Highlight one of your drives (or C: if you only have one) and click on
the "Settings" button.
4. Change the percentage of disk space you wish to allow.. I suggest 5%
or higher.
5. Click OK.. Then Click OK again.

You can control how much space your Temporary Internet Files can
utilize...

Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
size between 128MB and 512MB..

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right
now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
(the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
minutes or more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
Explorer.

You can use an application that scans your system for log files and
temporary files and use that to get rid of those:

Ccleaner (Free!)
http://www.ccleaner.com/

Other ways to free up space..

SequoiaView
http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/

DX Hog Hunt
http://www.dvxp.com/en/Downloads.aspx

JDiskReport
http://www.jgoodies.com/freeware/jdiskreport/index.html

Those can help you visually discover where all the space is being used.

Thanks for a really high class post.