Freeing up space on the hard drive

[themalster]

Hi guys,

I put loads of photos and music onto an external hard drive in order to free up disk space and it freed up a few GB's of memory. However, i recently checked the free space on my laptop and i've almost reached the limit again. I have no idea how, i haven't downloaded any programs, i've deleted some large programs and i've done a disk defrag and cleanup but that doesn't seem to have worked.

Can anyone advise on how to get some memory back? I've looked on various websites and they all suggest defrags and cleanups.

I'm desperate!

Many thanks

[Buenchico]

This won't directly solve your problem but it might help you find the cause of it:

Go to Start > Search > All files and folders. Click on 'More Advanced Options' and check that there are ticks alongside 'Search subfolders', ''Search hidden files and folders' and 'Search system folders'. Run a search for *.* (That's star dot star if it's not clear on your screen).

That search will find every file on your laptop. Now click on the 'Size' column header, until the files are shown in descending order of size. (You might find that some very small files have no size shown, so that you'll have to scroll down to find the files which you're looking for).

When you've done that you'll hopefully know what is taking up all of the space on your hard drive. So you'll then be in a better position to deal with the problem.

Chris

[themalster]

Thank you Chris i will try that

[VHG]

Some backup programs can create large files on your hard drive.

Do you perhaps run some sort of backup program?

Also Windows does create and store large files "under the covers" (updates etc)

Have you cleared out your recylce bin?

Delete all you temporary internet files?

Silly question, but when you put your photos and music on the external drive did you MOVE them or COPY them. If you copied them they will still be on your laptop hard drive.

[VHG]

A program called Tree Size can tel you how big each of the folders is on your hard drive. it is free

http://download.cnet....0688e258db9f9f07c94e9

[VHG]

You dont use Spotify (music station) do you?

Spotify stores loads of large files on your PC (when you listen to Spotify music it stores the songs on your PC)

[themalster]

Thanks guys.

I don't use Spotify or any other programs like that. I have emptied my recycle bin and temp files.

I will also try that Tree Size program.

Will keep you updated, thank you once again. You've all been helpful

[themalster]

***VHG***

Thank you so much. There was a folder call N360 (can't remember the rest of it) and when i deleted it, it gave me 60gb back on my laptop!!!!!

[birdie1971]

I know the solution to this problem has been found but there is another program that people may find useful -

Sequoia View.


It shows a visual representation of what's on your hard disk...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SequoiaView


Download it here (it works on Vista and Windows 7 too)...

http://www.win.tue.nl...sequoia/download3.cgi