HELP my computer is filling up

C

crescere

Member
I am using Vista, and my computer has a 300GB hard drive. I have accumulated a lot of files lately, but the last time I looked a couple of days ago I had about 22 GB free. Now I have only 2 GB free. I did an advanced search on my C drive for files accumulated after 11-24-11 that is greater than 100 KB and only four small files showed up. There are none over 1000 KB.

How do I find what is accumulating on my computer so I can delete it? Is this some kind of weird virus?

Thanks in advance to all who help.
 
First I'd download and run CCleaner. It's possible you could have a bunch of temp files taking up a lot of space.
 
This morning I was preparing to do as you suggested, but I first checked the usable space of C drive, and it said 23 GB unused. So I went from 2 GB to 23 without doing anything. I am the only one to use this computer. I don't know what is going on!
 
crescere said:
I am using Vista, and my computer has a 300GB hard drive. I have accumulated a lot of files lately, but the last time I looked a couple of days ago I had about 22 GB free. Now I have only 2 GB free. I did an advanced search on my C drive for files accumulated after 11-24-11 that is greater than 100 KB and only four small files showed up. There are none over 1000 KB.

How do I find what is accumulating on my computer so I can delete it? Is this some kind of weird virus?

Thanks in advance to all who help.
Click to expand...

Here is what you need to do,

1. Find all the files that you care about and can not be replaced, photos, music, or whatever and put them on an external drive.

2. Wipe out your hard drive, and reinstall the OS and the programs that you really need and use. Many of your programs will not need to be reinstalled, this will make your drive seem bigger and extend it's life and any vrus is guaranteed to be gone. Though it might hide on the external drive or media.

3. You might also consider a new larger drive, or a second internal drive for storage, or a new drive for win perhaps a SSD and use your old drive for storage.

If you do not store important info on your windows drive, a wipe and reinstall is much easier. You can also experiment with multiple OS, the free ones especially.
 
Double-Aces said:
Here is what you need to do,

1. Find all the files that you care about and can not be replaced, photos, music, or whatever and put them on an external drive.

2. Wipe out your hard drive, and reinstall the OS and the programs that you really need and use. Many of your programs will not need to be reinstalled, this will make your drive seem bigger and extend it's life and any vrus is guaranteed to be gone. Though it might hide on the external drive or media.

3. You might also consider a new larger drive, or a second internal drive for storage, or a new drive for win perhaps a SSD and use your old drive for storage.

If you do not store important info on your windows drive, a wipe and reinstall is much easier. You can also experiment with multiple OS, the free ones especially.
Click to expand...

Don't take this drastic step just yet - we can try one more thing. And what happened to you not supporting Open Source software? You totally just went against everything you said in your Windows 8 thread.

Anyway to the OP, try downloading and installing a program called WinDirStat. It will scan your entire drive and list files by size and it'll show you what's talking up the most space.
http://windirstat.info/
 
voyagerfan99 said:
Don't take this drastic step just yet - we can try one more thing. And what happened to you not supporting Open Source software? You totally just went against everything you said in your Windows 8 thread.

Anyway to the OP, try downloading and installing a program called WinDirStat. It will scan your entire drive and list files by size and it'll show you what's talking up the most space.
http://windirstat.info/
Click to expand...

1. Nothing I mentioned that this person do, is drastic step, unless you are scared of doing these things. Some things are hard, or drastic, until you do it.

2. As for running Ubuntu, there is no way that I could seriously comment on it's lack of functionality, and really dumb interface, without having run it. Thus my opinion is based upon experience and not my lack of it.

3. As for the poster here who ask the question, you should also install MS Security Essentials as your virus scanner, it is free and kicks every other virus scanner out the door for windows users-----> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials Don't even think about it, just do it.
 
Double-Aces said:
1. Nothing I mentioned that this person do, is drastic step, unless you are scared of doing these things. Some things are hard, or drastic, until you do it.
Click to expand...

You'd be surprised how many generic computer users find it a drastic step to format a hard drive, reinstall Windows, drivers, and all their software again. You really need to come out from under your rock and realize how the computer world actually works, and how those who use said computers act as well.
 
voyagerfan99 said:
You'd be surprised how many generic computer users find it a drastic step to format a hard drive, reinstall Windows, drivers, and all their software again. You really need to come out from under your rock and realize how the computer world actually works, and how those who use said computers act as well.
Click to expand...

Look the simple fact here, is that this user has a problem, that he knows can be fixed. I told him the best way, and the only way to both be certain that the problem is eliminated and how to get all of his hard drive size back in one thourogh step. Yea it's a pain, but what he gains is the full replacement value of this computer, with no new parts needed. So I saved this guy a minimum of $400.00 if he takes my advise. As for being scared about the format, and reinstall, I was there once too, so I am not surprised at all.
 
Double-Aces said:
As for the poster here who ask the question, you should also install MS Security Essentials as your virus scanner, it is free and kicks every other virus scanner out the door for windows users-----> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials Don't even think about it, just do it.
Click to expand...

it is good but not the best if you want a antivirus program get avast antivirus free version it comes with many features that even payed ones dont and since i installed avast antivirus i havent had a virus
 
Voyagerfan thank you for that recommendation. I have needed a program that does that for some time, and it works great! I have never heard of it before. I really do not have the expertise or good luck to re-install my OS. SOMETHING would go wrong if I am involved. I wish I were as smart as you guys. Thanks to all who contributed to ths thread as I will save it for future reference.
 
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crescere said:
I really do not have the expertise or good luck to re-install my OS. SOMETHING would go wrong if I am involved. I wish I were as smart as you guys. Thanks to all who contributed to ths thread as I will save it for future reference.
Click to expand...

And to think Double-Aces thought he was right :rolleyes:
 
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