Laptop Hard Drive issue

[TotallySport]

Hi

I have a laptop which says the hard drive is full, however I have removed all unwanted programs and files and I cannot find anything else to remove, which should mean there is loads of room. (there is now almost nothing on the laptop)

Is there a program that I could install on an SD card, to search the hard drive for any files I have missed, or is there something I need to do to force the laptop to see the newly available space?

 

[Posilan]

Hi

I have a laptop which says the hard drive is full, however I have removed all unwanted programs and files and I cannot find anything else to remove, which should mean there is loads of room. (there is now almost nothing on the laptop)

Is there a program that I could install on an SD card, to search the hard drive for any files I have missed, or is there something I need to do to force the laptop to see the newly available space?

What operating system?

Did you empty your recycle bin if windows?

Steve

 

[TotallySport]

yes done as part of CCleaner but just made sure.

 

[TotallySport]

its Vista Home (I think its home anyway)

 

[RemoteTechs]

If its a windows (XP or above) then you might want to try removing all but the most recent system restore point. And running a disk scan for errors.

 

[TotallySport]

thanks I am doing that now

 

[TotallySport]

Thanks tried that and its got rid of a little but not alot, I either think I am missing some big files in folders I cannot find, or there is something blocking the system that should say I have x GB free.

It is going down but I have just removed a few more programs, and a few more files and i still says I have only got 1GB free in a 40(ish) GB HD

 

[RemoteTechs]

I can jump on remotely if you like and have a quick look if you like.
Should be fairly straight forward.

 

[RBS]

Run search on C drive for *.*, then sort results by size.

 

[bediwin]

I've always found WinDirStat to be very good for finding out what's taking up all the space - but be warned it will show things that Windows needs to function, so don't go deleting something just because it's taking up a lot of space.

Can't post links as I've only just joined - it's at windirstat (dot) info.

 

[Senington]

Best thing to do is to restore your computer. You say you have nothing in there so you might as well try it. Insert your windows CD when you start it up. Or whatever operating system CD you use

 

[TotallySport]

Sorry got draw away from the comp, I was trying not to format the hard drive becuase I am lazy, plus I would have to hunt all the disks out, but it might well come to that.

Thanks for the offer of the remoting but if push comes to shove I will just format it.

Will try that program tomorrow and see where it leads me.

Thanks all.

 

[RemoteTechs]

Your welcome, I think that formatting the drive is not needed, and is a huge overkill.
I think with little investigation you will see where the space is and recover it.
Too often the word "Format" is thrown around with out much regard for the work and preparation involved to get you back to a working state. Formatting looses a couple of days to get all your programs and data back and getting your machine just how you like it, that's if your meticulous and have a copy of the licences for your software and decent back ups of your data, at hand when you need them.
Believe me, we work with people in IT every day and you should see the hassle it is sometimes to find a users / businesses licence key for MS office for example, and thats just one application!

 

[TotallySport]

Your welcome, I think that formatting the drive is not needed, and is a huge overkill.
I think with little investigation you will see where the space is and recover it.
Too often the word "Format" is thrown around with out much regard for the work and preparation involved to get you back to a working state. Formatting looses a couple of days to get all your programs and data back and getting your machine just how you like it, that's if your meticulous and have a copy of the licences for your software and decent back ups of your data, at hand when you need them.
Believe me, we work with people in IT every day and you should see the hassle it is sometimes to find a users / businesses licence key for MS office for example, and thats just one application!

I know what you mean, this laptop isn't a spring chicken and has its fair share of rubbish put on it and taken off, I need it for something specific so I won't need to install alot just the OS and anti virus, anti malware and 1 many be 2 other programs. (it still has the MS sticker on it, so have that key, its the drivers I am worried about)

I will take it home and over the weekend take everything off it, as it still has a few pics and docs I need, then I will look into it, and if its ok I may take you up on the remoting.

(we have moved away from MS office, becuase you cannot transfer the licenses from 1 PC to another and Open Office does what we need)

 

[computer storm]

Have you checked to see if your temp location is holding any files to access the temp location at the run prompt type %temp% then enter.

This will show the temp folder location and you can delete everything that is there.

 

[RemoteTechs]

I would suggest, we have a quick look remotely then if it can't be easily fixed or decide to format, then we can back up all your drivers and put them on a USB stick or something (we have a bunch of tools for that), then you'll be more prepared if you have to go down that route.

 

[computer storm]

(we have moved away from MS office, becuase you cannot transfer the licenses from 1 PC to another and Open Office does what we need)

You can transfer the MS Office to another PC so long as you uninstall if from the first PC, but most office applications allow you to install on a desktop and also the same copy onto a laptop.

You may need to phone up Microsoft to re-activate the software but that only takes 5 mins.

