Windows 7: Full C Drive with Virtually No programs on it - help

I've got a system with an 100 gig C Drive. There are very few programs/files on it, with a few exceptions such as Photoshop and some movie downloads. The drive should have enormous storage capacity. But, it lists that it is nearly completely full, and I have only a few dozen megabytes of storage space left!

The totality of programs on my computer totals at a little more than 8 gigs, and my download data is surely less. So then, where the hell is all this data coming from?, how can I view this mystery ~85 gigs of used storage, and what can I do to get rid of it / free up my C Drive?



Thanks in advance for the responses! I really appreciate your help.

-jcbaldwi

jcbaldwi,

Welcome to SevenForums.

Would you be so good as to post a copy of the disk management output as explained in this writeup?

VERY IMPORTANT is that you drag the field separators so that we get all of the detail.



HOW TO POST A SNAPSHOT OF DISK MANAGEMENT DISPLAY

Run disk management:
WIN | type DISKMGMT.MSC | ENTER
WIN is the key with the wavy flag.

Maximize the output of Disk Management:
ALT-Spacebar key combo (this pops up a menu) |
X key (selects Maximize) |
Drag the field separators (such as between Status and Capacity) to show entire field. This is very important, otherwise, needed info is not visible.

Make a snapshot:
WIN | type SNIPPING | ENTER
Click the New button.
Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
File | Save as | select save location and name | Save button

Post the snapshot:
· Click on the paperclip icon in that row of icons at the top of the message box.
· Click on a BROWSE button. There are 5 of them.
· Navigate to the folder containing the snapshot.
· Click on the snapshot.
· Click on the OPEN button.
· Click on the UPLOAD button adjacent to the 5th BROWSE button.
· Close the MANAGE ATTACHMENTS window.
· Position the cursor at the spot in the message where you want the
snapshot to appear.
· Click on the PaperClip again.
· Click on the file which you want to insert
· Attach code will be inserted into your message.


================================


For a quick overview of what is using up what on you disk, download and run:


WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics


I'll get back with some specifics on freeing up space, but an excellent tool is : CCleaner. This is a free program, used by nearly all here. Link is in my sig.

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.


Have you recently upgraded your operating system? If so, check to see whether you have a Windows.old folder, if there's nothing in there that you need you can delete it.

Check what's in your Recycle Bin and run Disk Cleanup.

You might also want to run a full anti-virus scan in Safe Mode using Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a free download that removes viruses and malware from your computer and by the sound of it a defragment of the drive wouldn't go amisss.

Hello Jcbaldwi, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you post a screenshot of your Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) window showing your C: drive's layout to see if there may be unallocated space on it.

In addtition, this may be able to help to find what is using your HDD's space. Be sure to see the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial below.

Hard Disk Space - Free Up and Recover

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

In addition, I would suggest downloading and installing WinDirStat - a free disk usage statistics viewer that will tell you quickly where all your disk space is being used.

WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics