Error Message "The space on the hard drive is running low" isn't true

callbrady · Aug 21, 2012

Error Message "The space on the hard drive is running low" isn't true

On one system I am getting this error message once every day or two. The hard drive has over 300GB available. The verbatim error message shows nothing in Google.

It reads:
"The space on the hard drive is running low. Currently only xMB is free. Please free space by deleting unused files."

Now it shows 71MB free. Any thoughts?

Skylais · Aug 21, 2012

so do you have 300 gb? or only 71 mb? because if its 71 mb, u have got some major cleaning to do. I doubt that though, some viruses clutter the hard drive. If you have plenty of room, and your still getting the message then you can follow these instructions to remove the annoying message.

Low Disk Space Warning in Vista - Vista Forums

1. open regedit
2. go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
3. Right click explorer and then select new then DWORD (32 bit value)
4. name it NoLowDiskSpaceChecks
5. right click it and press modify
6. change its value to 1 in hexadecimal form then press ok
7. log out and back in and message should be gone.

callbrady · Aug 22, 2012

Thanks

Will try this this morning. I guess this will help determine if this is a legitimate Windows error message or not. My concern was the absence of this error message anywhere in Google. Makes me concerned that the message is coming from something rogue, but we'll see.

Thanks!

Layback Bear · Aug 22, 2012

Go to Start/My Computer. Select the drive if it offer more than one and right click on it. Go to properties and it will show you how much free space you have. You should not have to go into the registry for this problem.
Get back with the information and we can work from there.

callbrady · Aug 22, 2012

I know how much space the hard drive has. It is over 300GB. I just don't know the origin of this error message, and am trying to find what I can do to stop it since it is clearly incorrect.

Layback Bear · Aug 22, 2012

Easy now. You say you know how much free (unused) space is left on your hard drive. Could you tell us how much free space is really left. If its really 71 mb your hard drive is full. That is the origin of the error. That is why I gave you a method to check for sure. Obviously doing the checked caused you too much pain. That wasn't my intent, sorry.
Have a nice day.

callbrady · Aug 22, 2012

I'm sorry I hadn't been clear on this. The C drive has 323 GB of space left on it. It is a brand new system and is running like a dream. If it had 71MB of space the system would drag and crash. Everytime I've gotten the error I've immediately checked and found that there is still over 323 GB of space left. This is why I'm emphatic that the error message is faulty and I want to learn how to get rid of it.

Skylais · Aug 22, 2012

Did you try the steps above to remove the error message? i know it may not be the most obvious thing to do. But if you have that much space and its running like a dream, while your getting that error then it shouldn't hurt to do the following.
1. open regedit
2. go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
3. Right click explorer and then select new then DWORD (32 bit value)
4. name it NoLowDiskSpaceChecks
5. right click it and press modify
6. change its value to 1 in hexadecimal form then press ok
7. log out and back in and message should be gone.

callbrady · Aug 29, 2012

Well, we thought the issue was resolved, but it does persist, even after turning off notices about NoLowDiskSpaceChecks. This affirms for me that it isn't a Microsoft message. It still amazes me that this is the only posting with this exact error message in Google. As a result I don't know if this is virus related or something entirely different.

Skylais · Aug 29, 2012

I just thought of this, but do you have another HD partition on there? You can check by typing in "create and format hard disk partitions."
Heres mine as an example, make sure none are too filled. System reserve will be filled. And possibly a system recovery partition.
Otherwise, That is really weird and mind boggling.

cluberti · Aug 29, 2012

It is indeed odd if that is the exact error message, as the Microsoft one is slightly different as you noted. It would have started with the word "You", for instance, and not "The".

Can you post a screenshot of the message perhaps?

CrankyBeach · Sep 16, 2012

I'm getting this error message too...

I am not the original poster, but I'm posting screencaps below of the message, as well as "computer" to show just how much space really is available on all connected drives at the moment.... Many gigabytes available, even on the 2 flash drives.

I did try the registry fix shown earlier in the thread, and just got the error message again. Computer has been rebooted several times in the interim.

Any other suggestions?

Skylais · Sep 17, 2012

CrankyBeach said:
I am not the original poster, but I'm posting screencaps below of the message, as well as "computer" to show just how much space really is available on all connected drives at the moment.... Many gigabytes available, even on the 2 flash drives.

I did try the registry fix shown earlier in the thread, and just got the error message again. Computer has been rebooted several times in the interim.

Any other suggestions?

Did you open disk management to find all partitions, if there is a restore partition and it is nearing full it may give you messages, especially if something was accidentally written to the partition in which case it shouldn't of have. In windows 7 type " create and format hard disk partitions" It should open up a window similar to my screenshot. include your own screenshot of your disk drivers and partitions in disk management. please attach to your next post.

CrankyBeach · Sep 18, 2012

Yes, I checked the partitions as well. Screenshot below. The only thing not showing (where it scrolled off the screen at the bottom) is the CD drive.

cluberti · Sep 18, 2012

Might want to download and run Process Explorer, and when you see this popup, don't close it - drag the little "target" icon on the Process Explorer toolbar over to the dialog box (that is definitely NOT a Windows dialog) to see what process that window belongs to.
Process Explorer

Error Message "The space on the hard drive is running low" isn't true

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Closed as requested

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

3 Brain Cells

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

3 Brain Cells

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Closed as requested

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Closed as requested

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Cat herder

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Closed as requested

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Cat herder

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer