Solved Windows 7 , C drive filling up on its own !!

[prayagdave93]

I tried deleting the system restore points and cleaning all the junk and cache files.

Even tried managing the page index files and last time this problem occured i even deleted the hiberfil.sys and pageindex.sys ( something like that name ) . tried apps like WinDirstat and it pointed me out to the extra space being taken up by the " common files "

my C drive has filled up and common files are taking up all the extra space ( 47 Gb / 98 Gb )
and i dont think deleting them would be any smart ,
Please let me know what should i do ?

 

[AddRAM]

Re install windows

Post a shot of Disk Management

And please fill in your specs, completely 100%

 

[prayagdave93]

These are the screenshots of all the specs you asked for.








free photo upload

 

[DavidE]

tried apps like WinDirstat and it pointed me out to the extra space being taken up by the " common files "

my C drive has filled up and common files are taking up all the extra space ( 47 Gb / 98 Gb )
and i dont think deleting them would be any smart ,
Please let me know what should i do ?

You need to drill down in Common Files and figure out what is using so much space.

The W7 system I'm on right now,
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files uses 495 MB
C:\Program Files\Common Files uses 282 MB

 

[prayagdave93]

Mine is different but , The folder has a heck load of small size files , all equal in size..now i dont know which ones to delete and which ones to leave out.

 

[Eric3742]

You Windows 7 in C: drive is too small storage space.

Although you have 1 TB drive, you have used too big storage space for Games & Photos.

For the Disk-1 (2nd) HDD of 500 GB, you only use 170 GB or one-third of the HDD.

You can do a partition in the Disk-1 (2nd) HDD of 500GB

The best option is to move the partition "Photos" of 30 GB and "Games" occupy 60 GB.
Create 2 folders, "Photos" and "Games" in the Disk-1 (500 GB HDD) as folders, instead of partitions.
Copy the partition "Photos" on folders & files to Disk-1 "Photos" folder.
Copy the partition "Games" on filders & files to Disk-1 "Games" folder***option.

Do take note, do not copy both $RECYCLE.BIN and System Volume Information.
After copying, go back to 3-photos Device Management, and delete the partition "Photos"
As for the partition "Games" delete logical drive.*** option.

In this way you can deleted the partition "Photos" and extend your C: drive to have another 465 GB.
On the Disk-0 (the 1 TB HDD) click on the C: drive (to select) and
then right-click and select "Extend Volume". Choose how big that you want.

***You can let this partition to remain.
When doing the "Extend Volume" on the C: drive, you can take-over the "Photos" D: drive.

Note:
It is better not to delete the system restore points, as this will help you in case you encounter errors.
The System Restore points are created BEFORE installing new windows update.
If the latest windows update do encountered error, then you just do the system restore point before the update.

How did you just deleted the hiberfil.sys and pageindex.sys
They cannot just like files that you just deleted them.
Else the files will come back, if the deletion is not properly done.

This is an idea.
Your decision.

 

[prayagdave93]

@Eric3742 : I deleted them somehow and now i cant find them, plus you are talking about relocating space from one drive to another , that wont fix my problem because the disk is filling itself progressively and its not stopping.

I even deleted all the system restore points.

 

[Eric3742]

Did you have any internet security or antivirus & malware to protect.

I use this "SuperAntiSpyware" to regular check on my laptop, even i do have a permanent Internet Security "Panda".
The SuperAnitSpyware is a free version, and i used it after surfing.
This software can remove all the malware, virus, etc.

Your computer is acting this way, due to malware &or virus, etc.
Go and download and install, and go to the bottom right, to download updates.
Then click on "Scan this computer" and select "Do a quick scan" in less than 5 minutes.

You will be surprise to see how many malware, spyware, virus, etc; in your computer.
In my laptop, out of 250 GB for Windows OS, it only uses less than 70 GB.

Your current situation is due to malware++ and nothing to do with Windows OS.
That is the behavior as why your that folder keep adding files after files.

Whatever you do, this will continue to have, unless you resolve it first.

Edit: Do note that the free edition of the SuperAntiSpyware is not an active.
As i run after surfing, but to update the latest malware, virus, etc, before Quick Scan.

 

[DavidE]

It sounds like malware to me.
I would do as AddRAM suggested and re-install Windows.

 

[Porthos]

Mine is different but , The folder has a heck load of small size files , all equal in size..now i dont know which ones to delete and which ones to leave out.

Your infected.

 

[Layback Bear]

Re install windows

Post a shot of Disk Management

And please fill in your specs, completely 100%

 

[prayagdave93]

Ok , thanks alot !
I'll try using this antivirus, also if this doesnt work ill have to re install windows.

 

[prayagdave93]

ok so i ran the antivirus and got rid of alot of viruses , malwares , spywares etc ( around 300 )
So after i did this i rand Windirstat again and still no change in size , also when i went in C drive and checked
for total space it excedded the C drive limit , the drive is of 97.5 Gb and its contents were 101 GB
P.S. images below.

