WTF??? whats up with my HD space?? Created 18 years ago2006-08-15 00:38:06 UTC by RotatorSplint

Earlier today, I got a warning in my task bar saying that I had an extremely low amount of disk space on my HD. When I looked, i had 109 MB (mind you, its a 40 GB HD). The last time I checked (some time about a month ago) i had over 1.5 GB open. I have no recolection of installing anything since then or DLing large files.

So my question is... (And yes i know it sounds paranoid, but what can you say about current day internet?) is it possible that a hacker is taking my computer's HD space? And if so, for what? I have a cable router with an integrated firewall, just so you know. And if it is impossible for that to be true, and it IS just me and my imagination, then thank you for pointing that out.

Still, losing that kind of space randomly is a little disconcerting, so if anybody has any clue about this, please share your thoughts!

Thank you

in a month you:
a) collect a lot of random little files surfing
b) download lots
c) make a lot of files yourself

1.5 GB is not much at all these days.
this is not a hacking problem.

my advice:
delete some random stuff that you dont need.
do a disk cleanup
reduce the size of the pagefile
zip long-term files
burn underused files to disk
get a new hard drive

also, a program called SpaceMonger that shows what ratio of files are where, in a nice graphical display.

Get a registry cleaner.

Steam...

New updates added at least another 500mb.

Mmm, all very good points; especially the Steam updates: I imagine that updates and ad-ons like the SDK Base take much space.

I've actually already begun storing video and rarely-used files and folders to CDs. I was planning on gettin a new comp, so it's about time that I did this anyway. It's true though, 1.5 GB is definitely not much, but its a good amount of space for virtual memory... especially with games like BF2 being played on a 2-year-old Dell.

Thanks for all your help, didnt know if my comp was going to explode or somthing

EDIT: there 1.35 GB free! ty y'all

is it possible that a hacker is taking my computer's HD space? And if so, for what?

They're storing all their porn on your computer so nobody can find it.

GASP Not like I mind

Seriously tho, seeing so little space really surprised me.

Penguin: That little program is awesomely awesome. That's right.

Awesomely awesome.

In fact, I'm going to burn the installer to a CD so I can keep it FOR EVER AND EVER AND EVER.

EDIT:
Holy shnizzle!!! 1.1 GB is taken up in google videos - I only have 4 of them !

You really should splash out on a bigger disk, I've got spare 40gig drives just lying around from old pcs. SpaceMonger should sort out your problem, I use it all the time for finding where my shit is.

If you have a habit of getting lots of warezed games, burn them on discs (DVDs prefferably). My downloads partition filled up in no time with lousy huge-ass games.

My C drive reaches as low as 600mb sometimes, when earlier in the day it'll have been 2gb.

It's just temp files... if i restart the PC, it'll be back up at 2gb.

i suggest you split your HDD into 3 drives (although.. maybe not when its only 40gb...)

1 for windows (C) (15gb)
1 for steam (10gb)
1 for media and other games (15gb)

There is another possibility that he should be aware of. I don't know if it happens to that degree or not, but Spyware/Malware can multiply after it gets on your system. I saw a program (Call for Help for anyone that's seen it) where they purposly installed b/w 2 and 5 pieces of spyware on a system to test the effective list of spyware removers. When they did the scans, the number had ballooned to 30+ files (system was clean b4 the first ones were installed). Do you run regular scans for spyware and viruses?

1.5 GB ! I had about 3.5 on both drives and found it was easy to fill up...I had to remove a lot of good stuff just to defrag...You need 15% free according to the defragger I use.

yea defragmentation is only effective if you have 15% fre so the programm has space to move and sort the files. check your temporary internet files thats usually a vrey large folder though its in an invisible folder, try searching for it. the folder stores nearly everysingle file you dl from the internet including the ad pictures and avvys and shit. cookies basicly so pages load faster,but if youve been on alot of sites only once or very few times ints not that necesarry to have those things take up space.

