Math Is Fun Forum

mikau

Member

Registered: 2005-08-22

Posts: 1,504

file organization in Windows XP

So I recently discovered that my hard drive is actually pretty close to full! Its a 40gb hard drive and I'm up to about 37gb. And I honestly don't know where all that went!

So I thought I'd find out. I went to the root directory C:\ to view all the folders there, and checked the size of each folder. The three largest folders were:

program files: 16.8 gb
documents and settings: 8.85 gb
WINDOWS: 3.84 GB

thats roughly 29 gb there. But the rest of the 33 folders are pretty much all less than 1 mb in size. Seems like there's about 8 gb unaccounted for. Any ideas where this could be?

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A logarithm is just a misspelled algorithm.

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,711

Re: file organization in Windows XP

Cache file?

Get yourself a bigger disk (250Gb seems good value), and "ghost" your present drive to it, then swap them over.

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

mathsyperson

Moderator

Registered: 2005-06-22

Posts: 4,900

Re: file organization in Windows XP

The only thing I can think of is that you might have a ton of cookies and temporary internet files if you've never cleaned them out. (Maybe that's what a cache file is, I don't know)

That's certainly the only memory-cleaning tactic I'd be willing to use without being afraid of getting rid of something vital.

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Why did the vector cross the road?
It wanted to be normal.

careless25

Real Member

Registered: 2008-07-24

Posts: 560

Re: file organization in Windows XP

Did u check ur hidden files??
If didnt try this
Start->All Programs->Accessories->System tools->Disk Cleanup.
Select the drive u want to clean and press OK.It might take u few mins to load. Then select all the option and press OK.
After you finish Disk Cleanup(may take upto a half hour)
Open Internet Explorer --> Tools-->Internet Options-->Click On Delete Files (Select all ofline content when prompted) and press OK. delete Cookies and Clear History.
If u have Mozzila Firefox open it.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift
Select all options and click OK.
Reply when u did all of this with ur system status.
EDIT: This will not remove any important files from comp unless u have some in ur recycle bin.

Last edited by careless25 (2008-08-04 14:30:36)

ZHero

Real Member

Registered: 2008-06-08

Posts: 1,889

Re: file organization in Windows XP

Window XP uses some space for Hibernation too! You can disable it from Desktop>Properties>ScreenSaver>Power Options

Next, you should disable the System Restore as this too takes a few percentage of hard drive space! It can be accomplished from My Computer>Properties>Advanced and somewhere you'll see a dialogue 'Turn Off System Restore on All Drives'

Then you can clean 'All but the Most Recent Restore Points' from a button in 'Disk Cleanup'!

I remember doing all these (and saving a considerable amount of space) when used to use a 20 GB hard disk some yrs ago!

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If two or more thoughts intersect, there has to be a point!

careless25

Real Member

Registered: 2008-07-24

Posts: 560

Re: file organization in Windows XP

I agree with Zhero but u shouldnt stop ur system restore. It may come in handy. Dont turn off system restore yet, i just want to check for a virus/spyware before i make u do it.. With ur system status tell me ur virus and spyware protection programs.

Last edited by careless25 (2008-08-04 16:14:05)

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: file organization in Windows XP

Sequoia View

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

careless25

Real Member

Registered: 2008-07-24

Posts: 560

Re: file organization in Windows XP

Sequoia View

Did u try this out? I wouldnt just download any program of the net for deleting files. Many delete important system files.

Ricky

Moderator

Registered: 2005-12-04

Posts: 3,791

Re: file organization in Windows XP

Not only did I try it out, I got it from a professor who knew the guy who helped make it.

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"In the real world, this would be a problem.  But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist.  So we'll go ahead and do that now..."

careless25

Real Member

Registered: 2008-07-24

Posts: 560

Re: file organization in Windows XP

I will have to try it out before i recomend it.

Devantè

Real Member

Registered: 2006-07-14

Posts: 6,400

Re: file organization in Windows XP

1 TB?!

I claim hax.