Help, Newbie's hard drive memory dissappearing fast

T

thedeek

New Member
Hi all,

I was recommended this forum for advice so here goes. :D

My son's Acer Aspire laptop which is a year and a half old. It has an 80gig hard drive - partitioned from when we bought it - into a data drive and the usual C drive. We have Vista Home Edition OS.

The PC has been losing memory at an alarming rate and now the remaining C disc space is at 257kb. We both regularly clear Temp Internet Files, and now only have programs installed that we use.

There are only myself and my boy who use this PC, the other 3 kids have another to use, and between us we only have aroung 6 gigs worth of stuff on it, photo's and music mainly.

We even took it back to the original factory settings earlier in the year due to this problem, but it started happening again almost straight away. I have AVG installed for anti-virus and Comodo firewall, after trawling the net I get the impression that this is not a virus-based problem but a setting anomaly? :huh:

Any advice for a struggling Dad with basic knowledge of PC's please?

Deek
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5715Z laptop
    CPU
    Intel pentium dual core 1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 cache
    Memory
    2GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    358mb mobile intel graphic media accel X3100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4'' WXGA Crystalbrite LCD
    Hard Drives
    80gb HDD
thedeek said:
Hi all,

I was recommended this forum for advice so here goes. :D

My son's Acer Aspire laptop which is a year and a half old. It has an 80gig hard drive - partitioned from when we bought it - into a data drive and the usual C drive. We have Vista Home Edition OS.

The PC has been losing memory at an alarming rate and now the remaining C disc space is at 257kb. We both regularly clear Temp Internet Files, and now only have programs installed that we use.

There are only myself and my boy who use this PC, the other 3 kids have another to use, and between us we only have aroung 6 gigs worth of stuff on it, photo's and music mainly.

We even took it back to the original factory settings earlier in the year due to this problem, but it started happening again almost straight away. I have AVG installed for anti-virus and Comodo firewall, after trawling the net I get the impression that this is not a virus-based problem but a setting anomaly? :huh:

Any advice for a struggling Dad with basic knowledge of PC's please?

Deek
Click to expand...

Hi deek and welcome to VistaX

So you have an 80 gig drive and its partitioned into c:--OS, and D: data. Can you tell u s how big they both are? You say "losing Memory" do you mean HD space or actual memory?

If you know how can you get the system specs and fill them in (lower left corner) so we know what hardare you have

Agai welcome aboard

Ken
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron E 1405
    CPU
    [email protected]
    Memory
    4 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    integrated intel 945
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300 gig internal
    Internet Speed
    10 down 1.5 up
thedeek said:
Hi all,

The PC has been losing memory at an alarming rate and now the remaining C disc space is at 257kb. We both regularly clear Temp Internet Files, and now only have programs installed that we use.

Deek
Click to expand...

Possibly Shadow Memory or System Restore is accounting for part of this.

Change and Set Vista Shadow Copy or System Restore Disk Space Limit in Explorer GUI » My Digital Life

TreeSize will tell you where your disk space has gone to...

JAM Software - Windows Freeware

So, to reiterate, restore and shadow copy are likely culprits.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
Thanks for the prompt reply Ken. I'm at work on the company PC at the moment so I can't put the specs up but will do when I get home, after reading the 'How to post' page I was expecting to get reminded of that! ;)

Yes the drives are as you say, although I think the OS will be on the Ddrive, the PC came without a Vista disc and was ready to go out of the box. The Ddrive is named Data Drive when you open the hard drives up. Each partition has aprox 35.5gig memory, the Cdrive is now almost full and the Ddrive has 2.5 gig free. Bearing in mind I need 300mb+ to use disc cleanup I am struggling to help my boy out.:confused:

It is indeed hard drive space that is being taken up on the CDrive initially, but I recall we had more space on the Ddrive than the 2.5 gig that is left now, so it could be something filling both?

Deek
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5715Z laptop
    CPU
    Intel pentium dual core 1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 cache
    Memory
    2GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    358mb mobile intel graphic media accel X3100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4'' WXGA Crystalbrite LCD
    Hard Drives
    80gb HDD
Thanks Lemur. Will try that for starters.;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5715Z laptop
    CPU
    Intel pentium dual core 1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 cache
    Memory
    2GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    358mb mobile intel graphic media accel X3100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4'' WXGA Crystalbrite LCD
    Hard Drives
    80gb HDD
Having tried all the above, I have released 2gb of space on the hdd which is once again going down. Vssadmin shows the shadow storage is not set to unbounded, and peculiarly after disabling and then re-enabling the system restore as suggested I gained no space at all - I followed the instructions from Lemurs links to the letter. After hitting the create button, nothing actually happened so I don't know if Vista calculated the remaining space or not. Also the treefix program would not install on my pc so I still can't see what is eating my hard drive - any more suggestions gratefully reiceved ...:confused:

Deek
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5715Z laptop
    CPU
    Intel pentium dual core 1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 cache
    Memory
    2GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    358mb mobile intel graphic media accel X3100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4'' WXGA Crystalbrite LCD
    Hard Drives
    80gb HDD
there is a 3rd party application that is free to try for 30 called treesize. It is invaluable for seeing what folders are eating you HD space. Its easy to use and works

Its here JAM Software - Windows Freeware

Good luck and this should help

Ken
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron E 1405
    CPU
    [email protected]
    Memory
    4 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    integrated intel 945
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300 gig internal
    Internet Speed
    10 down 1.5 up
Hi Ken. When thedeek said "treefix", he actually meant "treesize".
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
hey lemor

I missed what ever he meant but yea treesize is an app i cant live without which is why in the previous post I suggested he get it even if just the trial. thanks for keeping an eye out though. I do about 100 posts a day in 3 forums so I miss things more often than I would like to. Always goog to have an extra set of eyes

Ken
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron E 1405
    CPU
    [email protected]
    Memory
    4 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    integrated intel 945
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300 gig internal
    Internet Speed
    10 down 1.5 up
Download Glary Utilities and use the Disk Analyzer tool to inspect your hard drive, then use the duplicate files finser to delete files that are double copies. Watch what you delete! Then, defragment your hard drive, and take a look at Uninstalling programs you don't need.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z46GDU
    CPU
    [email protected] w/6MB L2 cache 1066MHz FSB
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    9300M GS 256MB + Intel Integrated 4500MHD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.1" WXGA True Colour Tough
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 7200RPM
    Internet Speed
    1MB/s
Also, you can delete your system restores (take up A LOT of space on your HD)

You can do this by going to Control Panel>System>Advanced System Settings>System Protection>Uncheck you drives>Click "Turn System Protection off" for each drive>Click apply>Then Re-check your drives again (You want system restores active just in case something happens)>Click apply

That should free up a lot of space.

Note: I do NOT recommend doing this if you are having computer troubles, since this will delete previous system restore points (besides the last one).
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite A215-S4757
    Memory
    2048MB DDR2 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon® X1200 128MB-319MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4” diagonal widescreen TruBrite®TFT LCD display at 1280x800 native resolution (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    250GB (4200RPM); Serial ATA hard disk drive
shortmantuff said:
Also, you can delete your system restores (take up A LOT of space on your HD)

You can do this by going to Control Panel>System>Advanced System Settings>System Protection>Uncheck you drives>Click apply>Then Re-check your drives again (You want system restores active just in case something happens)

That should free up a lot of space.

Note: I do NOT recommend doing this if you are having computer troubles, since this will delete previous system restore points (besides the last one).
Click to expand...

He tried that and it didn't really work.:sarc:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z46GDU
    CPU
    [email protected] w/6MB L2 cache 1066MHz FSB
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    9300M GS 256MB + Intel Integrated 4500MHD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.1" WXGA True Colour Tough
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 7200RPM
    Internet Speed
    1MB/s
Thanks guy's, yes it was Treesize that I tried to download, but halfway through the download wizard an error notice popped up and it would not go any further?? Tried four times with different boxes ticked to no avail. Will check out the Frostmourne's suggestion tonight.

Appreciate your help so far, thanks ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5715Z laptop
    CPU
    Intel pentium dual core 1.6GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 cache
    Memory
    2GB DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    358mb mobile intel graphic media accel X3100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4'' WXGA Crystalbrite LCD
    Hard Drives
    80gb HDD
Frostmourne said:
shortmantuff said:
Also, you can delete your system restores (take up A LOT of space on your HD)

You can do this by going to Control Panel>System>Advanced System Settings>System Protection>Uncheck you drives>Click apply>Then Re-check your drives again (You want system restores active just in case something happens)

That should free up a lot of space.

Note: I do NOT recommend doing this if you are having computer troubles, since this will delete previous system restore points (besides the last one).
Click to expand...

He tried that and it didn't really work.:sarc:
Click to expand...


Oops! Sorry, I didn't catch that part.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite A215-S4757
    Memory
    2048MB DDR2 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon® X1200 128MB-319MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.4” diagonal widescreen TruBrite®TFT LCD display at 1280x800 native resolution (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    250GB (4200RPM); Serial ATA hard disk drive
try using WinDirStat, i found this works very well, make sure though, when it runs that 'options>show unknown' is ticked. post response. i had a similar sounding issue, and this might help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba satellite pro A200
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU T2330 @ 1.60GHz (2 CPUs), ~1
    Memory
    2038MB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family 358MB
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba MK2046GSX 500G
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