 

[Posilan]

You can transfer the MS Office to another PC so long as you uninstall if from the first PC, but most office applications allow you to install on a desktop and also the same copy onto a laptop.

This can depend on the version, licence type and even the type of media you have though

Steve

 

[TotallySport]

You can transfer the MS Office to another PC so long as you uninstall if from the first PC, but most office applications allow you to install on a desktop and also the same copy onto a laptop.

You may need to phone up Microsoft to re-activate the software but that only takes 5 mins.

With MS Office Business, it allows you to have 5 licenses, but I am sure somewhere it says they are not transferable, and I don't want to ring MS up to disconnect them, I have better things to do. Downloading Open Office and installing it on a PC took less than 5 minutes of my time, and when there is a new version I don't have to pay for it.

 

[TotallySport]

Have you checked to see if your temp location is holding any files to access the temp location at the run prompt type %temp% then enter.

This will show the temp folder location and you can delete everything that is there.

thanks, but temp is empty also done part of CCleaner

 

[TotallySport]

I would suggest, we have a quick look remotely then if it can't be easily fixed or decide to format, then we can back up all your drivers and put them on a USB stick or something (we have a bunch of tools for that), then you'll be more prepared if you have to go down that route.

Thanks, let me backup all the rubbish just incase (i am sure there is family tree info on there that I better backup) then I might let you have a bash.

 

[TotallySport]

I would suggest, we have a quick look remotely then if it can't be easily fixed or decide to format, then we can back up all your drivers and put them on a USB stick or something (we have a bunch of tools for that), then you'll be more prepared if you have to go down that route.

I have removed all the stuff and its still showing I only have 1.5GB's free which is rubbish (although I cannot get some programs to remove, like MS office). Anyway could you remotely put it back to an as new condition, eg as though it hadn't been used), if you can i will PM you tomorrow, if not I will format it.

 

[pchealer]

Im amazed know one has recommended that the op tries Tree Size Free

https://www.jam-software.de/custome...guage=EN&PHPSESSID=rqo33msm230nk3tb6irhgekfp1

Give it a go will soon tell you whats taking up space!

 

[miker]

Is it also possible that a partion [hidden] has been added when the OS was first installed onto the hard drive:|

 

[TotallySport]

Is it also possible that a partion [hidden] has been added when the OS was first installed onto the hard drive:|

its possible but when we first got it, the space was there, and I am sure one hasn't been added

 

[OpenSure]

Often on old XP machines it is the ever growing archive of SPs and updates and driver caches etc. But to fill 40GB is unusual! Can be hidden Dr Watson dmp files, tmp files or even swap files.

Sometimes a run with a defrag will show you large blocks of protected or immovable files which you can identify in the details.

Personally I would download a copy of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and burn a bootable CD and after checking the essentials work, install it in place of XP. However I would also install LibreOffice in place of OpenOffice as it is a far cleaner version of the old OpenOffice code.

If it is an old laptop and the hassle of finding licenses and drivers etc is a pain it may well breathe some fun and life in to it!

But then we are an OpenSource house so I would say that wouldn't I! If you would like some help with Ubuntu or any flavour of Linux then do PM or email us.

Have fun!

 

[TotallySport]

Im amazed know one has recommended that the op tries Tree Size Free

https://www.jam-software.de/custome...guage=EN&PHPSESSID=rqo33msm230nk3tb6irhgekfp1

Give it a go will soon tell you whats taking up space!

Great bit of software that, it showed that 10GB was taken up by the appdata folder, most of the programs had been deleted but the information in there was still there, 20gb was taken up by the windows folder.

I have decided that formatting was the best option, I don't need any of the junk on it, the cleaner the better and I don't want to waste anyones time when a format will give me the best outcome.

The software I need to run won't run on Ubuntu, a quick phone call to Acer, said i have a partition on the hard drive with a recovery setup plus all the drivers so shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

 

[OpenSure]

Great that you found the answers and recovery is on the way, cleaner is always good!

Are you able to let us know what software you needed to run that won't run on Ubuntu? Always useful for us to know what people need to do, helps us understand how to help in the future.

 

[TotallySport]

Great that you found the answers and recovery is on the way, cleaner is always good!

Are you able to let us know what software you needed to run that won't run on Ubuntu? Always useful for us to know what people need to do, helps us understand how to help in the future.

Visual Studio

 

[pchealer]

Great bit of software that, it showed that 10GB was taken up by the appdata folder, most of the programs had been deleted but the information in there was still there, 20gb was taken up by the windows folder.

I have decided that formatting was the best option, I don't need any of the junk on it, the cleaner the better and I don't want to waste anyones time when a format will give me the best outcome.

The software I need to run won't run on Ubuntu, a quick phone call to Acer, said i have a partition on the hard drive with a recovery setup plus all the drivers so shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Happy to have helped