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Low disk space question

16 years ago

Hello all!

Sometime poster on the kt board here--now needing your expert help!

I keep getting a message that my disk space is low--then it prompts me to empty recycle, which I then do.

When I go to my computer and check my properties, it shows that my "D" (recovery)drive is full. Upon clicking on that, it looks like it is full with all old backup files from the automatic backup. Is it okay to delete these in order to free up space? Some go back more than a year.

I have also run disk defrag and disk cleanup.I have spybot, ad-aware, and avg installed. This is about my limit for computer maintenance.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Alaways

Comments (21)

  • 16 years ago

    Don't mess with the recovery drive. That's there in case of emergency and is supposed to be full.

    The drive that keeps filling up on you is your C: drive. You probably need to archive off some files to CD or DVD or else you need to get a new drive with more space.

  • 16 years ago

    go to My Computer look at the properties for your C drive and see what it says for how big it is and how much is used and how much is free space.

  • 16 years ago

    Thanks for the replies.
    It is definitely my "D" drive (recovery drive) that is full. My "C" drive is only 50% used.
    Any suggestions?

  • 16 years ago

    What operating system is it that you keep getting the disk space is low message?

  • 16 years ago

    The error generated could be an indication of a corrupt Recycle Bin.

    Let me know if the message continues to occur. Let me know operating system.

  • 16 years ago

    Operating system is windows vista. Is that what you are asking? Sorry to be so dumb! lol

  • 16 years ago

    Is this an HP or Compaq computer? If not what is it.

    Also is Norton system works installed?

  • 16 years ago

    Since your getting a recycle bin message too lets look below at the instructions

    If you still get the low disk message and empty recycle bin message see below.

    1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window. To open an elevated Command Prompt, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

    2. Type the following command and press ENTER:
    rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin

    (This clears out the $Recycle.bin folder from the C:\ partition. You may have to do this for each hard disk partition in your system.)

    3. Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.

    The above method fixes Recycle Bin folder corruption, if any.

    Try that first no luck, I need to know make and model.

  • 16 years ago

    If it's hp or compaq see link

    Here is a link that might be useful: hp

  • 16 years ago

    Ok--I tried this and nothing happened:

    1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window. To open an elevated Command Prompt, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

    2. Type the following command and press ENTER:
    rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin

    (This clears out the $Recycle.bin folder from the C:\ partition. You may have to do this for each hard disk partition in your system.)

    3. Type exit to close the Command Prompt window.

    Nothing happened when I did this--did it for both drives.

    This is a Gateway laptop--a cheapie--guess I got what I paid for, LOL

    Thanks again for the suggestions---keep 'em coming if you have any more!

  • 16 years ago

    Ok it's odd how it prompts you to empty the recycle bin. I'll continue to look for a solution.

  • 16 years ago

    See Gateway link for other ideas. Good luck and let us know if it fixes the warning message.

    Here is a link that might be useful: support.gateway.com

  • 16 years ago

    Is it possible that the automatic backup is dumping the oldest backup into the recycle bin when it creates a new backup, Zep?

    Pam

  • 16 years ago

    I'm stumped on this one about the recycle bin message. I know Norton System Works has it's own recycle bin too. If Norton System works is installed I suppose you could look at that but I'm guessing, shadow copies in Vista could be an issue but that would not generate a recycle bin message that I know of.

  • 16 years ago

    You might consider using the Sytem File Checker for corrupt or missing files in Vista

    Click Start/All programs/Accessoies/Command prompt. In this window type sfc /scannow - note the space after sfc and the 2 nn. This will go through checking, you may need to insert your DVD or point to the file on the recovery partition. Possibly you may have to check for Windows updates afterwards.

    Other then that you could consider saving your personal data then restore the computer to the factory defaults so it will be exactly as it was when you bought it.

  • 16 years ago

    Think I would simple delete all my backup drive and start a fresh backup.

  • 16 years ago

    Owbist---
    I tried this: Click Start/All programs/Accessoies/Command prompt. In this window type sfc /scannow ---it ran and now says "protection did not find any integrity violations"

    As pk said "Is it possible that the automatic backup is dumping the oldest backup into the recycle bin when it creates a new backup, Zep? " I am leaning towards this. I am just not sure what I can/can't dump without creating a larger problem for myself.

    Thanks again for the suggestions

  • 16 years ago

    When you ran that rd kill tree command the /q = quiet. It does its job and says nothing.

  • 16 years ago

    I got a very nice 750gb serial ATA drive for $60 from Amazon
    in Feb 2010. A place called JDMadera on ebay sells a
    removable drive carriage for it for $13. Buy the two
    and you can put in and out that or any drive (serial)
    or get one each, serial / parallel and pop in / out
    any drive. This will give you free space and help you
    manage your data , safely, with a way to store it if you
    want it safe.

    Look on gogle for any 'file I can delete safely'.

    Don't take it's word for it. read and undersand before you
    do anything. However anything with a

    tmp at the end of the filename is OK to delete.

    If you're unsure do this:

    RAR or ZIP up all of the files that are .tmp files from
    any one directory so that when you later unzip them they
    can all go back to that same directory. Makes housekeeping
    easy..

    Then after zipping or rarring them delete them (not the
    rar or zip file of course). If after a month or two you
    don't seem to need them of course then delete them.
    That's a method to help you save space.

    But I'd spend the $60 or $75 and get the peace of mind
    of having backup, safety, and anew thinking process to
    help you manage what will ALWAYS bea a constant problem

    Good luck.
    Andre

  • 16 years ago

    1GB portable drive earlier i noticed on newegg for like 79 dollar.

  • 16 years ago

    Are you sure you mean 1GB? Surely you mean 1TB.