Vista slow and losing space

kiM4U · 04-07-2008, 09:30 PM

I have Win Vista and I can for sure say it's a piece of junk compared to XP.
My vista laptop is getting way slow and I don't even know the reason for it. It's getting slower every day, losing HDD space bit by bit every week. but I"m more worried and wanting to solve the speed problem.

Sometimes when I go to uninstall some files in the remove/uninstall thing in the control panel - some programs that should be there aren't, and there are some weird stuff there that was never there before all this happened...

Somebody help..? I'm willing to give more info if needed.. just at this stage I don't know what I'm supposed to do or what I should list out for info.

THanks!

**Dunedin** · 04-08-2008, 04:53 AM

Hello kiM4U

Quote:

there are some weird stuff there that was never there before all this happened

This weird stuff could be malware. Have you checked for that?

If you want help checking the weird entries please post some of them.

If you think you have malware, post a HijackThis log here.
The experts on the forum there will clean it all up for you

http://www.techsupportforum.com/secu...this-log-help/

Read the Red sticky at the top first
http://www.techsupportforum.com/secu...oval-help.html

Do all you can from the instructions. If you can`t run something just miss it out and post the log anyway with a brief description of your problem

**l_b_rex** · 04-08-2008, 07:30 AM

Vista uses 25% of available hard drive space for system restore.
ex.
If your hard drive is 200GB and you are using 29GB for your own files, there is 180GB of free hard drive space.

System restore takes 25% of that = 45GB

Leaving you 135GB showing as available.

The more programs and files you add the less spcae you will see.

IMPORTANT: As you use hard drive space, system restore will only use 25% of available hard drive space and will adapt as files are added.

To Disable system restore use the following link:

http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2...windows-vista/.

As for the speed please provide the amount of memory in system and if vidoe card is integrated or not and which version of Vista you have..

kiM4U · 04-08-2008, 08:51 AM

Alright.. thanks for the space problem - I think that might do it; not sure but I'll get back to you

As for the speed
specs are

Vista
2GHZ
2GB RAM
150GB
DELL
Integrated Video Card (I think, I have to check, I'm on my other laptop atm)

It is a big problem... like when I start my computer - it takes like literally 5 minutes to start up.. and I don't have many programs on it - only required ones for work and stuff...
Before all this - startup took like 30 seconds..

flicky666 · 08-06-2008, 09:53 AM

re losing disc space i went back to factory settings and restored computer BUT still lost space did all system restore points and in the end closed system restore .BUT still lost space 40 gb in one night with nothing running or downloading ,just found something may not be the problem but went into computer (say comps name is arghh its not but everyone has a comp name )look for app data >>>roaming >>>>hover mouse over roaming>>>> see how much space has been allocated if its a lot ,(mine was 69gb)open up see what files are in it see which has the largest amount ,if there is one file holding a lot determine ure self if you want to delete that file i gained 68 .2 gb by deleting this file which had nothing in it it was just a bak file .hope this helps cos ive tried everything else that every body else has done ok good luck (my first post ) flicky666

**jenae** · 08-07-2008, 04:49 AM

Hi, the first thing I would do is follow Dunedins advice and eliminate malware as your problem. Now system restore is a very useful utility and I see no benefit in turning it off unless you have an alternative. It will use around 15% of your HDD (not 25%) still it is a lot. Restore needs around 300mg for each restore point so limiting it to 2 gb should be OK. To do this open a CMD prompt by right clicking and select "run as administrator" at the prompt type :-
vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=2GB

Press enter and reboot to take effect (assumes Vista is on "C")

04-07-2008, 09:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
kiM4U Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 13 OS: WinXP (Media Centre Edition)	Vista slow and losing space I have Win Vista and I can for sure say it's a piece of junk compared to XP. My vista laptop is getting way slow and I don't even know the reason for it. It's getting slower every day, losing HDD space bit by bit every week. but I"m more worried and wanting to solve the speed problem. Sometimes when I go to uninstall some files in the remove/uninstall thing in the control panel - some programs that should be there aren't, and there are some weird stuff there that was never there before all this happened... Somebody help..? I'm willing to give more info if needed.. just at this stage I don't know what I'm supposed to do or what I should list out for info. THanks!

04-08-2008, 07:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
l_b_rex The almighty Dr.Tran! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,096 OS: Vista Home Premium 32 bit	Re: Vista slow and losing space Vista uses 25% of available hard drive space for system restore. ex. If your hard drive is 200GB and you are using 29GB for your own files, there is 180GB of free hard drive space. System restore takes 25% of that = 45GB Leaving you 135GB showing as available. The more programs and files you add the less spcae you will see. IMPORTANT: As you use hard drive space, system restore will only use 25% of available hard drive space and will adapt as files are added. To Disable system restore use the following link: http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2...windows-vista/. As for the speed please provide the amount of memory in system and if vidoe card is integrated or not and which version of Vista you have..

04-08-2008, 08:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
kiM4U Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 13 OS: WinXP (Media Centre Edition)	Re: Vista slow and losing space Alright.. thanks for the space problem - I think that might do it; not sure but I'll get back to you As for the speed specs are Vista 2GHZ 2GB RAM 150GB DELL Integrated Video Card (I think, I have to check, I'm on my other laptop atm) It is a big problem... like when I start my computer - it takes like literally 5 minutes to start up.. and I don't have many programs on it - only required ones for work and stuff... Before all this - startup took like 30 seconds.. Last edited by kiM4U; 04-08-2008 at 08:52 AM.

08-06-2008, 09:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
flicky666 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1 OS: vista home sp1	Re: Vista slow and losing space re losing disc space i went back to factory settings and restored computer BUT still lost space did all system restore points and in the end closed system restore .BUT still lost space 40 gb in one night with nothing running or downloading ,just found something may not be the problem but went into computer (say comps name is arghh its not but everyone has a comp name )look for app data >>>roaming >>>>hover mouse over roaming>>>> see how much space has been allocated if its a lot ,(mine was 69gb)open up see what files are in it see which has the largest amount ,if there is one file holding a lot determine ure self if you want to delete that file i gained 68 .2 gb by deleting this file which had nothing in it it was just a bak file .hope this helps cos ive tried everything else that every body else has done ok good luck (my first post ) flicky666

08-07-2008, 04:49 AM	#6 (permalink)
jenae Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,306 OS: XP & Vista	Re: Vista slow and losing space Hi, the first thing I would do is follow Dunedins advice and eliminate malware as your problem. Now system restore is a very useful utility and I see no benefit in turning it off unless you have an alternative. It will use around 15% of your HDD (not 25%) still it is a lot. Restore needs around 300mg for each restore point so limiting it to 2 gb should be OK. To do this open a CMD prompt by right clicking and select "run as administrator" at the prompt type :- vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=2GB Press enter and reboot to take effect (assumes Vista is on "C")