# Full Hard drive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825 "2005-07-23T18:38:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/1 "2005-07-23T18:38:51Z")
I’m using an old computer with a small hard drive by current standarts (4,8 Go). Yesterday, there was something like 400 Mo unused on it. I didn’t load or download anything on it. Some minutes ago, while I was at the same time writing a post and running Ad-Aware (following an anti-virus and spybot check) I got out of the blues a windows telling me that my hard drive was full and that I needed to clean the disk. I checked it up and I’ve now apparently only 30 Mo of available space on my hard-drive. What could have caused this? Is there something I should be warry about? Something I should do (besides deleting some stuff to free som space)? ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/2 "2005-07-23T18:57:16Z")
Clean out your temp files. Clean out your recycle bin. Go to add/remove, and uninstall programs you no longer need or use. Burn pictures and downloaded programs to disk, then delete from hard drive. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/3 "2005-07-23T22:18:32Z")
> [@Daizy](#): > > Clean out your temp files. > Clean out your recycle bin. > Go to add/remove, and uninstall programs you no longer need or use. > Burn pictures and downloaded programs to disk, then delete from hard drive. And also defrag the drive monthly or so. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/4 "2005-07-23T22:44:08Z")
I think the OP is asking how to find out what unknown process is using disk space so quickly, rather than seeking tips on how to free up disk space. Something like [FileMon](http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Filemon.html) might help. It allows you to view all file system activity, i.e. which applications are accessing which files, and you can filter the output to show write activity only. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/5 "2005-07-23T22:57:30Z")
> [@Usram](#): > > I think the OP is asking how to find out what unknown process is using disk space so quickly, rather than seeking tips on how to free up disk space. Indeed, that’s what I’m worrying about. I will check Filemon, though bing quie computer illiterate, I’m not convinced the infos will make much sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/6 "2005-07-24T01:00:09Z")
When i want to check my hard drive usage, i use [Treesize](http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml). It’s a small, free program that shows you where all your disk space is going. Just download and install, then run it and get it to look at all folders on your C: drive. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/7 "2005-07-24T01:50:59Z")
> [@Usram](#): > > I think the OP is asking how to find out what unknown process is using disk space so quickly, rather than seeking tips on how to free up disk space. In that case, I would suggest maybe the Windows swap file. But I’m unsure of how often this file fluctuates. I would think it’s fixed, but maybe not? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/8 "2005-07-24T01:57:58Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > In that case, I would suggest maybe the Windows swap file. But I’m unsure of how often this file fluctuates. I would think it’s fixed, but maybe not? In 2k it can be set with parameters. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/9 "2005-07-24T03:07:33Z")
Is this computer connected to the Internet with a broadband connection (and left on when you are not using it)? Running any version of Windows prior to Windows XP? Ever experienced unusual hard drive use when you are not do much with the computer, or not even using it at all? If you can answer yes to most of these questions, your computer may be a zombie. That means somewhere in the past your computer security was compromised and it is now being used by someone else to store their files, launch attacks on other computers, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/10 "2005-07-24T03:49:54Z")
I _guarantee_ what you want to use is Steffen Gerlach’s [Diskscanner](http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/) (free!). After quite a short amount of scan time, it displays your hard disk useage in a [pie-chart](http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/scnshot.gif) format, so you can easily see where all your disk space is going. You can even drill down to different directories. BTW, what does Go and Mo stand for? (The standard english counterparts are, I’m assuming, GB and MB). ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/11 "2005-07-24T04:04:47Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > In that case, I would suggest maybe the Windows swap file. But I’m unsure of how often this file fluctuates. I would think it’s fixed, but maybe not? It does fluctuate, but you can control it. In Windows XP, go to Control Panel -\> System -\> Advanced -\> Performance -\> Advanced -\> Virtual Memory. It allows you to set the minimum and maximum size of the swap file. I forget where it is in Win2k but it should be similar. If you don’t want the size to fluctuate, just set the min and max to the same value. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/12 "2005-07-24T04:30:15Z")
