Losing disk space rapidly,need help/advice

Rhodes · 03-24-08, 12:55 PM

The free disk space of my c: drive is about 600/500 megas! It's low, I know. And get a bit lower when I'm seeing streaming videos, downloading etc.
But today, it drop to 30 megas without any explanation. I ran disk cleanup, the "disk free up" from TuneUp Utilities2008, deleted the files of the Temp and Temporary Internet Files directories manualy. Did the same to the other user profile of my Pc. Only got 150 mb of free space.
When this happend I was playing F-117 in dox-box, but I don't think that this is the cause!

After schearching around I found out a huge file log of 800 mb, the log file of Dr.Watson. Did a little recherch in the net and deleted the file, got 900 mb of free space.
But, since I think the sudden drop of free space is not related to the big log file (one thing got me to look closer and discover a big file that possibly had that size even when I had my "normal" free disk size) I asking all the guys here, if You have an explanation, an idea and an advice for this odd thing.

Graf Paper · 03-24-08, 01:22 PM

Do a scan for viruses, trojans, and spyware. That's a very likely culprit.
These things can sometimes be made to eat hard drive space.

Run Scandisk to check for errors, then defrag your HD afterwards.

The video stream could be getting cached on your HD and then not getting wiped afterwards. If it's a player that was installed, check that player's folder in 'Program Files' and 'Documents and Settings\<your user name>\Application Data\' to make sure it hasn't kept a copy in one of those places.

If it's a streaming feed through your web browser, check your browser's cache folder to make sure it's not keeping the vids. Sometimes this can be stored in 'Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\' or '\All Users\Application Data\' instead of the usual folders in 'c:\Windows'.

Also check 'Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\' for some of those huge mystery files in the various folders there.

There is a possibility that DOSBox caused an error and the game data got dumped by Dr. Watson, making a huge file.

You need to change your System settings in Windows to limit the size and types of memory dumps and log files. Unless you're very skilled with OS debugging, you can disable memory/stack/core dumps completely.

Tchocky · 03-24-08, 01:46 PM

Yup, run an anti-virus/spyware scan.

I had a similar issue on my old PC, something was downloading endless copies of itself into a hidden folder and naming itself after every conceivable type of pornography. My HD space was constantly decreasing, and ths was quite an issue for my 20GB drive! Naturally I got this from using file-sharing software. Oh, how young I was :p

Anyhoo, it wasn't until I ran AVG and watched every filepath it scanned until I could find the hidden folder. From then it was a simple deletion.

SUBMAN1 · 03-24-08, 01:53 PM

Sounds normal to me. Swap file is your issue. It can range as much as a GB or more. As it gets smaller, you get more space. As it gets bigger...

Dr. Watson is from a system crash. It will re-write itself again next time your computer has a problem.

No need to panic however. Delete some stuff already!

-S

PS. You can set a maximum swap file size by the way. If you have 3 GB or more, you can even turn it off safely, though some apps expect it and will require one be present.

JSLTIGER · 03-24-08, 01:55 PM

Go to Start->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Cleanup and run it...my guess? Too many internet temporary files.

Platapus · 03-24-08, 03:40 PM

Start deleting some of your porn

Seriously, Like the other posters, check spyware and internet caches they can add up fast.

NealT · 03-24-08, 04:09 PM

I would get another hard drive myself...and start dumping stuff on to that. I would also get some more memory...perhaps it will help reduce the size of the swap file...

IMHO...

