Low Disk Space in Windows XP

Hi, My desktop configuration is as follows: CPU: AMD Athlong 64 2800+ OS: Windows XP Home Edition version 2002, service pack 3 RAM: 1 GB HDD: 2 x 40 GB (Master-Slave, not RAID) Logical Partitions: 3 on primary drive - C is 10 GB, D is 15 GB, E is GB. 1 on secondary drive (G). Optical drive: DVD Writer The problem I am facing is as follows: Boot partition © has about 3 GB free. As I start using the PC, the free space on C partition keeps reducing. It does not matter what I am doing - accessing internet, playing games or working with Open Office. Finally, after some time the free space falls below 200 MB and I start getting Low Disk Space warning. I have cleaned up old files from this partition. The pagefile is on D drive and secondary drive (G). I run Zone Alarm Internet Security (Firewall + Anti-virus + Anti-spyware). It is up-to-date and it has not found any virus or spyware. I have also run Iolo System Mechanic and it has not reported any problems. Please let me know why this happening and what can I do to fix this. Thank You. Sanjib.

Hi stalukdar

Normally one can ignore the Low Disk space message on any drive
but C:\.

Its important that you try to free up disk space. If you have programs you
can move (re-install) to one of the other drives, that would be the best solution.
Media files if any, should also be re-located. You should have about 10-20% free
disk space on your system partition, see below why.

As to why space keeps degrading, is due to temporary files used by your programs,
security applications, restore points, temporary internet files, and of course the cache.
All this will eventually fill up your remaining space with the use of programs. The treshold
set by Microsoft is 200mb for the first warning, then at 80 and lastly at 50. These steps
all have some impact on your computer's performance.

Why is it important you get this fixed…..

Once you reach below the threshold the following things will happen:

200mb:
At this point, windows will only maintain minimum system performance. Degrading your
computer's overall performance.
80mb:
Now windows will also begin to delete restore points beginning with the oldest, in order to
try free up space. This greatly reduces the number of available restore points you can use.
50mb:
At this critical point, windows turns of the entire restore point system. It will also purge any remaining
restore points, leaving you with none to restore to if need arises. The system restore function, will not
be re-activated before you reach 200mb. Crashes will occur when windows runs out of space to temp.
files or virtual memory space for the various programs running, resulting in data-loss, Possibility of
data-corruption and this coupled with no restore points is disaster.

Windows also needs a certain amount of free disk place, to be able to defragment properly. And it requires
around 10-20% free disk space, depending on the defragmentation program. A fragmented drive beyond
the magic 10% fragmentation will have decreased performance.

Those are just off my head, there are probably more to it, but the message is clear. You need to clear up
space one way or the other.

If you need some additional pointers on where and how to clear up disk space, just say so.
But I won't be online until much later in the evening (read about night-time) danish time.
Its currently 3:28 PM here.

Regards Abydos

Than you for the information. I have relocated all unnecessary programs/data from C drive to other drives. My internet browsing history is relocated to folders in other drives as well. TEMP and TMP environment variables are modified to point to folders on other drives. If temporary files/cache/log files etc. from any program/process are eating up my disk space on C, then how do I identify such programs/process and reconfigure or stop those?

[external image: Posted Image] stalukdar,

Abydos will come by later I am sure to reply to your post.

I wanted to welcome you to WTT and hope you enjoy this forum and your problem will be solved for you soon.

Have a great Festive Season.

Best regards,

Hi again stalukdar

There are various ways to increase space. And you have been
ahead of the situation, as I read it from your last post. By the
sound of how you describe things and the things you have done
so far, tells me you are not that unfamiliar with your PC. So I'll
go light on the explanations. If there is anything you need me to
elaborate on, please tell.

First thing we can look at, is the space allocated to restore points.
A single restore point requires around 50mb-100mb (Some systems
require a little more)

Right-click "My Computer"
Choose Properties
Choose System Restore tab

You should now see a box with your drive letters. Higlight your C:\ drive by clicking it once.
Just to the right, there is a radio-button, click that one
(Dunno its name in english sorry, got danish XP version )

Move the slider to the desired disk space you want to allocate, bearing in mind that a restore point takes 50-100mb each.
So you have to figure out how many you want. Personally I use 6-7 restore points, but minimum should be around 3.
Decreasing the space allocated will delete the oldest restore points that would normally occupy the space removed.
On non-system drives you can opt to have none or very few restore points, your choice. Altho, a single or two is desired.

Next download this program to a non-system drive (No need to clutter it up again )

Ccleaner (download link in the green field to the right)

Install Ccleaner.
Remember to uncheck / untick the option to install Yahoo toolbar

Open Ccleaner
Click the settings options (Last box at left side)
Click advanced
Uncheck / Untick "Only delete temp files older than 48 hours"

Now go to the cleaner function
Click "run cleaner" which will begin the analyze sequence.
Click "run Cleaner" once again when it is finished analyzing. A message will pop up, answer yes to go ahead.
Ccleaner will now delete anything deemed safe to delete.

Run the above procedure til it finds nothing to delete. Close when finished.
And a gentle reminder, there is no need to use the registry cleaner in Ccleaner.

Next you should defragment you drive. Either use windows own (which is kinda slow to say the least) or use
a alternative program. I use AusLogic's Disk Defrag because it is quick.

Auslogic's Disk Defrag

Install, open, choose drive to defrag, click next, let it run.

Ignore the ad's about Optimize your PC and any messages about junk files.
Those are part of the ad's that makes this a free program. Nothing is truly always
free. But they are ignorable.

When done with the above, report back on space situation

Regards Abydos