I am working on creating space on a laptop. It has a 250 GB HD. Out of this, apparently almost 25 GB is taken up by system backup/restore partition (I think). So the total disk appears as a 224 GB disk. I started to backup files using the Toshiba Disk Creator but frequently got errors saying it could not continue writing to the DVD because it may have scratches or something to that effect. This happened several times.
After this, when I was actually successful in writing to another DVD, I deleted the folders on the disk that I had backed up to the DVD. Thus I was expecting the free space to go up. But it didn't. I tried using ccleaner, and I also tried rebooting thinking that after reboot I will see more free space. But it didn't.
Eventually I started using another disk burning program (ImgBurn) since I was fed up with the Toshiba Disk Creator and then I noticed that suddenly by free disk space went up from 44 GB to 104 GB. So I thought the problem might have been that Toshiba Disk Creator was creating some kind of cache for storing temp files, but when I looked in AppData I did not see any large files or even a large number of files from my previous unsuccessful attempts at writing to DVDs. Since the free disk space went up, I was happy and I continued using ImgBurn with better results. But after I deleted the folders that I had backed up, I again noticed that sometimes I am not seeing the free disk space go up.
I would appreciate any pointers as to what I should look for or do.
Toshiba Satellite L350 - 3 GB RAM, 250 GB HD
Windows Vista Home Premium with SP2
Intel Core 2 Duo T 6400 (2 GHz)
Please let me know if you need any other information.
Paul, sorry I should have mentioned that I deleted them using Eraser. I found that I did not have to clean the Recycle Bin afterwards if I do it this way and they both (delete vs eraser) take two clicks.
I am looking at the free space from the explorer window. In the left pane, I click on 'Computer' and in the right pane it shows me the disk space (there is only one partition which is C drive).
I will try to attach a screenshot when I get a chance.
Please take a screenshot of Disk Management -
START | diskmgmt.msc
Also, download the zip file, extract the batch file to your desktop. RIGHT-click on the batch file icon, select "Run as Administrator". A notepad will open with information pertaining to VSS/ System Restore. It may take 5-10 seconds to run. Save it as a text file.
One thing to possibly remember.
Explorer doesnt always update correctly.
Try to go to view refresh after a deletion is made and see if the numbers change.
You may even need to close and restart explorer before it will tell the truth.
I have seen this happen on my own machine, but I cant explain why it happens.
It wouldnt explain rebooting and not seeing a change but something to think about when going through this.
I'm not familiar with ERASER but reading about I could understand if it takes a while for the deletion to be reported correctly.
I'd try using the basic explorer deletion method i.e. right click on file/folder and DELETE/Empty recycle Bin or the SHIFT/DELETE method and see if the true value turns up.
Pat is right about needing to REFRESH to see the real picture.
When did you install the OS? It shows only 1 VS/ System Restore point created on 12/14/09.
My figures -
Code:
[FONT=Lucida Console]Disk Management shows your c: drive to be [B]224 GB[/B]
224.17 GB = c: drive per Disk Management
( 30.18) GB = Allocated space by VSS/ System restore
( 100.92) GB Free space
---------
93.07 GB space used c:[/FONT]
=========
93 GB may be a little high even for Vista.
I suggest that you look for the space used. Download either Tree Size Free or Tree Size Pro. Install, then RIGHT-click on the desktop icon, select "Run as administrator" - and watch the screen fill up. It will show you where your space is being used and by what.
@pat mcgroin and Paul R Smith, thank you for the info. I tried refreshing several times, then I exited out of explorer and started it back again. After doing this several time (thinking is taking time for whatever reason to show updated values), I then tried rebooting. On WinXP deleting files using eraser immediately updates the free disk space value.
Thank you for helping me. The OS came installed on the laptop bought directly from Toshiba. I have not changed any settings such as restore point. I had not even checked to see how many restore points are there, but 1 seems low!
