Over time (2 months) I noticed Vista used about 15GB! I only boot with vista and don't install many apps on it yet...My data files are on my slave....any who I looked into disk cleanup and found out that Vista created system restore points/shadow copies up to 15GB! I cleaned it up and whah lah!
Now I have 90% of my harddrive back instead of 70%
Does anyone know how to clean up old system restore points? Apparently it keeps that old data for some reason?
The one method to see all restore points wiped quickly is to simply turn off the system restore feature. That will wipe all restore points where you can then go in and manually create one or more new ones. For other cleanup of now useless temp folders leftover from software installers and uselees log files CCleaner is the favored since it can also clear out all of your offline IE content if left checked. You can get the freeware at http://www.ccleaner.com/
Thanks for the info PC Eye...however I run ccleaner every other night, and still ran into that problem...I almost posted a topic but I figured it out on my own.
I use firefox not IE anymore.
Not wanting to go far off topic but I have a single core Athlon 3200+ and plan on getting the dual CPU setup 4200+. Will I have to reinstall windows?
For a simple swap of the cpu on any board there usually isn't any need for a reinstall of the OS unless you were running XP prior to SP2 or a different OS entirely. The one thing to download from AMD however is the patch for dual core models at their support site. The main download page for the various models is seen at http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871,00.html
If you should notice any performance losses once you get a dual model an MS article regarding performance losses on multiple cpued boards(board with 2 cpus) the same can be applied to a system running XP with SP2. You can look this over at http://support.microsoft.com/?id=896256
With Vista you shouldn't be seeing this type of problem with the updated version of Windows on this. But keep the link for any Vista related patches and updates. Turning off the system restore in XP sees all restore points cleared. But being that Vista is a newer version that was the first thought for this.
I haven't had a chance yet to toy around with the system restore tools except for the fix startup problems option seen on the installation disk. Vista no longer has the recovery console seeing this tool instead. Your other option is to locate the folder where the old points are found and try to manually deleted them under the main "users" folder no longer the DocumentssandSettings since that is now off limits.
You do that! When I get a replacement board in for the new build already run for a few days I can take a better look at the system restore feature to answer the question about turning that off. Meanwhile someone running Vista presently that has already looked at this can jump in with the answer.
The one thing that does come to mind with Vista and the sudden lack of drive space wouldn't be restore points but the new backup feature now seen in the new version of Windows. When you first replace an existing installation of XP, an older version, or even to reinstall Windows Vista renames the old folders as Windows.old. The new version also has a new backup feeature that could be set to backup files into archives already on a schedule explaining the amount of drive space used up so fast.
The actual need for any reinstall of Window is usually seen as a result of software not hardware changes. When your copy of Windows slows down from a good number of software changes and additional items people panic and wipe the drive. I installed 3 different cpus on one build to upgrade and later upgrade again with the same copy of Windows installed on the primary.
Plus I was dual booting 98 with Linux on a second drive at the time. No need to reformat a drive there when going from an XP2600+ to a XP3000+ and then the XP3200+ on that old build. In fact the fresh copy of XP Pro on the 939 build here will replace the old Socket A case still running the XP3000+ running XP SP1! Say goodbye to that one soon. Yet someone still wants to run 98 on that one? That will be set up with some educational and simple games for some annoying rugrats soon to keep them busy with school!
The new cpu will drop right in and give you a chance to see how it performs once you get past the initial breakin time needed for AS-5 or another thermal paste/compound. for the first week especially. Those first few days will be the constant attention grabber checking temps with both the hardware monitor in the bios and any program like SpeedFan or utility from the board manufacturer used for that.
I'm currently seeing 32C idle on the 3500+ in use at the moment. Before a need to rma the new AM2 board for a new build here the 6000+ X2 saw 35C on the first full day of use and subsequently was seeing as low as 22C for an idle temp on the 3rd!
The newer dual core models do run cooler since the second core only kicks in when you place a good heavy load on them. 43C was the highest seen on the 3500+ when either capturing video or running WMP 10 for an extended period. You'll see the high temps come down over a period of time with good cooling there.
WMP 11 with Vista here.... Runs slow and hot to my specifications.
4200+ AMD Athlon will run fine...only thing now Is I had to downgrade to a 300W PSU and a tad worried that the dual core chip will take much more power than my 3200+ single core!
with 2 HD IDE. Should I upgrade to a good 400 watt PSU or should I be fine?
right now specs are a tad low on my PSU but nothing to be worried about...no BSOD...Dual Core probably only adds a few extra watts
Most newer dual core model are more energy efficient since the second core remains idle until a good load is placed on the cpu time. That's when the second core kicks in to more or less take up the slack and free up the first. But a 300w supply on a much newer board since the Socket A or P II days is less then qualified these days.
For a budget case without any heavy gaming and ocing you can get by with two ide or sata drives with a small 430-450w model. This will also depend on the video card and any other hardwares you have. Make sure any supply you pick out has the 20+4pin main power connector and not an old style 20pin. Some are still seen at times depending on where you shop.
Here the current build needed a move up from a 20pin 430w to a 480w with the 20+4pin once that old Socket A case was replaced. The new build now has an OCZ 700w model while the 480 handled 2 ide drives along with 2 sata HDs and added on top off 2 optical drives. But that was with a low to mid range not high end video card.
Being a smart shopper and leaving room for later expansion with a heavier model according to your own budget would something to look at there. The new sticky on supplies can help point you towards a good make and model according to the type of system you have there. http://www.computerforum.com/90118-useful-psu-guides.html
Antec does have a 380w model supply seeing the 20+4pin main power connector but leaves no room for much there. I moved things up here since I was already adding sata drives to ide in order to increase drive capacity plus more work for the cpu along with other things. That's when a supply with a little extra comes in handy.
The AM2 6000+ X2 sees a 125w output over the typical 65 or 89w model. But it still wasn't power hungry by itself. Here video capturing and others things see a demand for power when the memory is taxed as well as the cpu time plus demand on other hardwares/devices. No onboard video or sound used here but expansion cards adds to the demand a little. Creative SB models are known for this unfortunately.
