Total memory

[steveseven]

I know when you delete a file it isnt gone from your computer, its just made very very tiny. but overtime, do all the files start to build up? I have 143GB (initially) on my internal hardrive, but will that number ever decrease?

Also, if I got a new internal hardrive I would need to back up everything to my external hard drive first correct? theres no other way to transfer my files?

 

[whs]

1. Don't worry about the deleted files. They are marked as available space but they are still there in their entirety until the space is needed. If you do a disk defrag, they disappear too. Files of your own that you delete will hardly make a dent in the disk space because they are usually tiny compared to the total disk space. You would have to delete Gigabytes (which you usually don't have) to see it in the freespace amount.

2. Your second problem is more complicated. If you want to change the harddrive, you have to clone your current drive. Programs like Norton Ghost, Acronis, Paragon and a lot of others can do that. Yes you have to clone to an external drive (unless you have a second internal drive) - where else, since you take the disk away. You also have to burn a recovery CD to pull the clone back in. But all of that is explained if you study any of those programs. Here is some reading to give you an idea: Disk cloning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BTW: your topic is misleading. Disk space is no memory. RAM is memory.

 

[IggyAZ]

I know when you delete a file it isnt gone from your computer, its just made very very tiny. but overtime, do all the files start to build up? I have 143GB (initially) on my internal hardrive, but will that number ever decrease?

Also, if I got a new internal hardrive I would need to back up everything to my external hard drive first correct? theres no other way to transfer my files?

Hi and Welcome.
1. If you are looking for a program to delete unneeded files?
I suggest running CCleaner which is a free program and helps find and deletes garbage from you HD as well as your Registry.
Google it. Ccleaner.

2. About the HD question. Are you talking about a desktop computer or laptop?
If it is a desktop I'd make the HD my backup drive for storage of backup data.
Now if you have alot of DATA you should backup to a CD or DVD and reinstall after the new HD is installed and Win7 installed properly.


I'm sure you have more questions now. Just ask.

 

[seekermeister]

whs,

1. Don't worry about the deleted files. They are marked as available space but they are still there in their entirety until the space is needed. If you do a disk defrag, they disappear too. Files of your own that you delete will hardly make a dent in the disk space because they are usually tiny compared to the total disk space. You would have to delete Gigabytes (which you usually don't have) to see it in the freespace amount.

I realize that I'm picking nits, but defrag doesn't totally eliminate deleted files, it just writes over them. If a person really want to ensure that no fragments of a previous file are erased beyond a trace, they must use a program such as a shredder that performs multiple pass over the file to totally eliminate them.

Your response was quite adequate, but I guess that I was bored and wanted to rattle on.

 

[whs]

whs,

1. Don't worry about the deleted files. They are marked as available space but they are still there in their entirety until the space is needed. If you do a disk defrag, they disappear too. Files of your own that you delete will hardly make a dent in the disk space because they are usually tiny compared to the total disk space. You would have to delete Gigabytes (which you usually don't have) to see it in the freespace amount.

I realize that I'm picking nits, but defrag doesn't totally eliminate deleted files, it just writes over them. If a person really want to ensure that no fragments of a previous file are erased beyond a trace, they must use a program such as a shredder that performs multiple pass over the file to totally eliminate them.

Your response was quite adequate, but I guess that I was bored and wanted to rattle on.

LOL Seekermeister. I totally agree if you want to be 100% correct. But the issue here was not military strength erasure. The OP was only wondering about the freespace. I like to tune my answers to the "customer" and not confuse them with too many sidelines. But your point is well taken. And I only answered to your observation because I am bored too - what else can you do on a Sunday.

 

[steveseven]

I know when you delete a file it isnt gone from your computer, its just made very very tiny. but overtime, do all the files start to build up? I have 143GB (initially) on my internal hardrive, but will that number ever decrease?

Also, if I got a new internal hardrive I would need to back up everything to my external hard drive first correct? theres no other way to transfer my files?

