My Hard drive is full ?

[Lucky_Phill]

One for the IT guru's.

I copied a large amount ( 10.4GB ) of files containing word docs, videos and photos from my PC to a USB, downloaded all those files onto my Laptop.

I then sent all those files to the recycle bin on my PC and emptied it.

I checked my hard drive and I only have 1.24GB of free space.

Why is this so and how do I fix this ?

thanks in advance.


LP

[Andy H]

What brand of hard drive is it?

[TheRealAndy]

Download windirstat, it will show file usage on you drive. Used to be a free app.

[JulianDeMarchi]

One for the IT guru's.

I copied a large amount ( 10.4GB ) of files containing word docs, videos and photos from my PC to a USB, downloaded all those files onto my Laptop.

I then sent all those files to the recycle bin on my PC and emptied it.

I checked my hard drive and I only have 1.24GB of free space.

Why is this so and how do I fix this ?

thanks in advance.


LP

I'd double check you did delete them. It sounds weird. After a reboot did the space re-appear?

--julian

[Sprinter1]

Open the directory on the drive. That should show you what files are stored on there and the size. Id be surprised if your hard drive only has a capacity of what 15gb? if you think its those files that mean its full.

[Zippidy]

Can you take a screenshot of your drives and post?

Open up My Computer and then print screen that.

[Lucky_Phill]

screen shot.

I haven't rebooted or turned my PC off since I removed files .

[JulianDeMarchi]

screen shot.

I haven't rebooted or turned my PC off since I removed files .

Try a reboot. Sometimes it can keep files open untill a reboot, which means sapce won't be recovered until then. I have my doubts about this, so upon reboot and the space is still gone, read this link. http://lifehacker.com/5915921/the-best-disk-space-analyzer-for-windows

The program mentioned will go through your HDD and tell you where all the space is being used.

Good luck!

[Zippidy]

Try the Disk Cleanup in your picture and select every option.

[Andy H]

Man you gotta reboot it!

[JulianDeMarchi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn2FB1P_Mn8

[Lucky_Phill]

I haven't turned this PC off since early September 2013.

I hope it will re-start. if that's what you mean by re-boot ?


LP

[JulianDeMarchi]

I haven't turned this PC off since early September 2013.

I hope it will re-start. if that's what you mean by re-boot ?


LP

If it doesn't I'm only down the road from you and happy to look... haha! It'll be fine though!

[Andy H]

Mate once you've restarted it you'll find it's going to run heaps better. If it starts.

[Lucky_Phill]

Mate once you've restarted it you'll find it's going to run heaps better. If it starts.

IF IT STARTS ??????? aaarrggghghhh do you any idea how much technology hates me ???


LP

[The Silver Unicorn]

IF IT STARTS ??????? aaarrggghghhh do you any idea how much technology hates me ???


LP

Considering electricity wasn't invented until you were 45 years old, i think you've done well!

[Lucky_Phill]

well, I rebooted and it turned back on....after a while. seems I gained .03GB by doing so.... mmmmm

[Funchy]

Harvey Norman has 48 months interest free? :-P

[groverwa]

Go to control panel > internet options and delete temporary internet files as this can make a PC constipated.

Do a search for all files on the PC and see what happens but b4 you do that go to control panel and set file types to view hidden files.

Mike

[TheRealAndy]

Honestly, install windirstat, it will take all the guesswork out of it.

IT also give you a bunch of tools to clean up unwanted files.

[Lucky_Phill]

Thanks guys, but I would really like to know why I deleted over 10 GB of shit and didn't gain any HD space. ????

[Andy H]

I bet you copied all the information to a different folder on your hdd instead of onto the usb drive.

[Lucky_Phill]

OK, I went to windirstat and it reidrected me to spiceworks.

I have downloaded it and what now ???????????????

[The Black Unicorn]

I haven't turned this PC off since early September 2013.

I hope it will re-start. if that's what you mean by re-boot ?


LP

I've heard of a bloke that did that with a Honda Outboard. Still running...........

[Lucky_Phill]

I bet you copied all the information to a different folder on your hdd instead of onto the usb drive.

well I....... > " send to "...... Lexar ( which was the USB stick ), and I didn't copy anything. It made it to the stick, I then uploaded that info to my Laptop...

[The Silver Unicorn]

I've heard of a bloke that did that with a Honda Outboard. Still running...........

Do you mean he leaves it running whilst at anchor? Nobody is that silly.

