Posted: 5/19/2004 8:52:21 AM EDT
| I have a 40 gig and suddenly it's full. I can't figure out what is taking up all this space. I have 8 gigs of mp3's and quite a few programs but nothing crazy. I deleted all my temp files from the windows directory and ran clean disk. Any idea where this stuff is hiding? |
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Download this and Run it: Space Monger It displays a very good dipiction of what is taking up space on your HD |
I'll give this a try thanks |
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Run a spyware program (or two or three) as it's likely that you've installed a trojan program onto your computer which is now being used as a zombie in a botnet to send 10,000 or more pieces of spam a day or worse, you're computer is being used to host porn to which access is being sold to others. Downloading a program like DirGraph will show you a graphical representation of your hard drive. Drill down into the largest directories to see what's in them. |
I second this. |
If windows is taking all that space, it's probably SYSTEM RESTORE keeping multiple redundant backups of everything. try this: service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001111912274039?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam And do do the spyware thing too. /Phil |
I second this. System restore is a space hog. You should really disable this and then delete everything in the _restore directory. |
More than likely its not Program Files, they would be in your... well, program files folder....
I have both drives set to Max with system restore on, and my windows folder doesn't take up more than 2GB.... So I'm doubting its that.
Also UNCheck "Hide Operating System Files"... and check out the size of your "pagefile.sys"... Thats virtual memory and THAT can be a space filler. Another suggestion would be to create a 2nd partition to store all your data on, seperate from you "system" partition.... Just a thought. |
I will third this. |
Dont get a Maxtor, I have had dealings with several bad ones latel. |
Hmmm........I have never had a problem with Maxtor. I just picked up one of their 120GB/7200 RPM 8MB Cache models for $120. |
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find *.tmp and dump them all. dump the contents of the c:\windows\temp\ directory do a find by file size and enter something large like 50000(k) to see what the hogs are. (I cleared about a gig of movie and sound files to CDR this way) Delete all those from the Recycle bin. Set your Virtual Memory cache to something reasonable - Windows OS's default setting is 'use all you want' - setting it to something like 2x-3x your physical RAM is enough for all but the most die-hard multitaskers. You'll be forced through a reboot cycle. NOW you can see how much trouble you are REALLY in, space-wise. And a good de-frag wouldn't hurt. and I second the advice about using some good trojan-detection ware if you haven't been using a secure firewall product - make sure someone / something else isn't using your HD space. |
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Honestly your heading down a dark path buying hard drives. I curentnly have 6 hard drives, the last being that maxtor 250gb because it was on sale at Compusa. My wife bought me a DVD burner because I have 7 200 pocket CD books and I was going to buy another one. Lets face it. All that "tactical" data builds up. Stop now while your a head. It is to late for me. The DVD burner only convinced me to put together 8 CDs to make one DVD and make room for more. Stop down loading "tactical" data before it is to late. Or worse your wife helps suport your habit. <serious>Actually I have all those hard drives and CDs but not porn. I always recomend a second hard drive to put your data on because if the C drive goes all you have to do is reinstall your programs. Your saved files and papers are some where else. Good idea to put your computer drivers and such on that drive to, to ease reinstalling the OS in case of a failure.</serious> |