Would one of the programm you’re mentionning (or another one) allow me to sort all the files on my hard drive (regardless of the folder they’re in) by date? The point would be to search for a large file (or a number of small ones) that would have been created or modified during the last 48 hours… I’m going to try to run tomorrow some of the programms you mentionned, but I’m now dreading the zombie computer mentionned by \*\* Duckster \*\*. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/13 "2005-07-24T04:55:35Z")
> [@Nanoda](#): > > BTW, what does Go and Mo stand for? (The standard english counterparts are, I’m assuming, GB and MB). Yes, you’re right, thanks for the correction. Mo = Mega-octets and Go = Giga-octets in french. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/14 "2005-07-24T05:43:26Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Would one of the programm you’re mentionning (or another one) allow me to sort all the files on my hard drive (regardless of the folder they’re in) by date? If you turn off ‘hide protected files’ and turn on ‘show hidden files and folders’ in Folder Options, you could use the Windows standard search tool to search for files modified in the past X hours, then (if you set the view mode to detail), sort by size. I still highly recommend that [Scanner](http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/) program though. Looking at the [screenshot](http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/scnshot.gif) for it, you can see right away that the guy using it has most of his HD used up by the ‘Programme’ directory. > [@clairobscur](#): > > Yes, you’re right, thanks for the correction. Mo = Mega-octets and Go = Giga-octets in french. No correction, just wondering. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/15 "2005-07-24T08:32:38Z")
You got a popup, right? Windows NT, 2000, and XP automatically alert you if the partition is more than 90% full. Places to check for redundant files c: emp~\* c: emp\*.tmp c:\windows\*.dmp c:\winnt\*.dmp c:\Local Settings\*username\* emp~\* c:\Local Settings\*username\* emp\*.tmp I’ll second the value of Treesize. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/16 "2005-07-24T09:19:04Z")
- - - As long as we’re speaking of disk-visioning programs, I will throw in SequoiaView, which displays any disk or directory contents as a bunch of rectangles, each separate rectangle representing a file and its size representing the file’s size. [http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/](http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/) ~ ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/17 "2005-07-24T17:55:31Z")
Ok. I deleted a folder to clear some space, and downloaded the various programms mentionned in the thread. I didn’t find any suspect folders, and given the size of the various folders and files, if there’s something that lage on my computer that shouldn’t be there, it seems at first glance that they could only be independant files in C:\Windows (but I might be misaken). Besides, after I did this morning I had around 100MB of free space on my computer. It’s now down again to around 30 MB. I didn’t kept Filemon running the whole time, maybe I should have, but given the enormous number of infos it gives just by running for a few minutes, I’m not sure how I could have sorted it out exactly. What should I do, in your opinion? ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/18 "2005-07-24T18:05:47Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > You got a popup, right? Windows NT, 2000, and XP automatically alert you if the partition is more than 90% full. I’m using W98 > [@](#): > > Places to check for redundant files > > c: emp~\* > c: emp\*.tmp > c:\windows\*.dmp > c:\winnt\*.dmp > c:\Local Settings\*username\* emp~\* > c:\Local Settings\*username\* emp\*.tmp > > I’ll second the value of Treesize. I checked all the .tmp files and none of any significant size has been modified recently. And I didn’t find any .dmp files on my hard drive… ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/19 "2005-07-24T18:08:25Z")
> [@Nanoda](#): > > If you turn off ‘hide protected files’ and turn on ‘show hidden files and folders’ in Folder Options, you could use the Windows standard search tool to search for files modified in the past X hours, then (if you set the view mode to detail), sort by size. That sounds great, but I don’t know where to look to turn off “hide protected files”, nor how to use the windows standart search tool for files recently modified… ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825/20 "2005-07-24T18:12:20Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > That sounds great, but I don’t know where to look to turn off “hide protected files”, nor how to use the windows standart search tool for files recently modified… Ok. I find it out concerning the search tool. I just never had noticed you could search by date. However, I still don’t know how to turn off “hide protected files”… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-hard-drive/313825.md?page=2)