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Question

Why am I losing disk space while my PC is sleeping

Nov 10, 2012 3:01AM PST

Running XP w/SP 3 on a 3.2 GHZ processor w/2 MB ram. 200 MB internal hard drive segmented into 6 separate spaces, with drive "C" being the largest at 70 GB. Started getting "Low Disk Space" messages 2 months ago and added 10GB to C to bring it up to 80GB. Since then, it has constantly lost disk space while I have not added a single application or file to that drive. I can put it to sleep with 6GB unused and when I wake it up, there is only 2GB. Next time it might be back up to 4GB, but then it goes back down and right now it is at 1.5GB.

I have cleared out everything I can possibly think of that is not required to run the OS and the rest of the applications. Still no help.

Has anyone ever seen a problem like this?? Where is that disk space going?? What's making it disappear??

Help.......please!!!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Let's clear this issue up a little.
Nov 10, 2012 3:12AM PST

No Windows PC so far can lose disk space while the PC sleeps. This would be a first so my bet is it's untrue.

You can go get TREESIZE if the usual items fail but with a 200 MB drive in 6 spaces is going to be trouble. My bet is this owner needs to be given time to think over their choices. You might not be able to help them as I've found many to want to control what goes where for what reasons they often keep to themselves.

Sometimes they can't be helped. Sometimes the light comes on and they drop the number of partitions to where it's manageable.
Bob

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Response to "Let's clear this issue up
Nov 10, 2012 5:40AM PST

First, I am the owner of this PC and have been running this configuration for 5+ years with NO problems whatsoever. 2 months ago, I added 10GB or additional space to Drive C in response to "low disk space" messages and have added no new applications or files to this drive.

When I posted the original message approximately 5 hours ago, a right click on Drive C/Properties showed 1.78GB of free space. I then put it to sleep.

I woke it 5 minutes ago and Drive C now shows 642 MB........that's 1GB of free space that is no longer free.

I agree that it'snot lost, but if I can no longer have access to it, it might as well be.

I'm still hoping that somebody else has seen this problem.............

Thanks for the reply.

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That's better but the world has changed.
Nov 10, 2012 7:20AM PST

The updates are huge today so PRETEND you are supporting this person and their machine. PRETEND you know what's changed and talk to them about how updates are HUGE and more.

And about where the space can be? There's System Volume Information for starters. Gyula's Navigator shows these pretty fast.

You may have to talk yourself into seclusion. That is, turning off all updates just so you don't have to change the setup. Again, I've seen this before and you use your best tools to help them out of the bind.
Bob

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Re: free space
Nov 10, 2012 8:45PM PST

Then you have to compare where the space is used before and after the wake up. That's rather easy at folder level. Once you know the folder, you can zoom in to subfolder and such, until you find the newly created files.
And only YOU can do it, because only you have access to your machine.

Treesize and comparable programs like Windirstat are useful and free tools.

Kees