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I am currently running Windows 7 on my C drive. I've allocated for it 25 Gb thinking it would be enough. It was enough until a while ago. Now it just keeps wanting more. I get low disk space warnings whenever I start the computer. No matter what I do it just keeps eating more.

I've moved big programs to D(>3.5 Gb worth) and it still isn't enough. As soon as I free something it takes a hold of it and goes to anywhere between 0 and 200Mb of free space. I've started going through folders and deleting program data that I thought the programs wouldn't miss(haven't ruined anything until now).

There are only 2 big folders on C: Windows 19.4Gb, Program Files (x86) 2.2Gb and hiberfil.sys 3Gb.

Can't even update Windows because there's not enough space. In the past few days when I close the computer it tries to install an update (Please don't turn off or unplug your computer) and it just stays that way until I force it to turn off.

What can I do? I really can't afford to install at the moment. Not for another month or so.

Wuffers
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Iustin
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6 Answers6

4

Disable hibernate for now Click Start -> Type CMD -> Right Click on CMD and Run as administrator then run the command powercfg -h off then reboot this will remove the hiberfil.sys and not allow you to hibernate. You could also try adjusting the Pagefile size if it is really large.

Your problem is more than likely the Winsxs folder which grows over time as you use more software it keeps multiple copies of DLL's etc for maximum software support.

Riguez
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2

The main cause for the constant grow of used disk space is not the constant swap-partition, or (if you do not install any software) C:\Program Files\ but the WinSxS-Folder:

Why does the /winsxs folder grow so large, and can it be made smaller?

Community
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akira
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1

You could always repartition your drive without reinstalling Windows. There's free software to do that. EASEUS has been good to me: http://download.cnet.com/Easeus-Partition-Master-Home-Edition/3000-2248_4-10863346.html

Compeek
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1

Use SpaceSniffer to visualise for certain which are the "culprit" directories within Windows. As stated previously, it is most likely WinSxs that is maintaining the large cache of OS components.

http://www.uderzo.it/main_products/space_sniffer/

You'd have to use a partition resizing software like Acronis Disk Director, or backup software with the ability to restore a partition with the option of resizing it to fit a larger disk.

icelava
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1

Check out WinDirStat to view which files are using up space on your harddrive.

The other responders have given you most of the likely causes. I would go with resizing the Windows partition (no need to reinstall). So if you have enough space on D:, backup your data and then use that space to resize.

codinguser
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0

Try running

fsutil usn deletejournal /n C:

if you don't use specialized backup software, and seeing how much space it frees up.

user541686
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