[rosco1974]

give it a couple of handshakes phill and it will be done

[The Black Unicorn]

Do you mean he leaves it running whilst at anchor? Nobody is that silly.

Yep that's him. Do you know him? Apparently he even leaves it running at home. Just leaves the hose attached. His water bill is expensive but the Honda is reliable. It only has 729,356,234.7 hrs on it!

[TheRealAndy]

OK, I went to windirstat and it reidrected me to spiceworks.

I have downloaded it and what now ???????????????


That aint windirstat, this is: https://windirstat.info/ and this is the (still free) download: http://www.fosshub.com/download/windirstat1_1_2_setup.exe

Its just a treeview, and it has a indicators to show you how much each directory is taking up. drill down into that directory to find out whats using up all you diskpace.

It look like this: https://windirstat.info/images/windirstat.jpg

Left side shows you folders/directories, right sid shows you what file types are taking up all the space. Bottom is some shit that is pointless, but dont let that distract you from the real power off that application. Once insalled, it takes a few minutes to chug over you hard drive and discover eveything.

[groverwa]

well I....... > " send to "...... Lexar ( which was the USB stick ), and I didn't copy anything. It made it to the stick, I then uploaded that info to my Laptop...

Phil - As stated in your quote you used send to but send to does not delete files from the source as it merely copies the files to the destination drive as ordered by the operator. In other words all the files are where they started an you will still have to delete them.

I have tried this action on my PC and it is as I have indicated.

Have a look at the original folder and I reckon that they are still there.

Mike

[tunaticer]

Send to does not delete from the first drive it copies it to the destination Phill.
Go back and delete the files you meant to cut and paste or MOVE to the USB stick.

[TheRealAndy]

Oh, and when you delete, if you hit shift at the same time it goes for good rather than going in the recylce bin (hit shift, right click, then delete).

[Lucky_Phill]

That aint windirstat, this is: https://windirstat.info/ and this is the (still free) download: http://www.fosshub.com/download/windirstat1_1_2_setup.exe

Its just a treeview, and it has a indicators to show you how much each directory is taking up. drill down into that directory to find out whats using up all you diskpace.

It look like this: https://windirstat.info/images/windirstat.jpg

Left side shows you folders/directories, right sid shows you what file types are taking up all the space. Bottom is some shit that is pointless, but dont let that distract you from the real power off that application. Once insalled, it takes a few minutes to chug over you hard drive and discover eveything.

well why did winstat thing re-direct me to somne other friggin web address ?

I will attempt to download it again

[Lucky_Phill]

OK seems i haven't made myself CLEAR.

I sent files to the USB

I also " deleted " the same files and they ended up in the recycle bin

I emptied the recycle bin and the files were gone.

the files equalled 10.4gb

I now have 1.2 GB space left on my hard drive, so it seems I did not delete anything from the hard drive...

Question....... why did it not get deleted from the hard drive ?

[Lucky_Phill]

OK, for the IT retarded folks here..... that'll be me... what am I looking for ?

All I want to do is free up some space on my 80gb Hard drive ?

[Lucky_Phill]

OK, Thanks Andy. I found the specific items I thought I sent to the recycle bin.

I remoeved them, by sending ti recycle bin and emptied the bin.... I now have 17 GB space freed up

cheers

[Lucky_Phill]

this looks a lot better

[Scalem]

Hey Phil, I just found 30Gb of disk space on my old laptop because there was an app that in this case, Lenovo Thinkvantage was taking automated backups and hiding on a separate disk partition. Do a search on yours for "rescue and recovery" and you never know what you might find. Just a thought you might be accruing backups you don't really need if you are backing up other ways such as external media or cloud. Worked for me!

Now that you have found some disk space, do a disk defrag too.....

Cheers

Scalem

[Lucky_Phill]

pic of properties after defrag ( took about 50 minutes )

[Lucky_Phill]

I gained .5 of a GB from the defrag... ??

[marto78]

This is a defrag :

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/what-is-disk-defragmentation#1TC=windows-7

Seeing as how you have done this now do a "disk cleanup".

It is surprising how much extra crap is stored on your hard drive that can be cleaned up by this.

After reading this thread I remembered to do mine and there was an extra 13.4 Gb of crap on there that is now deleted.

[tunaticer]

Disc cleanup should be performed prior to defrags, disc cleanup can leave behind substantial fragments.

Have you purged the registry Phill? Second thoughts, do not attempt it Phill, pay someone to do it for you.