spencerfrater Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 I have an old PC with only a 20GB hard drive. I am rapidly running out of space so bought an external hard drive. But I must try to keep my internal drive less than 20GB and it's getting close!The problem is my WINDOWS folder is over 7GB and seems to be growing - surely this cannot be normal (I am running Windows XP Home). Please could someone suggest what should be normal and what I can do about this folder. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Welcome to Windows Forum.My Windows folder is 5.61GB, so I guess that 7 is perhaps fine. Someone else may have a better idea. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 I'm running on XP Home too.This is the size of my Windows File... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 How much of the 7 is just swap file usage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 I'm running on XP Home too.This is the size of my Windows File... Much the same as mine. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerfrater Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 How much of the 7 is just swap file usage?How do I check what is swap file usage, and can this be reduced in size?Mine is still about 1GB larger than those of you who have replied.Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 How much of the 7 is just swap file usage?How do I check what is swap file usage, and can this be reduced in size?Mine is still about 1GB larger than those of you who have replied.Thanks for your help.Sorry but I can not tell you that because I know as much about XP as Gordom Brown knows about economics and finance. I can tell you that in W98 it was possible to control the size by setting your own limit via Control Panel>System>Performance>Virtual Memory and about 6x RAM was alleged to be sufficient...but times change. I know that given a chance it would gobble up most of the HD. However since it was dynamic it was capable of giving it up as needed. All it did was just give the CPU fairy more shelves to look on when she was out searching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 The swap file is not normally in the C:\Windows folder - it is PAGEFILE.SYS and sits in C:\ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Within Windows - what is your biggest folder ? I run XP Pro and my C:\Windows is 4.4GB in totalThe two biggest folders within it are :-System32 (1.37GB)Installer (0.99GB) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerfrater Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Within Windows - what is your biggest folder ? I run XP Pro and my C:\Windows is 4.4GB in totalThe two biggest folders within it are :-System32 (1.37GB)Installer (0.99GB)There are loads of $NTuninstallKB...'s folders. Some are quite large and there are over a hundred.SYSTEM32 is 1.06 GB and I don't have an 'Installer' folder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 SYSTEM32 is 1.06 GB and I don't have an 'Installer' folder.You need to enable "Show Hidden Files and Folders" within Tools/Folder Options to see your Installer folder :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 There are loads of $NTuninstallKB...'s folders. Some are quite large and there are over a hundred.I have a similar number :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Download, install, and run CCleaner.Move your page file to the external HD.You need to configure CCleaner somewhat before running it for the first time, e.g. go to Options | Cookies, and move all the cookies you want to keep (i.e. login cookies) from the left to the right.CCleaner has an option to remove all Hotfix uninstallers (the $NTuninstallKB... files). Back them up to your external HD, then check that option in CCleaner (near the bottom of the Windows Advanced options).I do not at this stage recommend that you use CCleaner's Registry cleaner tools. It won't help you with your HD space problems anyway.For details how to move your page file to another location see this article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307886 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 You may also want to delete old restore points from your main drive (C: ?). Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Cleanup. Wait until the main panel appears; it may take a few minutes while it analyzes your disk. On the main panel click the More Options tab, then in the System Restore section click Clean up. This will delete all but the most recent system restore points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 My Windows folder is 5.61GB, so I guess that 7 is perhaps fine. Someone else may have a better idea. :DI just checked mine and my Windows folder is just over 4 GB in size.I've just noticed 2 other folders that I've never seen before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 This will delete all but the most recent system restore points.Hang on there, that last word should be singular! Clean up deletes all but the very last restore point! So it's very drastic action to take. I think a better idea is to reduce the amount of space used to keep restore points. You'll find this facility from My Computer>select the HD or partition with Windows on>Properties>System Properties>System Restore. There's a slider which can be adjusted to increase/decrease the space taken up by System Restore. Experiment cautiously with it.Paging file size shouldn't be a problem with XP as Windows adjusts its working size according to needs. But you can adjust the max and min sizes if necessary, but the defaults are optimum for most users.Moving its location to another HD with more memory will definitely save you space and speed up your computer.From what you say I think using CCleaner should also give you a more space, as Pat Willener suggests.I checked my own Windows file and its only 3.4GB after 30 months. But I run a minimalist system with some useless or dangerous Windows options not running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerfrater Posted March 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Download, install, and run CCleaner.Move your page file to the external HD.You need to configure CCleaner somewhat before running it for the first time, e.g. go to Options | Cookies, and move all the cookies you want to keep (i.e. login cookies) from the left to the right.CCleaner has an option to remove all Hotfix uninstallers (the $NTuninstallKB... files). Back them up to your external HD, then check that option in CCleaner (near the bottom of the Windows Advanced options).I do not at this stage recommend that you use CCleaner's Registry cleaner tools. It won't help you with your HD space problems anyway.For details how to move your page file to another location see this article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307886Hey - thanks Pat. I just cleaned up 1.5GB with CCleaner. If I move the page file to the external HD, will I need to have the external HD switched on whenever my PC is switched on?Thanks everyone for all your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 How much actual RAM is there in the PC ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 I'm running on XP Home too.This is the size of my Windows File... Much the same as mine. :DI know one shouldn't brag - and one is not normally guilty of such gross conduct - but one cannot resist pointing out that one's thingamajig is oodles bigger than yours.I get a broader Vista you know......................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 This will delete all but the most recent system restore points.Hang on there, that last word should be singular! Clean up deletes all but the very last restore point!Ah, but no - the operative word here is delete. It will delete all but the most recent system restore points. At least that is my interpretation. However, the Disk Cleanup tools says "You can free more disk space by removing all but the most recent restore point". So now it's me vs. Microsoft and Dencandy, so I stand down. :P So it's very drastic action to take. I think a better idea is to reduce the amount of space used to keep restore points. You'll find this facility from My Computer>select the HD or partition with Windows on>Properties>System Properties>System Restore. There's a slider which can be adjusted to increase/decrease the space taken up by System Restore. Experiment cautiously with it.I have to agree with this; it's a better and safer approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Pat Willener, am I right in saying that most manuals, & Microsoft themselves, say that System Restore can be turned off on all drives and partitions other than the one on which Windows is stored? Woiuld that be safe even if the Paging File, for example, is kept on another disk/partition? Maybe it's better to keep it turned on there, but with a reduced amount of space, "just in case". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
y2khardtop Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Mine is 4.5gig, but it is a relatively new install.This is what I suggest. Reduce restore point usage to the smallest available, and move your virtual memory to the external drive (it is faster this way as well). It might be time for a clean install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 System Restore can be turned off on all drives and partitions other than the one on which Windows is stored? That should read: "Can System Restore safely be turned off on all drives...other than the one on which Windows is stored?" y2khardtop, if Restore Point capacity is reduced to the smallest available that's only 1% of disk/partition space - leaving hardly enough for even one Restore Point, let alone several. Not very advisable in my experience. It's a lot easier, and safer, to do a System Restore than a complete re-install. I'd stick to 10 or 12% to give you more leeway for Restore Points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 It might be time for a clean install.In the almost 7 years I have had this heavily-used Windows XP system, it had never occurred to me to reinstall. In fact, unless there is a serious hardware crash, I cannot imagine why I would want to reinstall Windows. Software malfunctions can be cured otherwise (e.g. restore from backup, etc.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 Pat Willener, am I right in saying that most manuals, & Microsoft themselves, say that System Restore can be turned off on all drives and partitions other than the one on which Windows is stored? Woiuld that be safe even if the Paging File, for example, is kept on another disk/partition? Hello Pat Willener... any views about the above? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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