Hi and Welcome.
1. If you are looking for a program to delete unneeded files?
I suggest running CCleaner which is a free program and helps find and deletes garbage from you HD as well as your Registry.
Google it. Ccleaner.

2. About the HD question. Are you talking about a desktop computer or laptop?
If it is a desktop I'd make the HD my backup drive for storage of backup data.
Now if you have alot of DATA you should backup to a CD or DVD and reinstall after the new HD is installed and Win7 installed properly.


I'm sure you have more questions now. Just ask.

I have CCleaner and use it often.

I just upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7, and im deleting a lot of stuff from the .old folder. I dont have a lot of mem left on my laptop (only 25GB out of the 146GB), so i want to make space but dont want to lower the maximum amount of mem (146GB) at the same time

 

[whs]

the maximum amount of mem (146GB) at the same time

You must have quite a system. Usually PCs come with 1,2 or 4GB of memory. But one with 146GB of memory I have never seen.

 

[steveseven]

the maximum amount of mem (146GB) at the same time

You must have quite a system. Usually PCs come with 1,2 or 4GB of memory. But one with 146GB of memory I have never seen.

ok, got the sarcasm. i have 2 gigs of mem, but 25GB free of 146GB

 

[whs]

the maximum amount of mem (146GB) at the same time

You must have quite a system. Usually PCs come with 1,2 or 4GB of memory. But one with 146GB of memory I have never seen.

ok, got the sarcasm. i have 2 gigs of mem, but 25GB free of 146GB

I was just joking. It is a common confusion. RAM is memory and what's on the disk is "disk space". This is not a big deal, but precise acronyms help to understand a posting. Forgive me for pulling your leg.

 

[steveseven]

no prob. do u know the answer to my question tho?

 

[whs]

no prob. do u know the answer to my question tho?

I was the first one to post an answer (post #2). Maybe you missed it. There you'll also see why I elaborated on "memory".

 

[steveseven]

1. Don't worry about the deleted files. They are marked as available space but they are still there in their entirety until the space is needed. If you do a disk defrag, they disappear too. What does this pertain to?

Files of your own that you delete will hardly make a dent in the disk space because they are usually tiny compared to the total disk space. You would have to delete Gigabytes (which you usually don't have) to see it in the freespace amount. I have GBs of info that needs to be deleted, so are you saying it will lower my freespace? Should I put it on a flash drive and delete it on my schools computer (or any comp besides mine?)

sorry about the misleading title too

 

[whs]

OK,

1. do I understand correctly that your target is to get more freespace of your disk? If yes, there are many things we can do.
2. Also let me know whether you know how to get into an elevated Command prompt (if not, I'll explain it because that is one of the tools that we need.
3. do you still need info out of this windows.old folder
4. what are those GBs of info that you think need to be deleted

Please answer the above questions and I will make you a guide on how to proceed.

 

[steveseven]

OK,

1. do I understand correctly that your target is to get more freespace of your disk? If yes, there are many things we can do.
2. Also let me know whether you know how to get into an elevated Command prompt (if not, I'll explain it because that is one of the tools that we need.
3. do you still need info out of this windows.old folder
4. what are those GBs of info that you think need to be deleted

Please answer the above questions and I will make you a guide on how to proceed.

1. I would like to make sure deleting a lot of information from my computer wont decrease its maximum free GB capability (i have a lot of music i plan to move to my external hard drive which will lower the free GB space, so getting more free space isnt the problem)

2. i dont know how to do that

3. I have media that i want, im currently sorting what i want and what i dont. I will eventually delete the .old folder. This ties into 4.

4. I have tons of program files that wont work on windows 7. i have to get new program files and delete the .old ones

 

[whs]

1. moving music to an external drive is certainly a good idea. It plays just as well from there. But if all your music files are less than let's say 10GB, it may not be worth it.
2. I'll make you a little cmd (Command Prompt) tutorial. There are a few things we can do with cmd
3. the .old folder is huge. That should be the first one to go. Here are 2 methods how to do that. For the first you need cmd - so wait for my tutorial.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-delete-a-system-file-in-windows-vista/
http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/remove-windows-old-windows-7/

4. If those program files are XP, you can trash them. They are useless. Better to download the Win7 versions. Btw: I keep all my program files on an external drive. Partly because I live in 2 different locations and need to carry them around, but also because they are bulky and are better off on the external.

I'll get back to you in 15 minutes.

 

[steveseven]

1. moving music to an external drive is certainly a good idea. It plays just as well from there. But if all your music files are less than let's say 10GB, it may not be worth it.
2. I'll make you a little cmd (Command Prompt) tutorial. There are a few things we can do with cmd
3. the .old folder is huge. That should be the first one to go. Here are 2 methods how to do that. For the first you need cmd - so wait for my tutorial.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-delete-a-system-file-in-windows-vista/
http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/remove-windows-old-windows-7/

4. If those program files are XP, you can trash them. They are useless. Better to download the Win7 versions. Btw: I keep all my program files on an external drive. Partly because I live in 2 different locations and need to carry them around, but also because they are bulky and are better off on the external.

I'll get back to you in 15 minutes.

1. i have 14,000 songs on my comp, about 80GB i think haha. i have all of it backed up, but i just want more room on my internal hard drive

2./3. I cant just delete the .old folder?

4. im keeping them only so i know which new ones i need to get and what programs i need to reinstall.

what about the question about decresing my maximum GB freespace?

 

[whs]

How to run Command Prompt (cmd)

Cmd needs to be run in elevated mode (as administrator). We want to avoid the need to set it to elevated mode every time we use it. Therefore we will make a permanent setting. These are the steps:

· Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories
· Right click on Command Prompt and go to Properties
· Click on Advanced and check the box that says Run as Administrator
· OK> Apply>OK (do not forget the Apply-else it will not be set)

From now on, cmd will always run in elevated mode. I also suggest to make a shortcut of cmd. In Accessories, right click again and either Send to Desktop or Pin to Start Menu or Pin to Taskbar.


1. Understand. That is worth moving
2/3. No, you have to follow onr of those procedures.
4. I do not understand what you mean by: "question about decresing my maximum GB freespace". The freespace is whatever it is. That is the space that is NOT occupied on the disk. It decreases when you or the system put stuff on the disk.

 

[whs]

One other thing you can do is eleiminate the hibernation file on disk (assuming that you do not use hibernation - really no need for that). That saves you 2GB and you exercise your newly aquired cmd skills.
Open cmd amd type (or paste)

powercfg.exe -h off and hit Enter (always hit Enter after you typed a command).

That will get rid of the hibernation file. And if you want to have some fun with cmd, try these commands:


Help – gives you a list of all valid commands
Cmd – shows your system version
Assoc – shows all associations in your system
Schtasks – makes a list of all scheduled tasks
Ipconfig /all – displays the IP configuration of your system
Ping – gives you the round trip time of a packet to a webserver – e.g.
Ping 127.0.0.1 (which is your system) or Ping www.yahoo.com
Or let’s try a German newspaper which is further away: Ping www.faz.net

Now you should be busy for a little while - LOL.

 

[steveseven]

ok, lets try this again.

when i delete a file, it still takes up a small amount of freespace, not enough to be a problem but it still is there. but if i delete a lot of high MB/GB files, will the "leftovers" from those files take away from the overall freespace on my comp?

 

[Tepid]

ok, lets try this again.

when i delete a file, it still takes up a small amount of freespace, not enough to be a problem but it still is there. but if i delete a lot of high MB/GB files, will the "leftovers" from those files take away from the overall freespace on my comp?

No,,, when you delete data it is not really there,,, when you delete the data the space is marked as free, no space is taken by deleted data.

The information is there and can be recovered up untill the block is over-written with new data.

Deleted data creates free space. End of Story.