Vista Disk Space

fowljr · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 08:48 PM

I've had a few problems today, my Exchange Virtual Machine failed and I discovered that the root problem was that the primary C drive in my Vista desktop was out of space.

I've moved my VM's onto the attached USB drive and restarted them within VMWare, this has freed up 60Gb of space on the original C drive.

I did a quick disk check and was shocked to find that 240Gb of disk space is in use... I did a properties check on each directory and according to my maths, it doesn't add up to 240Gb...

I've run disk cleanup, which freed a couple of Gb, but I can't seem to locate the files that are eating the space. The pagefile is 3Gb, which is system managed, I've unhidden all files to see if I could find anything conspicuos, but nothing so far...

So, any suggestions anyone, or can anyone recommend a good disk analysis tool!!!

Bassey · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fowljr

I've had a few problems today, my Exchange Virtual Machine failed and I discovered that the root problem was that the primary C drive in my Vista desktop was out of space.

I've moved my VM's onto the attached USB drive and restarted them within VMWare, this has freed up 60Gb of space on the original C drive.

I did a quick disk check and was shocked to find that 240Gb of disk space is in use... I did a properties check on each directory and according to my maths, it doesn't add up to 240Gb...

I've run disk cleanup, which freed a couple of Gb, but I can't seem to locate the files that are eating the space. The pagefile is 3Gb, which is system managed, I've unhidden all files to see if I could find anything conspicuos, but nothing so far...

So, any suggestions anyone, or can anyone recommend a good disk analysis tool!!!

Just off the top of my head but is VMWare reserving disk space for swap files for the virtual PCs?

fowljr · #3 (**permalink**) 03-01-2009, 10:11 PM

Thanks Bassey, the battle continued, I've just got my VM back up and running along with Exchnage and Email... Not sure what's going on today!!

I'll look at the Virtual Machine settings again, although everything should be moved to drive K now (External USB caddy)...

fowljr · #4 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 09:49 AM

And my run of luck continues, I've woken up this morning and everything, and I mean everything has disappeared of the Micro SD card in my Palm Treo Pro... Total Weird one that, all directories gone apart from program files, which now only has PocketTwit in it, and that won't run either...

Very strange indeed, did I make a backup, nope, not since rebuilding. Another lesson learned methinks...

New Years resolution... MUST BACKUP MORE!!

waveydavey · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 11:27 AM

Look out mate, they say it always comes in 3's.

windows · #6 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 11:56 AM

Ouch not good news there Jim, probably the universe fighting back via interdimensional gravity sync with the number of devices causing a dangerous ionised gravity well.

waveydavey · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 11:58 AM

Wow, and I thought they just caused a hole in your pocket!

windows · #8 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 12:01 PM

If you have a few yes, but think of the well down at Jims house :O

fowljr · #9 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 12:14 PM

Hehehehehe, busily re-installing, although the kids are bored and Sue isn't feeling well... Any ideas on the disk space, I still can't see what's taking it all...

Maybe a re-installation coming up at this rate...

neilm · #10 (**permalink**) 04-01-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fowljr

Any ideas on the disk space, I still can't see what's taking it all...

Maybe a re-installation coming up at this rate...

Jim- a couple of things spring to mind.
1) Have you checked to see if any installation files for Service Packs are still hanging around? Sometimes they don't delete themselves after installation.

2) Have you got Shadow Copy turned on? It is on by default in Vista and it often takes images of a whole installation structure when you modify a program, plus it images the whole Vista partition when the system is run for the 1st time. Look in Disc Cleanup, then advanced and see if removing all the Restore Points and Shadow Copies gives back the space. Alternatively look in your drive's Properties and see if there is a 'Previous Versions' tab, which is present if Shadow Copy is on.

Might be worth running SequoiaView for a view of used space.