Tips on Freeing Up Disk Space?

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eX.A.K.R.

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So today, I embarked on a long-overdue mission to get all the files on my Windows computer in proper order, which includes deleting all unwanted crap and stuffing anything that may not be used for a long time onto my external hard drive, on top of reorganising my own personal files and shortcuts. Currently, I'm aiming to cut down my computer's hard disk space usage to 50% of it's capacity or less (my computer's formatted capacity is 74.5 GB); I have cleaned out unwanted programs (and their traces) in Program Files, the root directory, dumped a lot of crap in My Documents and such into my external hard disk, cleaned up Start menu shortcuts, emptied put all the Temporary files that I can delete, used CCleaner, and even accidentally uninstalled my sound card drivers oO; (I managed to fix that, though). I'm thinking what else would possibly do to free up more space - I'm not going to touch things like the help files, hotfix uninstallers, and such, though.

Any ideas?
 
Look for any clipart, sample pictures, stuff like that, that various programs may have put on your hard drive, and delete them.
 
Well you've done all that you can do, but here's some more tidbits.

1. Go to SYSTEMROOT%Prefetch. You'll notice it has a lot of program names. Delete any you won't be using (but don't delete it all).
2. Turn off hibernation, system restore, and recycling bin features for your hard drive. This in total will save about 4GB if all of those features are turned on. Note you can't use system restore and anything you delete will be gone permanently instead of going to the recycling bin.

And that's pretty much it. The only way you can have a truely clean HDD is if you reformat, reinstall Windows and install only Windows' based updates.
 
Tune Up Utilities is good for cleaning up space as well, and its a great program all around.
 
CCleaner is a really nice tool.
Get it; it'll clean up a whole lot of your junk.
Then, start with organizing you music, videos, and pictures. You'll see how many duplicates you have this way. Get rid off them. Lastly, get rid of unused programs and clean prefetch.

Also, do not disable system restore. It saves you a whole lotta times.
 
OK... let's see...

Used CCleaner - check
Prefetch - check
Sample stuff and such - check
Wallpaper and music collection - mostly done
System Restore - looking into it (it seems to have stopped working, but I'm not sure)
Hibernation - definitely a no-no, as I rely heavily on it
Getting rid of unused programs - still looking; most have been sent to oblivion
Used TuneUp Utilities - check

I'm currently looking into other, more obscure areas that require cleanup, including areas that my programs may have used as a data dumping ground.

Any ideas?

Edit: removed the program list - guess that cracked open some heads...
 
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eX.A.K.R. said:
I'm currently looking into other, more obscure areas that require cleanup, including areas that my programs may have used as a data dumping ground.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Registry, services, msconfig, hardware profiles, any font Windows didn't come with, everything in SYSTEMROOT%Media, anything that Windows didn't put in in Program Files, anything that doesn't coincide with the date on the Last Date Modified that isn't in the Windows folder and is past the date when you got your PC or last reformatted, any *.log file.

At this rate you're better off going to Safe Mode and deleting anything Windows lets you. Or getting NliteOS and streamlining your Windows XP install disk and reinstall. And then using a powerful defragger and set everything on read only.

Honestly at this point I'm going to say you done everything you can, leave the rest alone.
 
You can get another hard drive, did you try that?
I mean, you're freeing up space to get more stuff, right?
 
You do know that external hard drives are very expensive, right?
 
No they're not. Get a regular hard drive and a separate enclosure. I recommended my to friend buy a 300GB HDD and a enclosure versus a 200GB prefabricated external, he only had to pay $20 more, and he's happy.
 
Actually, I already have a 100GB external hard drive, which I'm stuffing some of my junk into. I don't plan to start housekeeping on that drive until it's 3/4 full, and only when my main hard disk is over 50% full at the same time. My finances are currently tight, so another hard drive for me is ruled out.

Your suggestion about the fonts folder reminded me of one place in my computer that needs serious cleaining up. You won't want to know the countless number of fonts - mostly useless - sitting in there.

I did consider deleting .log files, but quite a number of them were used to install hotfixes from Windows Update. I don't really dare touch them for the time being; if I'm not wrong, uninstallable hotfixes require those .log files. I might go about pruning the unnecessary ones once I do get the time to research about them.

Reinstallation is not really a possible option for me, since my computer was manufacturer-built (Acer), and it would be too much of a hassle to reinstall and redo all of my settings from scratch; I do some heavy Windows GUI customising here, which also complicates problems.
 
All *.log files are for admins to look at in the invent of something. But if you're that paranoid, all the ones in the Windows folder are safe to delete.

And you're pretty much done. I might as well tell you to delete System32 (which you shouldn't).
 
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