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Thread ID: 114039	2010-11-15 22:43:00	Disk space dilemma 2010	Mike S (1766)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1153210	2010-11-15 22:43:00	I have a big problem running out of disc space on the C drive of our Desktop computer. When we bought the machine, for reasons that now elude me I decided to have the drive partitioned, and C partition is only 40Gb. Memory usage includes: Windows (XP) occupies17.4Gb, of which half is called ‘Installer’ 4Gb is C:WINDOWS\Microsoft.Net\Framework\v1.1.4322 . Presumably that installer installed Windows, and having done so will never be used again!!?? So could be deleted?? Programs take up only 5Gb. Another 14.5Gb is Documents and Settings of which 3Gb is Documents and Settings\Mike’s first\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities and which eventually terminate in 1Gb of Outlook Express deleted items.dbx (though if I run OE I can’t actually find any deleted items). Can I just delete these OE deleted items? Outlook Express uses large gobs of disk space for Inbox.dbx. It seems inordinately large for the relatively small number of in-box items I actually keep. In all there appears to be huge amounts of memory taken up by OE files of various types and strange nomenclatures. If I just abandoned OE as an email platform and read all my emails on-line on the 'xtra' site, then could I scrub everything that’s part of the OE memory burden? There must be some way to break the stranglehold that OE seems to have over my computer’s precious memory. ‘My Documents’ shows 3.4Gb worth of them are “My Download Files”. I assume that following download, and at some earlier time I’ve run each one and presumably used them to generate programs etc., can I now regard them as superfluous and delete them? For example one of my downloaded files is an old ‘Trend Micro’ anti-virus Application file dated 2007 (and I’ve certainly up-dated my anti-virus software since then). Perhaps as another good example of a possible un-needed file in “My Download Files” folder is a 660Mb file (labelled as an Application), called AutoCAD2008.exe. I surmise that is the exec file that generated “C;\Program Files\AutoCAD 2008\acad.exe” which appears to be the actual program I use when I click the shortcut icon on my desktop (so, just another installer??). Can I therefore delete the corresponding one in ‘My Downloads’ Files? I surmise that it did its’ one off job (of generating “C;\Program Files\AutoCAD 2008\acad.exe”) when I first ran it and is now superfluous. I guess that all the files in the “My Download Files” are all ‘stepping-stone’ files used only once and can be discarded. Is my supposition correct? And finally, even if I can’t delete things, can I move them off C drive and store them on a satellite 0.5 Terabyte drive that is now attached to this same computer. In short, this cannot be a new problem; so how have others dealt with it?	Mike S (1766)
1153211	2010-11-15 22:51:00	Use ccleaner to remove the temp files etc. Disable system restore, thats probably twice as big as the windows install. Disable hibernation I wouldnt delete the net folder. If anything needs the files, it wont work. If you've uninstalled whatever delete its folder in documents.No you cant copy programs that have been installed to the other hdd. As there will be info in the registry. And the program wont work. You could try reinstalling the program on the other hdd, it may or may not work	Speedy Gonzales (78)
1153212	2010-11-15 22:58:00	I have a 2nd hard drive in the desktop and have used the move function of user document to move all to the secondary drive, that way if the c: fails i dont lose everything......i wouldnt do this to a removeable drive though!, so if you have more permanent space then right click my documents and select move, browse to new location and click yes when it asks if you would like to move the docs to the new location	SolMiester (139)
1153213	2010-11-15 23:08:00	Other things you can do is empty the recycle bin, run disk cleanup, delete any files you no longer need (esp setup exe's and videos), set up XP automatic compression, and you can use Partition Wizard (www.partitionwizard.com) to re-partition the hard drive back into a single drive without having to reinstall windows etc.	jareemon (5207)
1153214	2010-11-15 23:11:00	I surmise... I had no idea that word existed until now :) (Definition: Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it) Disable system restore, thats probably twice as big as the windows install. Disable hibernation +1	jareemon (5207)
1153215	2010-11-15 23:17:00	DO NOT enable XP compression, you will pay a hefty price in disk access performance!	SolMiester (139)
1153216	2010-11-16 00:47:00	I When we bought the machine, for reasons that now elude me I decided to have the drive partitioned, and C partition is only 40Gb. Because it makes it easier to make an image. The idea is C: hasd the O/S and NOTHING ELSE> All else goes on D: Now it's a bit late. CUT and paste MyDocumnets to D:. Don't copy or drag. Then run CCleaner. You may also need to uninstall any apps and reinstall to d:	pctek (84)
1153217	2010-11-16 01:45:00	Because it makes it easier to make an image. The idea is C: hasd the O/S and NOTHING ELSE> All else goes on D: Now it's a bit late. CUT and paste MyDocumnets to D:. Don't copy or drag. Then run CCleaner. You may also need to uninstall any apps and reinstall to d: Best to use the move function built in to MyDocuments	SolMiester (139)
1153218	2010-11-16 08:08:00	I very much appreciate the help provided, and currently I'm trying to sift the information to home in on what's applicable in my case. I'm still in a quandary as to what to do with that memory burden in the folder in My Documents labelled "My Download Files". Can I really shift My Docs onto another partition (as that contains the folder called "MY Download Files")? Or might I be better merely to use 'Partition Wizard' to combine C, E and F partitions into one. It's certainly difficult to formulate a proper plan of action just now. I'm sure Pooh had a phrase for my current feeling of 'one step forward, two back'!	Mike S (1766)
1153219	2010-11-16 08:40:00	That Partition Wizard looks as if it is showing a hidden partition to me and I would not use it until we know whether or not you actually have a recovery partition. Or is it that you have flash drives or card readers? What drives show in Windows and what type are they?	Snorkbox (15764)
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