03-24-08, 12:55 PM	#1
Rhodes Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Figueira da Foz, Portugal Posts: 4,515 Downloads: 110 Uploads: 0	Losing disk space rapidly,need help/advice The free disk space of my c: drive is about 600/500 megas! It's low, I know. And get a bit lower when I'm seeing streaming videos, downloading etc. But today, it drop to 30 megas without any explanation. I ran disk cleanup, the "disk free up" from TuneUp Utilities2008, deleted the files of the Temp and Temporary Internet Files directories manualy. Did the same to the other user profile of my Pc. Only got 150 mb of free space. When this happend I was playing F-117 in dox-box, but I don't think that this is the cause! After schearching around I found out a huge file log of 800 mb, the log file of Dr.Watson. Did a little recherch in the net and deleted the file, got 900 mb of free space. But, since I think the sudden drop of free space is not related to the big log file (one thing got me to look closer and discover a big file that possibly had that size even when I had my "normal" free disk size) I asking all the guys here, if You have an explanation, an idea and an advice for this odd thing. __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/16416646@N05/

03-24-08, 01:22 PM	#2
Graf Paper Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest United States Posts: 1,146 Downloads: 41 Uploads: 2	Do a scan for viruses, trojans, and spyware. That's a very likely culprit. These things can sometimes be made to eat hard drive space. Run Scandisk to check for errors, then defrag your HD afterwards. The video stream could be getting cached on your HD and then not getting wiped afterwards. If it's a player that was installed, check that player's folder in 'Program Files' and 'Documents and Settings\<your user name>\Application Data\' to make sure it hasn't kept a copy in one of those places. If it's a streaming feed through your web browser, check your browser's cache folder to make sure it's not keeping the vids. Sometimes this can be stored in 'Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\' or '\All Users\Application Data\' instead of the usual folders in 'c:\Windows'. Also check 'Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\' for some of those huge mystery files in the various folders there. There is a possibility that DOSBox caused an error and the game data got dumped by Dr. Watson, making a huge file. You need to change your System settings in Windows to limit the size and types of memory dumps and log files. Unless you're very skilled with OS debugging, you can disable memory/stack/core dumps completely. __________________ Still sailing the high seas, hunting convoys with those who join me.

03-24-08, 01:46 PM	#3
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Yup, run an anti-virus/spyware scan. I had a similar issue on my old PC, something was downloading endless copies of itself into a hidden folder and naming itself after every conceivable type of pornography. My HD space was constantly decreasing, and ths was quite an issue for my 20GB drive! Naturally I got this from using file-sharing software. Oh, how young I was :p Anyhoo, it wasn't until I ran AVG and watched every filepath it scanned until I could find the hidden folder. From then it was a simple deletion. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

03-24-08, 01:53 PM	#4
SUBMAN1 Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 11,866 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sounds normal to me. Swap file is your issue. It can range as much as a GB or more. As it gets smaller, you get more space. As it gets bigger... Dr. Watson is from a system crash. It will re-write itself again next time your computer has a problem. No need to panic however. Delete some stuff already! -S PS. You can set a maximum swap file size by the way. If you have 3 GB or more, you can even turn it off safely, though some apps expect it and will require one be present. __________________

03-24-08, 01:55 PM	#5
JSLTIGER The Old Man Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Parkland, FL, USA Posts: 1,437 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Go to Start->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Cleanup and run it...my guess? Too many internet temporary files. __________________ Thor: Intel Core i7 4770K\|ASUS Z87Pro\|32GB DDR3 RAM\|11GB EVGA GeForce RTX 2080Ti Black\|256GB Crucial M4 SSD+2TB WD HDD\|4X LG BD-RE\|32" Acer Predator Z321QU 165Hz G-Sync (2540x1440)\|Logitech Z-323 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Pro Explorer (MSI GL63 8RE-629 Laptop): Intel Core i7 8750H\|16GB DDR4 RAM\|6GB GeForce GTX 1060\|128GB SSD+1TB HDD\|15.6" Widescreen (1920x1080)\|Logitech R-20 2.1 Sound\|Win 10 Home

03-24-08, 03:40 PM	#6
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,362 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Start deleting some of your porn Seriously, Like the other posters, check spyware and internet caches they can add up fast. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

03-24-08, 04:09 PM	#7
NealT Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 2 Meters Below Jimbuna Posts: 1,060 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I would get another hard drive myself...and start dumping stuff on to that. I would also get some more memory...perhaps it will help reduce the size of the swap file... IMHO...