Absolutely no disk space

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taratoes

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Oct 15, 2013
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Please help!!! I have never downloaded anything or saved music to my laptop... I have only 100 or so photos stored so why is my hard drive disk space full? this is driving me insane as i rarely use it but now that I want to install drivers and updates it wont leave me!!
 
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dwatterworth

dwatterworth

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The additional space is probably being taken up by saved windows backups and temporary files if you don't have any other files downloaded/on the hard drive.

Try this:
1. Start menu
2. Programs
3. Accessories
4. System tools
5. Disk Cleanup
6. Check everything off that reports to be taking up a large amount of space other than an option for 'compress old files' -- compress option was last available on XP I believe.
7. Click OK.
8. Repeat, get to Disk Cleanup and select 'Clean system files' and/or then go to 'More options'.
9. In 'More options' select 'Clean Up' under the 'System Restore and Shadow Copies' section and then hit ok.

 
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taratoes

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I've done the cleanup 3 or 4 times i have also uninstalled anything i dont need but it is still not freeing up any space?? I have also done the disk defragment the whole lot
 
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dwatterworth

dwatterworth

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In that case, I agree with Coastie65. If the included tools with your OS don't work, you'll have to do a little hunting around on your own. That application Coastie65 linked will be great with the graphic representation of used space, very easy to find the culprit(s).
 
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taratoes

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it wont let me run it :( grrr i think it's off to a pro!!! thanks for ur help :pfff:
 
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taratoes

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Thanks it's vista basic.. I know it's old but only ever used for facebook .... I tried the link and right clicking however i get a message saying failed low disk space!!! think it's time 2 get new laptop or ext. hard drive
 
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taratoes

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I have got it to work and windows is using 76% of my disk space, i have gone through every program but all i have are the basic programs that actually run the laptop.... sooo frustrating... would using my hard drive back up disks help clean it up??
 
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dwatterworth

dwatterworth

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A good question we should have asked is how big is your hard drive? Vista with updates should take about 20 gigs or so.

Yes on the back up disks. A clean install would give you the most amount of free hard drive space possible as long as you have everything backed up elsewhere.
 
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taratoes

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I'm only doing this for a friend. It doesn't have a huge memory anyway to begin with..think it 80 gb hdd/ 1gb ddr2 She had it working away and changed her internet from plug in stick to mobile wi-fi, then all her problems started with low disk warnings... couldn't get wi-fi to connect when plugged in, only wireless access and local only access at that so brought it to a pro?????? paid €120 to get it sorted and since then disk space totally used up, so i don't even know if the hard drive back up disks he made would be any good! Would I not end up having same problems again with modem/wi-fi???? I really appreciate u helpinG me out here, Us women are no good at technology lol....
 
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viper1979

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I just ran into this problem with a clients computer. Ended up being a virus that sucked up all the space on the hard drive. What virus/malware protection do you have on your computer? I recommend downloading Avast! for virus protection and run a boot time scan, download and install Spybot Search and destroy and Malwarebytes. You can get all of these items from download.com. I would boot your computer into safe mode first. Press F8 when you computer first turns on and choose Safemode with Networking. From there, you should be able to get into the computer, delete a few files to install WINDIRSTAT. That will tell you where the virus(if that is what it is) is creating this huge file(or files) so you can delete them and install the programs mentioned.

Good luck

-T
 
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coastie65

coastie65

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I was running MSE, but started having some issues. I have been running the free version Of Avast! in a couple of my computers as well as Webroot. I have Malwarebytes for an on demand Scanner as well as SUPERantispyware. I have gone to thepaid Version of Avast! Pro as well as Webroot on here now.
 
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taratoes

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Thank you Viper 1979 I will try that fingers crossed :) Hope it works now as she rarely uses laptop, bought it brand new and has only used it for facebook and never so much as watched a video on youtube... Horrible to spend crazy money on something that the less u use it, the more it doesnt work, have had my own one 5 years downloaded hundreds of movies, games etc. and still have over half the space left on it!!! same make different model and os.... thanks again for ur suggestion will keep u posted :) It's AVG antivirus as avast let in a few viruses last time and was really annoying...
 
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viper1979

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Avast! is used for virus's. Malwarebytes is used for other forms of malware other than virur's. Spybot is used for the same thing as Malwarebytes. All three of these programs work well together which was why I recommended them.

-T
 
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viper1979

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That is why I recommended she use all three items.

-T
 
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coastie65

coastie65

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The FREE version of MalwareBytes doesn't run actively and the reason I have it as on demand. The FREE version of SUPERantispyware doesn't run actively either. Those two FREE versions are good as on Demand scanners, but you need to have something running actively, I have the FREE version of Avast! on a couple of my Computers as well as Webroot ( Free with my Internet service, but has no antivirus ( Avast! takes care of that ). You do need to have something running actively to cover evrything.
 
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taratoes

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Oct 15, 2013
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Still no joy not enough disk space to install avast!! it wont even scan on avg or run little updates as it is so full... Will definitely have to get it to a pro.... Oh well, thank god it's not my own laptop I would be after hopping it off of the nearest wall... U guys are very good I thank you all very much for ye'r patience and advice But I just give up, no way qualified to be trying out anything else lol Thanks again guys xoxoxox lotsa love from Cork :)
 
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coastie65

coastie65

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Are you referring to Dr Web Cure It ? That doesn't install on your Hdd. Photos can use up a lot of disk space. I don't know which Operating system you have, but you need to go in and see how much space is alloted for System Restore.

Ok. you said you had Vista. Use this to check the alloed space: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76227-system-restore-disk-space.html
 
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