Wikiposts
Search
Computer/Internet Issues & Troubleshooting Anyone with questions about the terribly complex world of computers or the internet should try here. NOT FOR REPORTING ISSUES WITH PPRuNe FORUMS! Please use the subforum "PPRuNe Problems or Queries."

Hard Drive Space Utilization

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 26th Jul 2019, 20:22
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,019
Received 21 Likes on 15 Posts
Wink Hard Drive Space Utilization

We're running the latest version of Windows 10 on an ancient decade-old Toshiba Satellite laptop, favored by Paleolithic Luddites. This slow-but-steady machine has suffered zero failures, save for a hard drive which gave up the ghost three years ago. Same was replaced with a 300-Gig model, which has performed satisfactorily. We run CPUID's HWMonitor, mostly to keep an eye on internal operating temperatures, but we pay attention to space utilization on the C drive as well. We also run Windows Resource Monitor to evaluate real time RAM and CPU usage. A full complement of protection software always is activated on our Firefox 68.0.1: uBlock Origin, NoScript, Ghostery, and Privacy Possum.

My question is this: can anyone explain the following rather large differential in C-drive space utilization? Before installation of Windows v.1903, 12% of hard drive space was occupied. Afterward, 20%. Now, out of nowhere, 11%. These are nearly 30-Gigabyte swings! (No data seems to be missing and my wife doesn't surf porn sites as far as I can tell.)

I should add that I run Piriform's CCleaner and Defraggler on a weekly basis, and especially after large software downloads. Running these does not correlate with the rather large differences in hard drive space utilization, however, and I'll be durned if I can find a reasonable explanation.

Anyone have an idea?

- Ed
cavuman1 is offline  
Old 26th Jul 2019, 20:43
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: anywhere
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
A Windows.old folder?
Prop swinger is offline  
Old 27th Jul 2019, 00:47
  #3 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,019
Received 21 Likes on 15 Posts
Mixture - Rich. Throttle - Cracked. Master Switch - On. Ignition - On. CLEAR! Prop swinger, we have a good start! Yours is a very reasonable explanation and fits the timeline of expansion and contraction of hard drive space perfectly. I owe you a big thank you and a bigger cold beer!

- Ed
cavuman1 is offline  
Old 27th Jul 2019, 13:14
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Northumberland, England
Posts: 280
Received 34 Likes on 5 Posts
Also watch out for Windows 10 reserving a large amount of hard drive space for future updates: https://www.howtogeek.com/425563/how...on-windows-10/
Tocsin is offline  
Old 27th Jul 2019, 14:31
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Age: 71
Posts: 889
Received 19 Likes on 12 Posts
1903 has been particularly problematic in installation, especially with older computers.
You may find that 1903 has not yet installed cleanly and may still be trying to resolve installation errors.
WingNut60 is offline  
Old 27th Jul 2019, 14:50
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Away from it all
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I might just add, do not just delete the Windows.old folder directly. Better to run Disk Cleanup and then take the Clean System Files option.
Philoctetes is offline  
Old 4th Aug 2019, 14:43
  #7 (permalink)  

Plastic PPRuNer
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Cape Town
Posts: 1,898
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CCleaner is unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Defraggler is also unnecessary, Win10 does it's own defragging to a schedule when it needs to.

Win10 is, in the main, very stable and can look after itself. The more whizzo supero crap you load it with the less memory you'll have and the greater the chances of trouble.

Mac
Mac the Knife is offline  
Old 4th Aug 2019, 16:41
  #8 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,019
Received 21 Likes on 15 Posts
Excellent advice, Mac! I concur and will uninstall said bloatware. Thank you, Sir!

- Ed
cavuman1 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.