How do i clean all that space when i know the problem is in " common files " and i cant just delete them ?

 

[MeOnMine]

You may have removed the virus how ever you have not removed what the virus has done.
There is a saying that goes "the dog is barking up the wrong tree"
Use your time to re-install windows, as you have been told by very experienced people.
Then you need to involve your self with better knowledge on how to avoid Virus and Malware and also what is a better security against an infestation as you now have.
I am not trying to be rude to you as we have all been on this same learning curve in our pasts also.
You have done well

 

[DavidE]

In Windows (file) Explorer, select one of the files you can't delete.
Hold down the SHIFT key, and press the DELETE key (keyboard keys).
This should give you a message to "Permanently Delete" (the file will not be moved to the recycle bin).
If you get that message, click Yes, and see if that deletes the file.
Let us know if this works.

You're out of disk space, so nothing may work correctly in Windows.
imho, you're lucky Windows is starting with no free space.

 

[prayagdave93]

@ everyone thanks for your kind help , I could not fix this problem without formatting my whole computer and reinstalling windows , and thats what i did and now my computer is as good as new.

The reason i was bent up on not reinstalling was because i had lost my CD's and also lost my key.
anyways i ended up watching alot of videos and reading alot of blogs and in the end i feel like i learnt something new and this will also help me in the future ! So it was a good experience afterll

 

[Eric3742]

@ everyone thanks for your kind help , I could not fix this problem without formatting my whole computer and reinstalling windows , and thats what i did and now my computer is as good as new.

The reason i was bent up on not reinstalling was because i had lost my CD's and also lost my key.
anyways i ended up watching alot of videos and reading alot of blogs and in the end i feel like i learnt something new and this will also help me in the future ! So it was a good experience afterll

There is a folder where it may have a lot of files of which some are small size files.

Location:

1. C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp

2. Rename the username to your name of your account.

3. Select the whole path, including C:\ as this folder is in Windows, unless you had selected the C: drive.
Then paste it on the Top row of the Explorer where it have indicated, > Computer > and enter.

4. At Temp folder, select any file, and do "Ctrl A" which will highlights all files & folders in the Temp folder.

5. ***After all the files are highlighted, right-click anywhere in the selection that is highlighted.
Then Press+Hold the "Shift" key and use the mouse to select "Delete" and click.

6. This method is to delete (permanently) all the highlighted selection, so that these files do not go to the "Recycle Bin"
This means that you have permanently deleted all 'useless' files and not go to the recycle bin.

7. There will be a prompt to say that the file unable to delete, then click on "Skip" cause the file is active.
Normally one 1 or 2 files cannot be deleted.

8. Lastly, at the windows screen, right click on the "Recycle Bin" select "Empty Recycled Bin".

After you have done all these, you regain a lot of space.

Do take note of all these, as it will be helpful.
You can even no need to redo your C: drive as you have regain HDD storage space &or free up more space.

For both "Empty Recycled Bin" and that "Temp" folders, try to do it regularly to regain the storage space.

Sometimes if you want to remove/delete (permanently) certain files, , refer to pt 5.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

"Hard drive filling up on its own"???
Welcome to MS Windows!
Every day you run your computer, Windows will create JUNK files that will NEVER be removed, till YOU remove them.

I've taken dozens of service calls, where the complaint was "my PC is running so slow, I can't stand it any longer" (or some such verbiage)

First I tweak the OS for maximum efficiency, and then I start cleaning out the junk.
I use a little "Temp File Cleaner" that was written by a govt. IT specialist. It gets rid of at least 90% of the junk files on any PC. Then I run "WinUtilities" which finishes up the cleaning operation and then scans the registry for out of date and just plain BAD entries.
And, just for grins and giggles, I run Windows own "Disk Cleanup" in the Extended mode.*
* How to do that has been well documented on several Internet forums.

It's specifically designed to clean up Windows system areas.

Then I look at what's being loaded and run when the PC boots up. Cleaning up that area is mandatory for a good running PC.

With all that done, most people will tell me that their PC "didn't run that good when it was new".
I know....because a new PC is loaded with SAFE Defaults, that can seriously cripple its speed and efficiency.

But PC maintenance is not a once in a lifetime thing....it's something that should be done, like, weekly to keep a PC in really good operating condition.

For myself and my customers, I put my little "Temp File Cleaner" in our 'Startup' folder for a daily cleanup. I leave an icon (shortcut) to the Extended Mode "Disk Cleanup" on the desktop so it can be run as a part of a weekly maintenance procedure.

PC's should receive regular maintenance, just like a car, airplane, or any other High Tech piece of equipment. Failure to perform regular maintenance, is just looking for (creating) problems.

Cheers Mates!
TechnoMage