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General discussion

C Drive Free Space

Dec 6, 2007 9:29AM PST

We are using MS Win Server 2003 for SBS SP2. Our C Drive is left with 17% Free Space (6.59GB). Almost all our data files, including email, are kept in F Drive, which is left with 71% Free Space (162GB). What will happen if our C Drive one day goes out of free disk space? Or is there any way that I can move some space from F Drive to C Drive? What shall we do now?

Discussion is locked

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What a mess!
Dec 6, 2007 10:11AM PST

You might be thinking the same. I'm only going to make some general comments here. I'm not familiar with your software. I'm making some assumptions also. Drive C: is primarily running the OS and any additional programs in a small office environment of perhaps 5-15 terminals. Is this correct? In generally what business are you in?

When it runs out of space it will refuse further additions. It's that simple.

Again this is an assumption the primary drive is about 60GB? If so, way to small.

Reactions.........Time to up grade the system, all of it, including the OS. In particular the primary drive.

There maybe a work around however. New drives could be created on F; these could be mounted to the C; drive to enable additional programs to be added. This might work but will be efficient perhaps slow. This would be only a short term solution for as data is added the system you will again run out of space and again up grades will be needed

Should you decide to upgrade use Raid drives that will allow more flexibility.

This software might also be of some use to you.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940439/en-us

Again these are just some general comments and suggestions you would need more input before proceeding with any changes.
Perhaps a professional consultant should be contracted to review your system but I wouldn't wait to long.

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This also might be of further assistance
Dec 6, 2007 10:40AM PST
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new...
Dec 6, 2007 11:55AM PST

Actually the hard disk, server and OS are all rather new (raid ya). We just bought it early this year. Just that when we setup the server, we thought that we should make 3 partitions, 1 for page file, 1 for system file and 1 for data. And F is the data which we allocate 227 GB to it, and C (system) with 37.1 GB, E (Page File) 7.81 GB. As we are inexperienced, we thought that F is the one that's going to keep growing as we put everything (email, files, database) on that partition. But now, we discovered that C is also increasing...

Is there really no way that I can move some space from F to C?

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Still sorting this through
Dec 6, 2007 12:08PM PST

How many drives do you have? The physical drive not the drive letters? If one then they can be extended and shrank as needed. If two then you have a problem and some hardware maybe needed. Do you have additional drive bays on this server. How many slots are available within the computer case for Drives? What Raid do you have? There are many types and each type has a different mode of operation.

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Dell PowerEdge 1900
Dec 6, 2007 2:34PM PST

3 hard disk. RAID 5. If I have additional drive bays, can I install new hard disk to expand my C Drive?

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Yes I believe you can add a slave drive to it
Dec 6, 2007 2:57PM PST
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Re: space on c-drive.
Dec 6, 2007 11:02PM PST

System restore information takes space, temp files take space, windows update information takes space.

All you can do:
(1) analyse what files there are, what space they occupy, when they were created/modified/used, where they came from, what they are for, if you still need them. After all: 37 Gb is a LOT of space and that warrants some loving care and careful management.
(2) delete unnecessary files on c: to free space
(3) move files from c: to f:

A nice job for the system manager. He's the expert on your system.

You need partitioning software, like Partition Magic, to change the size of partitions, if turns out to be the best solution. Be sure you have an excellent backup before doing anything!

Kees

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I liked this part understand
Dec 6, 2007 3:11PM PST

All information herein is presented "as−is", with no warranties expressed nor implied. If you lose all your
data, your job, get hit by a truck, whatever, it's not my fault, nor the developers'. Be aware, that you use the
RAID software and this information at your own risk! There is no guarantee whatsoever, that any of the
software, or this information, is in any way correct, nor suited for any use whatsoever. Back up all your data
before experimenting with this. Better safe than sorry.