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I am using a 40GB Hard Drive with Windows XP Professional SP3 and my hard drive is running out of space!!! I'm worried it's gonna run out! I need answers quick! I have Windows Backup turned off and I have used Disk Cleanup to cleanup temporary files. I am stuck at 12.8 GB and it is still starting to decrease, it was at 16GB yesterday!. Is it Windows Movie Maker? I use that sometimes and it saves temporarily somewhere, yet I don't no where, I'm getting sick of using computers because they give me so much stress, PLEASE HELP!!!!
P.S. I barely download anything anymore and barely use the internet as I am usually playing games on it. It is just decreasing for no reason!
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"It is just decreasing for no reason!" That isn't true. There has to be a reason you just haven't found it yet.
Do you use a product called Go Back?
Download and run CCleaner. It will do a better job of cleaning up temporary files.
I don't use movie maker but if you know what the file extension is for those files you can search using a wild card. Also can search using a partial file name. Go to start> search and follow the prompts. The wild card method uses an asterisk instead of the name or file extension. (Example: *.doc)
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40 Gbs is not a large hard disk these days. Windows alone can chew up 10Gbs+ if you let it. Any movie making application will take enormous amounts of a disk space.
I would start thinking about a bigger hard disk, 80 or 120 Gbs is not that expensive.
Stuart
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decrease page file.
decrease storage space allocated to the recycling bin.
in c:\windows, show hidden files and delete all the folders with names like "$NtUninstallKB958687$." Doing so will prevent you from ever uninstalling any Windows Updates you have installed, but this is rarely necessary and typically, these can be deleted without much worry.
you can also do an advanced search on your whole C:\ drive, but only search for files changed or added in the last 7 days, 2 days, whatever, and then sort the results by size. This might give you an idea why your free space is decreasing, what file types are growing or being added, and where they reside.
Once all that is said and done and you can relax again, start thinking about the next step: getting a larger hard drive. you will need to either a) do a fresh install and migrate your data files, or b) use a 3rd party software application like Norton Ghost or Acronis to copy your existing OS installation and push it onto a larger disk.
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I used CCleaner to free up space, I freed up 0.4GB of space and freed up 0.2GB more by lowering pageing settings for virtual ram and storage space for the recyclable bin. I also made sure that auto-save was turned off on Windows Movie Maker. Now with a total of 13.5GB of free space. I'm now keeping an eye on it, but I want to have at least 15GB freed up and have it left like that just in case. Any ideas? P.S. My mother won't let me buy any more computer parts at this time because when I bought an ATA 500GB hard drive, it wasn't compatible and she freaked at me because I only got half the money back by selling it on kijiji >_> So right now I gotta do something about this one.
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P.S. I haven't really sold the 500GB ATA drive, so is there a way for me to convert it to a SATA compatible one? It would be nice if I could do that and use it instead.
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>> I want to have at least 15GB freed up <<
You wont get that on a 40Gb hard drive. You will just about get Windows XP on and as soon as you start installing any application you will start reducing the space at a rapid rate.
You can get an ATA/IDE to SATA converter like this.
http://www.8starshop.com/en/ide-to-...
I wouldn't lower your virtual settings either. Leave it at System Managed as that could lead to out of memory errors.
Stuart
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I have freed up to 15.2GB which is close to what I once had it at. StuartS, I'm going to try your suggestion of the ATA to SATA converter. If it works I will use the newer hard drive that is currently incompatible with my computer. Thank You
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Before i do buy the converter device, is there any way that I can COMPLETELY stop Windows XP from using any more hard drive space? Because even though 500GB is big, it could run out one day because of this.
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Windows wont fill up 500 Gbs, believe me. I only have 120 Gbs and I don't have that problem.
The best thing to do is to learn how to maintain a computer. They are complex machines and just like a motor vehicle, they need a bit of routine maintenance now and again.
Stuart
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I am trading my 500GB ATA hard drive with a guy from kijiji for an IDE 250GB hard drive, I just need to know, does "Norton Ghost" Backup files to a hard drive by sending them to another hard drive including sending the Windows XP files so that it will start on the backup hard drive only? (My new hard drive)
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You are trading a 500 Mb ATA drive for a 250 Mbs IDE drive!
The other guy will be rubbing his hands with glee.
Why is the 500 Gb not compatible?. If the 500 Gb is incompatible there is a very good chance the 250 Gb will be as well.
If you already have a 40 Gb drive you probably already have the facility to install a 500 Gb ATA/IDE drive.
Stuart
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The 48 bit LBA barrier is 127GB. Anything larger than that may not work on an older computer. You can install a controller card to get it working.
StuartS is correct. Don't trade if you haven't already. Install the hard drive internally and if the BIOS does NOT properly identify the drive the model number and FULL capacity then you can temporarily disconnect the cables and order a controller card. You will need an open PCI slot on your motherboard. Most likely that you have that.
Post back for help with the controller card.
I just did a search for your model computer and I THINK you can run that drive without a controller card. If I am wrong cards are under $20 US.
One thing I did notice though. Your power supply is only 185 watts. That is pretty weak. At some point you may need to replace it with something with more wattage.
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OK, thanks for the help, but just so you know, I traded the 500GB drive because my computer does not support ATA. I currently have both my 40GB and 250GB hard drives running, I'm going to transfer all files to the new drive with Norton Ghost. I'll then use the 250GB hard drive as master so that I no longer need the 40GB unless for backup.
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If the drives are both IDE then if your computer can use the 250GB then it could use the 500GB. Whoever told you otherwise is pulling your leg.
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The 500 GB hard drive uses an ATA cable, look up ATA hard drive on Google images, it is very different from the IDE hard drives, my computer does not have the part on the motherboard I need to plug it in, that's why I got the 250GB IDE SATA hard drive.
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Smizz9000
There is no such thing as a IDE SATA hard drive.
You are mistaken. ATA & IDE are different versions of the same standard. All modern ATA drives are also IDE and vice versa. They use the same cables.
You may be referring to Serial ATA or SATA. That is a different cable. Also not ATA.
Look at the links below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Att...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial...
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I would beg to differ OthHill.
The terms IDE and ATA are often erroneously used interchangeably but they refer to different things.
The initials IDE means Integrated Device Electronics and refers to the fact that the controller card is integrated into the drive itself, not a separate item as in SCUSI drives and early MFM and RRL hard disks which did have a separate controller card and used a completely different bus technology.
ATA and SATA refer the electrical characteristics of the interface, voltage levels, control signals, etc.
When there was only ATA it didn't really matter becasue all IDE drives were ATA and all ATA drives were IDE. When SATA came along the IDE was errounsly dropped.
Both PATA and SATA are IDE drives.
Stuart
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StuartS
I know that there are differences in the IDE and ATA standards but modern drives meet both standards. I tried to make that point.
Prior to SATA drives coming to market no one referred to Parallel ATA drives as PATA rather just ATA.
The issue here is that the OP is stating that IDE and ATA drives use a different cable. Other than getting into the 40/80 wire issue that is not true. I pointed out that Serial ATA or SATA IS different.
Anyway, if the OP had ONE SATA and ONE PATA drive then the trade might make some sense.
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