Vista - How do I free up Hard Disk Space ?

Hi,

I am new to windows Vista, my machine constitute around 220Gb of space. It
says on My Computer that disk space available is just 150Gb meaning I have
70Gb of space used. I checked all folders and it just constitutes around
30Gb, can anyone help me understand this?

Or better yet, help me to free around 30Gb more from my disk space used? I
tried searching for temp files but I don't know which ones are OK to be
deleted.

Hope someone enlightens me on this.

Thanks.

"Aaron Lu" <Aaron Lu@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E75827DC-4F91-49EE-93CF-27D22428D19F@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I am new to windows Vista, my machine constitute around 220Gb of space. It
> says on My Computer that disk space available is just 150Gb meaning I have
> 70Gb of space used. I checked all folders and it just constitutes around
> 30Gb, can anyone help me understand this?
>
> Or better yet, help me to free around 30Gb more from my disk space used? I
> tried searching for temp files but I don't know which ones are OK to be
> deleted.
>
> Hope someone enlightens me on this.
>
> Thanks.


Vista has a feature called Volume Shadow Copy that is part of the System
Restore. It uses up to 15% of the hard drive. If the space is needed it will
be released.

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca

In article <ehweEMrpHHA.4400@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl>, kerry@kdbNOSPAMsys-
tems.c*a*m says...
> Vista has a feature called Volume Shadow Copy that is part of the System
> Restore. It uses up to 15% of the hard drive. If the space is needed it will
> be released.

You can use Disk Cleanup to get rid of most of the restore points/Volume
shadow copies. Of course, at your own risk....
--


Kind regards,
Mark Veldhuis.

Quite a lot of space is taken up by System restore and its associated shadow
copy - 15% in fact. This may be the cause of your problem. One way to find
out is to delete the system restore points and see if the space is regained.
I wouldn't advise doing this unless your PC is working as you want it but
you can go to control panel, click the system icon, then in the system
properties window click the system protection tab. Remove the tick mark from
the drive(s) that system restore is monitoring and then click OK. After
pressing OK close down the system properties window and control panel. All
restore points etc will be deleted and you should regain the additional
space. If you check Computer (start button>computer) you should see an
increase in available disk space. To re-enable system restore go through the
same process as above but this time place a tick in the box next to the
drive(s) you want system restore to monitor and click OK.
Personally I do not bother with system restore, it is permanently disabled.
My hard drives are regularly imaged using Acronis True Image so if there are
any problems I simply re-image the drive back.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"Aaron Lu" <Aaron Lu@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E75827DC-4F91-49EE-93CF-27D22428D19F@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I am new to windows Vista, my machine constitute around 220Gb of space. It
> says on My Computer that disk space available is just 150Gb meaning I have
> 70Gb of space used. I checked all folders and it just constitutes around
> 30Gb, can anyone help me understand this?
>
> Or better yet, help me to free around 30Gb more from my disk space used? I
> tried searching for temp files but I don't know which ones are OK to be
> deleted.
>
> Hope someone enlightens me on this.
>
> Thanks.

Hi John,

Thanks for your time, at least I now I am aware of what is happening in my
pc, since I got lots of videos, space gets eaten double time. When I download
a 500mb video, 1GB get eaten. And your answer simply makes sense.

Thank you.

Aaron

"John Barnett MVP" wrote:

> Quite a lot of space is taken up by System restore and its associated shadow
> copy - 15% in fact. This may be the cause of your problem. One way to find
> out is to delete the system restore points and see if the space is regained.
> I wouldn't advise doing this unless your PC is working as you want it but
> you can go to control panel, click the system icon, then in the system
> properties window click the system protection tab. Remove the tick mark from
> the drive(s) that system restore is monitoring and then click OK. After
> pressing OK close down the system properties window and control panel. All
> restore points etc will be deleted and you should regain the additional
> space. If you check Computer (start button>computer) you should see an
> increase in available disk space. To re-enable system restore go through the
> same process as above but this time place a tick in the box next to the
> drive(s) you want system restore to monitor and click OK.
> Personally I do not bother with system restore, it is permanently disabled.
> My hard drives are regularly imaged using Acronis True Image so if there are
> any problems I simply re-image the drive back.
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> Windows - Shell/User
>
> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail/post..
>
> "Aaron Lu" <Aaron Lu@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E75827DC-4F91-49EE-93CF-27D22428D19F@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am new to windows Vista, my machine constitute around 220Gb of space. It
> > says on My Computer that disk space available is just 150Gb meaning I have
> > 70Gb of space used. I checked all folders and it just constitutes around
> > 30Gb, can anyone help me understand this?
> >
> > Or better yet, help me to free around 30Gb more from my disk space used? I
> > tried searching for temp files but I don't know which ones are OK to be
> > deleted.
> >
> > Hope someone enlightens me on this.
> >
> > Thanks.
>
>

You're Welcome!

