Compression INCREASED data size and completely filled drive!

I received message that C drive was nearly full. To my surprise discovered it was true. I have 148GB C drive and 153GB E drive with 240GB free. Programs inc Windows on C, data on E. Windows 7 with 64 bit, AMD A4-5300 processor 4GB RAM.
I moved a few things from C to E to make a bit more room and then set about compressing C - but that stopped and to my astonishment I found that there was now NO room at all left on C.

How could that happen? Could it be anything to do with allowing indexing of content (which was already set up)? If I untick compress drive will that reduce the size on drive back to what it was? As it stands at present I doubt if I could even defragment the drive to obtain more room.

Would it be possible/easy to move some programs from C to E but maintain their connections with Registry?

webranger said:

I received message that C drive was nearly full. To my surprise discovered it was true. I have 148GB C drive and 153GB E drive with 240GB free. Programs inc Windows on C, data on E. Windows 7 with 64 bit, AMD A4-5300 processor 4GB RAM.
I moved a few things from C to E to make a bit more room and then set about compressing C - but that stopped and to my astonishment I found that there was now NO room at all left on C.

How could that happen? Could it be anything to do with allowing indexing of content (which was already set up)? If I untick compress drive will that reduce the size on drive back to what it was? As it stands at present I doubt if I could even defragment the drive to obtain more room.

Would it be possible/easy to move some programs from C to E but maintain their connections with Registry?

Do you have your windows 7 install disc? if so you can try running a windows repair.

After you click on the repair option, you'll be given a list of the operating systems you have installed on your computer. The window that displays the OS options also has a button to click labeled "load drivers". (or something to that effect...) Once you click on that, it will open an explorer window that shows you all of the hard drives on your machine. Right click the one that is compressed, select properties, uncheck the box for compression, click "apply" and then wait. This may take a while.

HTH

I did say that I was surprised to find that my C drive was almost full. After posting this msg I was then presented with links to old threads that might be relevant, found one in Oct. 2011, read msg from TVeblen,downloaded WinDirStat, and saw immediately that a program I installed a few weeks back Energy Saver Eco intended to make the PC conserve energy without reducing performance was taking up 116GB on the drive! In fact, one xml file was using 102GB!!! Yet in the program list in the Control Panel it was showing as 22MG. So problem solved in one quick delete. Brilliant program WinDirStat. Thanks again TVeblen.
Of course, I still don't know why compressing files used up MORE space.

Thanks for your response Sir George, I've only just seen it. As you see now, problem now solved, but I will also remember your advice in case it is needed in the future.