When using the computer with Windows 7 or 8, one of the problems that afflicts computer owners with more limited space on the hard disk (for example the Asus mini PC EEEPC ) is the lack of disk space and at worst of cases, the message "Insufficient disk space C:" appears .
Unfortunately Windows, during normal use of the computer, uses a lot of space on the disk where it is installed by creating many temporary files that must be deleted by hand.
First, I recommend reading the article Optimize Windows XP.
We must also distinguish between things to do regularly to save disk space on Windows, valid for all users, useful not to waste gigabytes and avoid clogging the PC with unnecessary files that can slow it down, and the most extreme urgent procedures, to earn space on disk C: because it is actually full or almost full.
For the first goal, a summary article has been written that includes basic ways to free up space on the hard disk .
Those who instead have real problems of disk space where Windows is installed, such as the owners of a PC with SSD solid state disk that has a physical memory of not many GB, there are several more extreme options that may have some contraindication for disabling some functions of the Windows system.
If necessary, however, you can:
1) Limit the size of the WinSxS folder in Windows 7 and 8.
This folder is located in C: / Windows and contains as many superfluous files as previous versions of .dll files and service pack installation files.
Its size can become several GB taking up a lot of space unnecessarily or almost.
Another article explains how to check how much space can be recovered from the WinSxS folder .
2) Clean up the Windows Installer folder by removing the patches and installation files of orphaned and, by now, useless programs.
3) Disable System Restore for C:
In Windows XP Control Panel -> System -> Auto Reset Restore -> disable .
In Windows 7: Control Panel -> System -> Advanced Settings -> Security -> Configure -> disable system protection .
In the event of errors that are difficult to resolve, without system restore you will not be able to "go back" before the error
4) Disable Windows hibernation .
When you hibernate your system, the contents of its RAM memory is saved on your hard disk.
This allows you to save the system state without any power consumption - so the next time you start your computer, you can go back to where you left off.
Windows saves the contents of the RAM in the C: \ hiberfil.sys file .
To save disk space, you can disable hibernation entirely.
To disable system hibernation quickly, you need to open a command prompt window by going to the Start menu -> Run or Search -> write cmd and press enter.
Write the powercfg / hibernate off command to disable hibernating the computer.
To reactivate it, the command is powercfg / hibernate on
5) Limit or Disable the Paging file (See here).
6) Set temporary internet files to 50 MB (From internet explorer -> Tools -> Internet options -> Browsing history Settings)
4) Limit the use of the recycle bin : Right click on the Recycle Bin ->; Properties and set the space to 3%.
7) Delete the Windows update uninstallation files by going to c: \ Windows and deleting all hidden folders whose name starts and ends with $ (to see hidden folders: from a folder -> Tools -> folder options - -> View -> View hidden files and folders) .
READ ALSO: 6 types of system files that can be deleted to reduce Windows
8) Use Nlite or WinReducer for Windows 8 to uninstall unnecessary Windows components.
9) Delete all the files present in C: \ WINDOWS \ SoftwareDistribution Before doing this you have to disable the Automatic Updates service (then restart it).
10) Search and find duplicate or duplicate files on your PC and delete them.
11) If you have two disks or two partitions, you can move the program folders from one disk to another or you can move the user and system folders.
In this way, the desktop, the start menu, documents, music, etc. can be moved out of the C: \ Documents and Settings Directory. etc.
12) Only in exceptional cases: create and install the RAM-DISK or a virtual disk whose memory is taken from RAM and therefore all the files that are copied to it are not written on any disk and, when the PC is turned off, they will be lost .
To do this you need to install SoftPerfect RamDisk, launch it and create a RAM disk (with a different letter from the already installed disks).
Right click on My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced -> Environment Variables and set the directory of the RAM DISK to TEMP and TMP which are found both among the user and system variables ( for example J: \ ).
NOTE: To delete the system-protected and undeletable files because they are in use, refer to this article.
Note 2: Some large files are not seen as unused or useless by the tools seen in this post and must be found and deleted manually.
In support we have reported the best programs to graphically see the use of disk space in order to locate the largest files and their path between folders.
For a check on the hard disk and on the performances you can read: "Hard disk check and measures of performance, space and performance of the hard disk".
Unfortunately Windows, during normal use of the computer, uses a lot of space on the disk where it is installed by creating many temporary files that must be deleted by hand.
First, I recommend reading the article Optimize Windows XP.
We must also distinguish between things to do regularly to save disk space on Windows, valid for all users, useful not to waste gigabytes and avoid clogging the PC with unnecessary files that can slow it down, and the most extreme urgent procedures, to earn space on disk C: because it is actually full or almost full.
For the first goal, a summary article has been written that includes basic ways to free up space on the hard disk .
Those who instead have real problems of disk space where Windows is installed, such as the owners of a PC with SSD solid state disk that has a physical memory of not many GB, there are several more extreme options that may have some contraindication for disabling some functions of the Windows system.
If necessary, however, you can:
1) Limit the size of the WinSxS folder in Windows 7 and 8.
This folder is located in C: / Windows and contains as many superfluous files as previous versions of .dll files and service pack installation files.
Its size can become several GB taking up a lot of space unnecessarily or almost.
Another article explains how to check how much space can be recovered from the WinSxS folder .
2) Clean up the Windows Installer folder by removing the patches and installation files of orphaned and, by now, useless programs.
3) Disable System Restore for C:
In Windows XP Control Panel -> System -> Auto Reset Restore -> disable .
In Windows 7: Control Panel -> System -> Advanced Settings -> Security -> Configure -> disable system protection .
In the event of errors that are difficult to resolve, without system restore you will not be able to "go back" before the error
4) Disable Windows hibernation .
When you hibernate your system, the contents of its RAM memory is saved on your hard disk.
This allows you to save the system state without any power consumption - so the next time you start your computer, you can go back to where you left off.
Windows saves the contents of the RAM in the C: \ hiberfil.sys file .
To save disk space, you can disable hibernation entirely.
To disable system hibernation quickly, you need to open a command prompt window by going to the Start menu -> Run or Search -> write cmd and press enter.
Write the powercfg / hibernate off command to disable hibernating the computer.
To reactivate it, the command is powercfg / hibernate on
5) Limit or Disable the Paging file (See here).
6) Set temporary internet files to 50 MB (From internet explorer -> Tools -> Internet options -> Browsing history Settings)
4) Limit the use of the recycle bin : Right click on the Recycle Bin ->; Properties and set the space to 3%.
7) Delete the Windows update uninstallation files by going to c: \ Windows and deleting all hidden folders whose name starts and ends with $ (to see hidden folders: from a folder -> Tools -> folder options - -> View -> View hidden files and folders) .
READ ALSO: 6 types of system files that can be deleted to reduce Windows
8) Use Nlite or WinReducer for Windows 8 to uninstall unnecessary Windows components.
9) Delete all the files present in C: \ WINDOWS \ SoftwareDistribution Before doing this you have to disable the Automatic Updates service (then restart it).
10) Search and find duplicate or duplicate files on your PC and delete them.
11) If you have two disks or two partitions, you can move the program folders from one disk to another or you can move the user and system folders.
In this way, the desktop, the start menu, documents, music, etc. can be moved out of the C: \ Documents and Settings Directory. etc.
12) Only in exceptional cases: create and install the RAM-DISK or a virtual disk whose memory is taken from RAM and therefore all the files that are copied to it are not written on any disk and, when the PC is turned off, they will be lost .
To do this you need to install SoftPerfect RamDisk, launch it and create a RAM disk (with a different letter from the already installed disks).
Right click on My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced -> Environment Variables and set the directory of the RAM DISK to TEMP and TMP which are found both among the user and system variables ( for example J: \ ).
NOTE: To delete the system-protected and undeletable files because they are in use, refer to this article.
Note 2: Some large files are not seen as unused or useless by the tools seen in this post and must be found and deleted manually.
In support we have reported the best programs to graphically see the use of disk space in order to locate the largest files and their path between folders.
For a check on the hard disk and on the performances you can read: "Hard disk check and measures of performance, space and performance of the hard disk".