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"Aaron Lu" <AaronLu@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:989AB6AA-8840-4332-815C-AED792C4F1AC@microsoft.com...
> Hi John,
>
> Thanks for your time, at least I now I am aware of what is happening in my
> pc, since I got lots of videos, space gets eaten double time. When I
> download
> a 500mb video, 1GB get eaten. And your answer simply makes sense.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Aaron
>
> "John Barnett MVP" wrote:
>
>> Quite a lot of space is taken up by System restore and its associated
>> shadow
>> copy - 15% in fact. This may be the cause of your problem. One way to
>> find
>> out is to delete the system restore points and see if the space is
>> regained.
>> I wouldn't advise doing this unless your PC is working as you want it but
>> you can go to control panel, click the system icon, then in the system
>> properties window click the system protection tab. Remove the tick mark
>> from
>> the drive(s) that system restore is monitoring and then click OK. After
>> pressing OK close down the system properties window and control panel.
>> All
>> restore points etc will be deleted and you should regain the additional
>> space. If you check Computer (start button>computer) you should see an
>> increase in available disk space. To re-enable system restore go through
>> the
>> same process as above but this time place a tick in the box next to the
>> drive(s) you want system restore to monitor and click OK.
>> Personally I do not bother with system restore, it is permanently
>> disabled.
>> My hard drives are regularly imaged using Acronis True Image so if there
>> are
>> any problems I simply re-image the drive back.
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Associate Expert
>> Windows - Shell/User
>>
>> Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>> Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
>>
>> The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>> reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable
>> for
>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
>> the
>> use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
>> mail/post..
>>
>> "Aaron Lu" <Aaron Lu@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:E75827DC-4F91-49EE-93CF-27D22428D19F@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I am new to windows Vista, my machine constitute around 220Gb of space.
>> > It
>> > says on My Computer that disk space available is just 150Gb meaning I
>> > have
>> > 70Gb of space used. I checked all folders and it just constitutes
>> > around
>> > 30Gb, can anyone help me understand this?
>> >
>> > Or better yet, help me to free around 30Gb more from my disk space
>> > used? I
>> > tried searching for temp files but I don't know which ones are OK to be
>> > deleted.
>> >
>> > Hope someone enlightens me on this.
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>>
>>

"Aaron Lu" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am new to windows Vista, my machine constitute around 220Gb of space. It
> says on My Computer that disk space available is just 150Gb meaning I have
> 70Gb of space used. I checked all folders and it just constitutes around
> 30Gb, can anyone help me understand this?
>
> Or better yet, help me to free around 30Gb more from my disk space used? I
> tried searching for temp files but I don't know which ones are OK to be
> deleted.
>
> Hope someone enlightens me on this.
>
> Thanks.

I have somrwhat similar problem in that i have a folder which shows 149
gigabyt of alleged taken space but only about 15 gig of files in it freaky

"Aaron Lu" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am new to windows Vista, my machine constitute around 220Gb of space. It
> says on My Computer that disk space available is just 150Gb meaning I have
> 70Gb of space used. I checked all folders and it just constitutes around
> 30Gb, can anyone help me understand this?
>
> Or better yet, help me to free around 30Gb more from my disk space used? I
> tried searching for temp files but I don't know which ones are OK to be
> deleted.
>
> Hope someone enlightens me on this.
>
> Thanks.

In edition, when you buy a hard drive they calculate the GB using
1GB=1000MB=1000000B, but really 1GB=1024MB=1048576B.

So:
SALE: 220GB=220,000MB=220,000,000B
REAL: 220,000,000B=214844MB=210GB

So you lost 10GB to sale conversions.

You probably also lost another 10GB to the OS:

210-10=200GB

And then 15GB to system restore:

200-15=185GB

Then you said you had 30GB of files so:

185-30=155GB

That explains the lost space. Except for five GB, but manufactures like to
add a recovery partition which is 5GB-7GB big usually:

155-5=150GB

Even though 150GB free space is a lot, if you really want to free up space
delete files you don't use anymore, and then run a scan with CCleaner, it is
a program that deletes non-important files, and you can choose which ones to
delete and not delete. CCleaner is a free download.

Also, you could by an external hard drive, I just got a 320GB one for $100
at microcenter.com, newegg.com usually has good prices to. With an external
hard drive you can put all your data on it and then delete it from your
system. You can also use it for recovery purposes an stuff.