Are you insane, hunter? Only 10 for steam?

You used 40GB? Big deal. I've used about 98% of my 220GB.

Seriously, though, SequoiaView is the best diskspace-analysis tool.

i wouldnt only use 10 for steam, im just thinking about the tiny thing that is a 40gb HDD..

i personally have a 25gb drive for steam.

40GB is ridiculous. I have 39.4GB of games alone...

sequoiaview produces almost exactly the same results as spacemonger..

I prefer spacemonger, for some reason that I forget now.

spacemonger doesnt require you to highlight the blogs to see what they are, it also organises directories better

Sorry it took me so long to reply, I was gone for a couple of days..

Anyway, Penguin, when I go to Start > Program Files > SpaceMonger > SpaceMonger, it says that "my copy of SpaceMonger has expired and is therefore not usable, and that I must download a new copy or buy a full copy".

Did I accidentally DL a timed version, not the full freeware version?

@Everybody else: I have a measley 40 GB hard drive. Yes, it's sad. I got this trusty little Dell about 2 years ago, and its time is almost up. But Christmass is comming and my parents are chippin' in 1/3rd of the cost for the new one... just so you all know.

I would also be interested in learning how to "Split my DH into sepparate chunks" Or did you mean 3 physical drives? :

Thanks for the replies every1

EDIT: I found the no-time-limit version, problem solved

spacemonger doesnt require you to highlight the blogs to see what they are, it also organises directories better

The new versions aren't free, either.

I really need to start using Sequoiaview myself... maybe tonight I will try it!

A couple things you wouldn't think of that take up lots of space, but do:

-3GB of Dod Screen shots--I hit f5 everytime I get multiple or nade kills, or see cool architeture

-1.2GB saved by disabling hibernation

-12GB for system restore--I bumped it down to 1 or 2 I think.

-600MB by purging my "local settings" folder

-600MB in .mdmp files in valvE folder

I think Defraging frees up space, but I've never checked to confirm. I've heard of HDD cleaners out there but never tried them.

Good Luck!

Ooooo 40 gb..look out!

Last year before I cleaned up I had been using all of my 1.2 tb total drive space. I made a lot of movies.

Defraging certaintly made my system faster

@Rowlybob 12GB for system restore!?!?!

I hope that's a type-o

Rowley you've never defragged?!?! You don't need anything but Windows XP, you know?

Seriously, though, SequoiaView is the best diskspace-analysis tool.

I prefer WinDirStat. It's prettier, and it's very easy to see which types of files are sucking up the storage.

@Rowlybob 12GB for system restore!?!?!

That's what it was set to, until I turned it down!

Rowley you've never defragged?!?!

What I meant was I never monitored my HDD space before/after Defragging to see if it impacted free space.

On my old machine I never defragged at all! Now, I do it every month or so

Satchmo: Neat...I'll check that one out as well.

I defrag every week. Keeps my HDD happy.

System Restore is utterly useless, because it restores virii as well. Just back up the important stuff to DVD/CD.

How can I control the HD usage of System Restore?

Right click My Computer > Properties > System Restore > Adjust your shizzle there.

System Restore is utterly useless

I totally disagree, but i'll agree that it isn't the end-all to every problem.

It's not System Restore's fault you got a virus, and it was never intended to protect you against them!!

It's saved my butt a couple of times, that's for sure.

I Have mine set to 1% of my HDD or 1.2GB. It's good for at least half-a-dozen restore points afaik, which I can't see why you would ever need more than that.

Yeah, I got a weird install issue with one of my games and the registry got screwed over, and SR fixed that for me. But it's not like I use it every day.

1.2 GB is plenty of space for SR, and if you set a restore point to a time that everything is the way you want it, then you really only need one!

System Restore is worthless. I always disable it when I get a new system or whatever.

Thanks for WinDirStat, satchy!

I've never ever had to use System Restore.

I guess I > Satchmo.

> rowleybob, you mean...

I > you