Disk Space keeps changing

dkbond07 · 05-20-2008, 05:01 PM

My computer is freaking me out!! I can check my C: Drive to see how much space is on it and I almost always get something different. One time it might be 1.19GB remaining. Then the next time I look at it I have 635MB remaining.

That's almost 300MB that keeps changing, right? Where does it go and what is going on? I am out of ideas to try.

I have deleted temp internet files, temp folder, cookies, and all that jazz.

**OldGrayGary** · 05-21-2008, 12:58 AM

Hi dkbond07

WindowsMe has an early version of "System Restore", which creates "restore points" that take up space. Such restore points are typically created automatically upon significant events ... such as the installation of a new program, or a Windows update.

DiskCleanup can help clean out temp files, as well as all but the most recent system restore-point. Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>DiskCleanup.

You might also want to run some thorough scans for malware, as they do seem to like to download buddies & have a party on your hard drive.

Best of luck!
. . . Gary

dkbond07 · 05-21-2008, 04:24 PM

I did the scan disk thing on my computer and it actually helped. It found like 70 lost file fragments which I told it to get rid of. I watched my c: go from 835MB free to 2.19GB free

Its amazing what one simple thing can do when it comes to a computer.

What kind of program do you recommend for malware?

**OldGrayGary** · 05-22-2008, 02:01 AM

Hi again

AVG Antivirus 7.5
AVG has a Free Home Version that is fairly light on hardware requirements, and still runs on Windows 9x/Me.

The system requirements:
cpu -- Pentium 300mhz or higher
free hard drive space -- 30mb for installation
system memory ("RAM") --- 256mb.

Here are links to their pages for it - - -
System Requirements --- http://www.grisoft.com/ww.product-av...e-edition#tba3
Download (Click on the link on their webpage that says "Download basic protection" ... anything else will be a version that is not free, and will use more system resources) --- http://www.grisoft.com/ww.product-av...e-edition#tba2

If you plan to go on the Internet with a Windows 9x/Me system, I recommend connecting through a hardware router (many recent broadband 'modems' now have router capabilities built in). And most hardware routers have builtin hardware firewalls -- this can considerably lighten the load for the protection of an older system. Software firewalls are often difficult for older Win9x/Me systems to run for extended periods of time. There is no overhead at all (related to firewall protection) for your home PCs when a hardware firewall is in use.

Best of luck!
. . . Gary

Jlp1928 · 05-22-2008, 06:30 AM

Hi All,

Another thought: The free space on that drive was very low thus was noticeably changeing as the Swap File was being used by the System. Rule of thumb is that 20 to 25% free space should always be maintained. That's probably why cleaning up the drive helped the situation. MAYBE?

Jim

05-20-2008, 05:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
dkbond07 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 20 OS: Windows 98SE	Disk Space keeps changing My computer is freaking me out!! I can check my C: Drive to see how much space is on it and I almost always get something different. One time it might be 1.19GB remaining. Then the next time I look at it I have 635MB remaining. That's almost 300MB that keeps changing, right? Where does it go and what is going on? I am out of ideas to try. I have deleted temp internet files, temp folder, cookies, and all that jazz.

05-21-2008, 12:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Disk Space keeps changing Hi dkbond07 WindowsMe has an early version of "System Restore", which creates "restore points" that take up space. Such restore points are typically created automatically upon significant events ... such as the installation of a new program, or a Windows update. DiskCleanup can help clean out temp files, as well as all but the most recent system restore-point. Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>DiskCleanup. You might also want to run some thorough scans for malware, as they do seem to like to download buddies & have a party on your hard drive. Best of luck! . . . Gary __________________

05-21-2008, 04:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
dkbond07 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 20 OS: Windows 98SE	Re: Disk Space keeps changing I did the scan disk thing on my computer and it actually helped. It found like 70 lost file fragments which I told it to get rid of. I watched my c: go from 835MB free to 2.19GB free Its amazing what one simple thing can do when it comes to a computer. What kind of program do you recommend for malware?

05-22-2008, 02:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 2,240 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Disk Space keeps changing Hi again AVG Antivirus 7.5 AVG has a Free Home Version that is fairly light on hardware requirements, and still runs on Windows 9x/Me. The system requirements: cpu -- Pentium 300mhz or higher free hard drive space -- 30mb for installation system memory ("RAM") --- 256mb. Here are links to their pages for it - - - System Requirements --- http://www.grisoft.com/ww.product-av...e-edition#tba3 Download (Click on the link on their webpage that says "Download basic protection" ... anything else will be a version that is not free, and will use more system resources) --- http://www.grisoft.com/ww.product-av...e-edition#tba2 If you plan to go on the Internet with a Windows 9x/Me system, I recommend connecting through a hardware router (many recent broadband 'modems' now have router capabilities built in). And most hardware routers have builtin hardware firewalls -- this can considerably lighten the load for the protection of an older system. Software firewalls are often difficult for older Win9x/Me systems to run for extended periods of time. There is no overhead at all (related to firewall protection) for your home PCs when a hardware firewall is in use. Best of luck! . . . Gary __________________

05-22-2008, 06:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 441 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Re: Disk Space keeps changing Hi All, Another thought: The free space on that drive was very low thus was noticeably changeing as the Swap File was being used by the System. Rule of thumb is that 20 to 25% free space should always be maintained. That's probably why cleaning up the drive helped the situation. MAYBE? Jim