[FONT=Lucida Console]Disk Management shows your c: drive to be [B]224 GB[/B]
224.17 GB = c: drive per Disk Management
( 30.18) GB = Allocated space by VSS/ System restore
( 100.92) GB Free space
---------
93.07 GB space used c:[/FONT]
=========
No, it is not all taken up by Vista. There are lot of files and folders on that drive (that is the only drive). I know it is not a good practice to have everything on one drive and ideally there should have been some other partitions (drives?) carved out, but I was not confident of doing it and I did not want to mess with it as the laptop belongs to my brother. So I let it be.
I suggest that you look for the space used. Download either Tree Size Free or Tree Size Pro. Install, then RIGHT-click on the desktop icon, select "Run as administrator" - and watch the screen fill up. It will show you where your space is being used and by what.
Sorry, I don't know!! That it how it was when the laptop arrived. There were no OS disks with it and the literature that came with it said to back the OS up on DVDs, which I have yet to do!!
There is a way to set the recycle bin to not save.
Right click the recycle bin icon and hit properties.
Click the Do not move files to recycle bin button and you will never have to empty it again.
"Backing up the OS on DVDs" = creating the Vista recovery DVDs that may be needed someday. I would perform that task ASAP. My preference is to use DVD-R discs. You will only be able to burn 1 set. Please do it soon.
Whether all is on a single partition or multiple ones these days - is up to the user. I know of the arguments and look at such like experts testifying in a court case - you will find compelling information and reasoning for both. Trying to decide which "expert" is "right" will drive you nuts. To me, it is simply personal preference. I prefer at least 2 partitions b/c I keep BSOD dump files on the non-OS partition.
BTW - bad choice of words on my part to imply that Vista was using 93 GB. However, I have seen Vista OS', excluding VSS, use 75 GB +. Most tonnage will be found in \windows\winsxs
Regards. . .
jcgriff2
.
p.s. You can always create system restore points on your own. They function like generation data groups - if all allocated space is used and a new one is created, the oldest will "fall off the end" (deleted).
START | type rstrui
"Backing up the OS on DVDs" = creating the Vista recovery DVDs that may be needed someday. I would perform that task ASAP. My preference is to use DVD-R discs. You will only be able to burn 1 set. Please do it soon.
Yes, actually you are right. I did not use the right terminology. They did say 'recovery disks' and not 'backup OS'.
OK. I will do it. May I ask the reason for preferring DVD-R discs? Is it so that they won't be accidentally overwritten as they might if they were DVD-RW?
Whether all is on a single partition or multiple ones these days - is up to the user. I know of the arguments and look at such like experts testifying in a court case - you will find compelling information and reasoning for both. Trying to decide which "expert" is "right" will drive you nuts. To me, it is simply personal preference. I prefer at least 2 partitions b/c I keep BSOD dump files on the non-OS partition.
Sorry, this a bit over my head. By 2 partitions do you mean 2 drives? Doesn't each partition have to have a letter? I am not clear if a partition and a drive are the same. Sorry about this ignorance. The screenshot I attached had 3 partitions but no drive letters associated with two of the partitions. Or maybe they don't associate a drive letter with the partition so as to prevent users from writing to it.
BTW - bad choice of words on my part to imply that Vista was using 93 GB. However, I have seen Vista OS', excluding VSS, use 75 GB +. Most tonnage will be found in \windows\winsxs
Regards. . .
jcgriff2
.
p.s. You can always create system restore points on your own. They function like generation data groups - if all allocated space is used and a new one is created, the oldest will "fall off the end" (deleted).
START | type rstrui
If Vista can take that much (up to 75 GB), then there is another area I am not clear about. Out of the 250 GB HD, 25 GB was not available from the moment we got the laptop. So I thought that the backup copy of Vista is stored in that 25 GB perhaps in compressed form.
"Patience" is a required virtue here at TSF !! We all are volunteers.
Run the Treesize app and I think you'll find additional answers.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
JC
.
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