Free system disk space going out by itself

[robergto]

Hi forum! Thanks for your help!
I am having this free disk space problem that I'd like to understand. The message appeared quite some time ago. I had my thunderbird profile in the C disk, as well as some data. So, I moved it and deleted other stuff, and got myself bright beautiful blank space on the C, around 7gbs.-
Thing is it was a month ago or so, and now, the problem appears again. So, I am asking for a kind of solution, but in first place, I'd like to kwon what's going on.-
I have downloaded quite a few things, but they are in another partition. I always wipe off the temporal files, as well as internet temporary files. If I install programs, they are in another partitio too, but is not the case, for I have not installed almost anything(I know that even if we put the 'program' in a partition, some data goes in C nevertheless).-
I am aware of the existance of those progs that will show the ammount of data and its location and stuff. I have read mostly how to get rid of useless things, but I'd like to know what happens, and if I can prevent it from occuring.-
I have seen so far, with one of those that show the data, that the same archive can be located in both folders. :sarc: That happened with the thunderbird profile files, which 1 gb would be 2 gb of disk allocation.-

Thanks again, and be well!

 

[robergto]

Hey!
Update:
I didn't do a thing, and I have now 3,5 GB of free space, out of nowhere. Any ideas?

 

[carwiz]

I'm not sure of the question. Are you asking about what Thunderbird does or what Windows does when you install a program? Or.....????? Please be specific.

 

[Ztruker]

You really need to use "one of those programs that will show the ammount of data and its location and stuff".

I'd recommend Treesize Free

See what it tells you about where the space is being used.

Also, how big is the boot partition? Can you post a screen capture of a full screen Disk Management window.

 

[robergto]

Hey! Thanks for your answers.-
I am not interested in thunderbird, I just named it, my mistake. What I want to know is how windows manages the free space, and the reason for having lost about 7 gb of free space when I didn't do anything on it. I know how to erase things, and I have quite a few of those programs(thanks for suggesting one, I didn't know it). But I am not up to it.-
I mentioned thunderbird for it has quite large archives, and, I saw them duplicated. But the same happend with other files, I don't remember their names, they where .msi I guess(Install packages).-

So, I'll try to be specific:
1) How does windows manage free space?
2) What can I do to prevent it from using all the free space?
3) What happens when some free space comes back by itself?
As I said before, I had 3,5 GB(around 7 PM), and now(10 pm) I have 2,93 GB, and did not do anything, neither insalled a program, nor downloaded any file. I did not even entered web sites. I have been just listening to some music, and was no infront the computer.-
4) I am not willing to use the treesize kind of program in first place, for I am not trying to free space and get it lost again. Might I be a noob, apologies if that's the case, but I want the free space to stopo being consumed, not just erase things.-

Thanks!

 

[Slartybart]

Ummm, without detailed information from a utility such as Treesize, members really can't assist you.
TreeSize Free tells you where precious disk space has gone.

 

[robergto]

Hi again, this thread shows quite my question:
http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/220085-hard-drive-free-space-fluctuation.html
I'll consider downloading that tool the, thanks!
Remember I'd like to prevent the problem, i.e. free space going from 7 gb to 100 MB, back to 3,5 GB, again to 200 MB and so.-
And I'd like to add that the hybernation file is disabled, and the pagefile is in another partition.-

 

[carwiz]

We would also have to know what's running on your system. Windows isn't causing the problem. You obviously have software (or malware) running in the background using disk space. Start Windows Resource Monitor and click on the Disk tab. This will show you all processes using disk and what files are in use.

We can't see your system for here so speculating on what is using the disk is just a guess.

 

[Layback Bear]

What program and/or method are you seeing free space change?

You say you are jumping from 200 MB to 3.5 GB

 

[Callender]

Suggestion

Pure speculation as stated already but - check your settings for system restore on all drives. If a restore point gets created it can use a ton of space with no obvious signs of activity.

Other than that it is possible to install yet more software to monitor directories. Here's screenshots from my machine running a couple of apps that run without installation and can monitor file changes.

 

[robergto]

Hey! I'm back, sorry for delay.-
I've been quite interested in the resource monitor, kind of like it. How many things go on without knowing, he he!
Yes, I went from less than 200MB to 3,5 GB. Just the windows explorer info. Today I'm about 2,27 GB right now, and the use of the box has been quite the same. Just listening to music, thunderbird(which stores just one mail account in C drive), and some minor surfing(for this investigation purposes I try not to use the machine so much).-
As for the system restore thing, I have it enables just in C.-
Say, it's really weird that the space comes back by itself(Where was it? Where did it go?), that's what leads me to want to know what it's all about. Like, where windows stores temp data, or flash data, when I see pictures or use a program like photoshop. That's more or less what I have in mind when I ask for opinions. I know you guys are the ones that know about this stuff.-
Thanks again for your time and answers, I appreciate them. Will check those apps to monitor, they sound good. I already use some of the sysinternals progs for monitoring(you know, like disk monitor or process explorer), but the ones you post your pictures here are interesting indeed.-

Greetings!

 

[bbking2014]

Use WinDirStat or similar product. Run it when you space is gone and see what is consuming the space. It should be pretty obvious, but if not run it again when you the free space returns and compare. Otherwise, it's all guessing here.

 

[Callender]

Temp Data

On my machine temp data tends to get stored in the folders configured under System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables but that doesn't apply to all temp data. Some programs use their own location for a cache or data storage.

See this link about Spotify for example. Listening to songs via Spotify can use up a huge amount of disk space!

How to clear, change or move the Spotify cache - gHacks Tech News

Temp folders located here (on my machine - it's not the default locations) - Try Start> Run then type sysdm.cpl and press Enter. Then Advanced > Environment Variables. Don't change anything though!



Example:

Photoshop creates temp files when opening an image:



Not all of those files are deleted when exiting Photoshop and they need to be cleared using other methods:

 

[NoN]

Are you using something like Defraggler or the integrated one. I know Defraggler on my machine count the free space between files as filled space after having defrag my drive. At some reboot point it is disappearing like magic, Guess, its compacting the free space somehow...

 

[robergto]

Thanks for all your answers. So far I have 730 MB left, and the same environment. Except I have used a few times photoshop or played some games. But this was during the las two days, and I had 900 mb by then. Still don't know where the space goes, or how to prevent it from vanishing.-
Great info on photoshop Callender, thanks. It's also a good idea to compare situations with one of those space-progs, grateful too. You can close the thread if you like for I don't think I'll be coming back, situation is quite the same =/ Oh, and I am not using defraggler or one of them. And just use winamp for music purposes.-

Greetings!