My Vista system folder free space becomes smaller and smaller quite quickly

[needhelps]

My Vista system folder free space becomes smaller and smaller quite quickly.

I increased a few GB but it is occupied again in a month.

I then downloaded Malicious Software Removal Tool. After run it for more than 10 hours, something was removed. However, the free space is still remain small.

How can I know what rubbish is occuping my system folder and can you tell me how to remove them if any?

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[richc46]

The most probable cause of your problem is
System Restore points.
Reduce the amount of space that they occupy
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76227-system-restore-disk-space.html

Malware
Run a full anti virus scan, download and run a full scan with malwarebytes

or
Your own stuff
Download windirstat and see whats on the drive
WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics

 

[wither 3]

My question is- how large is your hard drive and how much free space is available?

 

[needhelps]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your helps.

1. I have checked my system folder is "5.28 GB free of 43.4 GB". A month ago it was about 5 GB free of 40 GB. I was increased it by a few GB and got 10 GB free!

2. After type vssadmin list shadowstarage and press Enter, I got following information about my system folder J at the moment:

Shadow Copy Dtorage association
For volumn: <J:>\\....
Shadow Copy Storage volumn: <J:>\\....
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 8.164 GB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 8.369 GB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 5.288 GB

What is that mean? Should I reduce the amount of space as what you suggested?

 

[townsbg]

The most probable cause of your problem is System Restore points. Reduce the amount of space that they occupy http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76227-system-restore-disk-space.html Malware Run a full anti virus scan, download and run a full scan with malwarebytes or Your own stuff Download windirstat and see whats on the drive WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics

Rich has some great advice and windirstat can be really helpful.

In addition clear all but the most recent restore point see step 14 here. When you do so that 8+ gb will go down. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76073-disk-cleanup.html

You can also use ccleaner to cleanup your hard drive or follow the other steps in the tutorial I posted. CCleaner - Download

 

[needhelps]

Hi Experts,

I have just reduce the max restore space by
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=D: /On=D: /Maxsize=3GB
and it was successfull!
However, I forgot to ask you is 3GB enough to hold atleast one system restore data? And how to check it now?

 

[richc46]

Just create a restore point and see how it works.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76332-system-restore-point-create.html

 

[needhelps]

Thank you so much!

I have just set first restore point successful.
After that, I noticed the free space of system folder is reduced 0.3GB.

1. Can I say 0.3GB is the space occupied by my first restore point?
2. Will my free space of system folder be reduced every time a new restore point automatically installed?

Sorry for so many questions!

 

[wither 3]

I guess system folder means hard drive. If all you have left is .3 Gb, I'm not sure how you're going to be able to do anything.

 

[townsbg]

I believe that the OP is stating that his restore point is .3 GB. I didn't know about the vssadmin command so I tried it on my Vista virtual machine and mine said 3 point something gb. After I cleaned up the restore points I believe that it was at 800 something mb. 3 gb should be high enough for a few restore points.

What is overall usage now? The system partition should have at least 15% free for proper functionality. Do you keep personal documents on that drive? If so you might consider either adding an internal drive (if you have a desktop) or using an external drive for your personal documents, pictures, music, and videos. Another option is to disable hibernation if you don't use it. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/165508-hibernation-enable-disable.html

 

[wither 3]

Whoops, I misread his statement. He said the free space was reduced "by" .3Gb and I read it to mean he only had .3 Gb of free space. Townsbg's advice is still appropriate.

 

[needhelps]

Sorry, I cannot remember why I mentioned 0.3 GB!?!?

I think after the first restore point is created, the system files are copied into the restore space but it will stop very soon. The system files will be copied into the restore space agian when next restore point created. Now, I found only ONE restore point in my Vista, why the restore space is keep increasing?

Following information shows "Used Shadow Copy Storage space" has been keep increasing:

After I set 3GB "Maximum Shadow copy Storage space":
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 0 B
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 0 B
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 3 GB

After I set my first restore point:
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 102.406 MB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 400 MB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 3 GB

Later, I found:
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 211.297 MB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 500 MB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 3 GB

Today, I found it increased a lot
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 462.457 MB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 699.984 MB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 3 GB

Thaks a lot for your helps!

 

[townsbg]

That still isn't alot. You know what shadow copy is right? Vista is using restore points to keep up with changes to your documents in addition to backing up system files in case you need a restore. The more changes that you are making to your documents the more space it will take up however shadow copy can be turned off. Even if you do turn off shadow copy (which really isn't necessary) you should still leave restore points enabled.

How do I... Configure and use shadow copy in Microsoft Windows Vista? TechRepublic
How to Reduce Shadow Copy on Windows Vista: 9 Steps
How to Turn Off Volume Shadow Copy in Windows Vista (howtohaven.com)

You never answered my question as to how much space you have available.

 

[needhelps]

Hi Townsbg,

"You never answered my question as to how much space you have available."

I am so sorry because I am going to crazy!
In my first place or this question, I mentioned my system folder was "5.28 GB free of 43.4 GB",
On 7/7/2013, just after I set the Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space it became "13.6 GB free of 43.4 GB",
Now, it is "12.6 GB free of 43.4 GB".

 

[townsbg]

Have you run windirstat as rich suggested? Have you disabled hibernation? Do you use your hard drive for documents, music, and videos? There isn't much that you can do with a hard drive of that size except to minimize what you do with it.

 

[needhelps]

I have just found I got only one restore point left!! See my new post......

 

[townsbg]

I gave you the steps on how to clean up restore points.