Folder Limit

[redblade8]

I hope that this is the right section for this =P
I am wondering if I can set limits on a folder and how much space it can take up on my system. I would like to keep a folder from going over 7GB. Is there any program that I can do this with to customize the folder that way? ( or something else ? ) I have heard of 'quotas' but im not so sure on windows 7. I would like to prevent the folder from adding ANY more files to it.
Any Ideas?
Thankyou!!! ^^

 

[zigzag3143]

I hope that this is the right section for this =P
I am wondering if I can set limits on a folder and how much space it can take up on my system. I would like to keep a folder from going over 7GB. Is there any program that I can do this with to customize the folder that way? ( or something else ? ) I have heard of 'quotas' but im not so sure on windows 7. I would like to prevent the folder from adding ANY more files to it.
Any Ideas?
Thankyou!!! ^^

You can prevent a folder from being written to, and that will prevent it from growing. I dont know of any direct way to say when it gets to 7 gigs stop.

Sorry

Ken

 

[redblade8]

'You can prevent a folder from being written to, and that will prevent it from growing. I dont know of any direct way to say when it gets to 7 gigs stop.

Sorry

Ken'

This is very contradicting...first you say that you can prevent a folder from being written to , then you say that you cannot...hmm...I wonder if this is at all solvable in any way...

 

[Thorsen]

I think what ZigZag meant was that you can prevent a folder from being written to. But at the same time this is a general prevention that is not dependant on a size. So you can select folder and prevent things from writting to it. But you cant select folder and set it to a max size of 7G.

If this is a folder that can be accessed by anything and is not program specific, you could make a 7G partition on your hard-drive. this would act as a seperate Hard Drive and have a limit on data at 7G. When you reach 7gigs, you would get a "Cant write to Hard-Drive" or "Hard drive full" error instead of files being written to it.

you can then point your programs to save to the new drive whatever you named the partition (H or whatever drive letter is assigned

 

[Thorsen]

Here is how to create unallocated space from your current drive and create a new partition. I would wait to start this until a pro from the forum confirms this will help you correctly. I have not done this Tut. so I am not familiar with all the steps.

Again please seek more pro advice on these steps:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2674-partition-volume-create-new.html

 

[redblade8]

Thanks =P You are always helpful.
I will try this, and see if it works ( hopefully...) It sounds like it will work.

 

[Thorsen]

No problem. just be careful and read through that thread first before attempting. make sure you understand all steps and look at comments for any issues you might run into. I dont want anything to go wrong on your computer.

 

[redblade8]

I hope nothing goes wrong with my computer...it is a very touchy file (winsxs, the one I do not want to touch, but would like to deal with... I have looked all over the internet, so I know what it is, and know not to touch it really...) Just using the built-in windows compression option gave me the blue screen of death...lol and then I could not install/uninstall anything for a while... I really hate it. I would rather DLL hell on my computer than a file that is taking up that much space on my hard drive ( because my virus scanner takes hours to get through the big file...) Can't Microsoft think of something better than Winsxs..? ugh

 

[severedsolo]

Id say that Thorsen's suggestion will solve your problem admirably.... I have just looked through Brink's Tutorial and it looks like it covers it

One thing I'm going to suggest which I always suggest when dealing with partitioning. Backup anything you don't want to lose. Generally there is very little risk. but occasionally something goes wrong. and i would really hate to see you wipe out your files. A system image probably isn't a bad idea either. Just in case.

 

[redblade8]

KK thanks. I will look into doing a system image ( there is a tutorial for it around here somewhere...)

 

[fseal]

Uh.... do not touch the winsxs folder or move it or try to do ANYTHING with it what so ever. Only pain and suffering will result.

If your AV software is choking on it then my advice is to upgrade to a Windows 7 compatible version or jump to one that can handle it.

 

[metalmania31]

Wouldn't it be easier to create a virtual hdd? http://technorati.com/technology/it/article/create-a-virtual-hard-drive-in/

 

[Thorsen]

Ah background on folder to set limit to is helpful. I would not touch this folder either. I dont think capping it would be wise either. I work with large .log files so I was thinking in this manner that you had a specific folder you needed capped, not a system folder.

 

[redblade8]

I only want the default system setting to be in it, and for it never to add anything else. I'd much rather DLL hell than winsxs...

 

[fseal]

This sounds like a case of not really understanding the purpose or benefits of the side by side dll handling mechanism.

There is actually considerably LESS chance of program failure due to missing DLLs.

If you don't allow any programs to install any more CRT/MFC DLLs into winsxs then the programs simply won't work. There's nothing to be gained and a lot to be lost by going back to the old XP way of letting programs install dozens of copies (identical copies) of the same common DLLs all over your HD. MORE disk usage and LESS security are two of the biggies.

 

[redblade8]

Hmm...true...I just hope Microsoft will think up another way to deal with DLL's... And my winsxs folder does not change at all when i uninstall programs, so obviously programs uninstallers are not removing what they installed into there...I'd rather the old XP way because it's easier to manage than having winsxs. Plus, even if you do not install anything the winsxs folder grows in size...I am using Avast Antivirus, and it takes WAY too long to get through the winsxs folder... (plus if I get a SSD, winsxs will kill it)

 

[fseal]

Well programs cant uninstall anything from that folder becuase other programs may have become dependent on it after the original install. The common libs really are common. Uninstalling them after some period of time might break any number of other programs.

Eliminating the hibernation folder and VM or moving them to another drive will provide a considerably higher benefit for space reduction

Here is a good page on the entire winsxs folder:

The Secret Of Windows 7 / Vista Winsxs Folder.


That hard linking is why it can look like the windows folder is twice the size it really is to older AV programs or backup software end up checking all files twice (or more). The total contents of the windows folder is not really as large as it can look like sometimes. And av software and backup software should be able to avoid double checking hardlinks, but older stuff doesn;t.

[Edit]
Hmm, maybe that link isn't the best one, has some conflicting info. Though overall it's basiclly right.

Here is one straight from the horses mouth:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/e7/archive/2008/11/19/disk-space.aspx
[/edit]

 

[redblade8]

Thanks =P
I use both hibernate and VM though.
It isn't really space I am concerned about however, just that Avast takes too long to scan the hard drive.
'Hmm, maybe that link isn't the best one, has some conflicting info. Though overall it's basiclly right.'
lol , my school has blocked that site saying that it is ' malicious' ...a very annoying thing to pop up...