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08 July 2010

AskMeCha: Question about hard disk drive on old computer.→[More:]So my computer is ancient (2G hard drive), and I'm running out of disk space (I get a message every time it's at 100 megs or less). So I cleaned a bunch of stuff up, but what I don't understand is why the amount of empty space fluctuates so much. One day it'll say 100 megs, the next day it'll say 500, the day after that 250, then back to 100 or 75 again. Is this normal for standard computer usage these days? Do the cookies/temp files really fluctuate that much, or do I have a virus? Is the hardware dying? Would blowing some compressed air make a difference? Thanks for your help!

(Yes, I hope to get a new computer soon.)

post by: Melismata at: 10:33 | 15 comments

Hmm no it shouldn't fluctuate so much. Maybe the temp files take space if you're watching youtube etc..

posted by Firas 08 July | 10:47

Nope, it happens when I'm not using the computer...I'll come home and it'll suddenly flash the 100 meg message, when it was fine that morning.

posted by Melismata 08 July | 11:05

are windows updates downloading automatically?

posted by Firas 08 July | 11:25

Melismata: you know you can get a thumbdrive 4x the size of your current HD for like, less than $20, right?

maybe you could get one of those and pull everything off your main HD that's not absolutely critical to core functionality until you've got the funds to buy a new machine?

posted by lonefrontranger 08 July | 11:44

Did that already, lfr! :)

No Firas, windows updates are not automatic.

posted by Melismata 08 July | 12:28

Do you have your paging file set to a constant size? If you've got a 2g hard drive, I bet you don't have a lot of RAM either, and so it's probably swapping a lot.

posted by box 08 July | 13:43

Probably, box. New versions of Firefox and such probably require more RAM than it's used to. But 1) is it really swapping as much as ~400 megs and 2) why is it doing that when the computer is idle (no programs open)?

posted by Melismata 08 July | 13:49

Yeah, it's probably the windows paging file or other temp files created by applications you are running. 400 mb is nothing these days.

posted by DarkForest 08 July | 15:36

Is the hardware dying? Would blowing some compressed air make a difference?

No.

Are you running XP on this computer or something older like Win 98 or ME?

posted by DarkForest 08 July | 15:48

XP.

posted by Melismata 08 July | 19:49

I thought XP would require more than 2gb just in itself. but I checked microsoft and it says a min of 1.5 gb. so there you go, that's why there's never more than 500 mb left on the disk.

you might check for the presence of c:\hiberfil.sys. if it's there, it is taking up needless disk space. you can delete it. just google for directions.

posted by DarkForest 08 July | 21:10

WOOPS!! I just realized that my computer is 20 G, not 2!! Aaaaagh!! Thanks for the tips, DF, I'll look into that filename.

posted by Melismata 09 July | 09:31

OK, that's a different matter. In that case I'd just clear some space by backing up stuff you don't use everyday to a usb drive or cdr.

posted by DarkForest 09 July | 10:12

Already have done that! I don't have all that many programs on it, but the problem alas is those programs are just that much bigger. I just want to know if it's normal that the amount of free space fluctuates by ~400 mg WHILE IDLE.

posted by Melismata 09 July | 10:25

If free space is changing that much while idle, then it's time to look at what programs/services you've got running in the background.

posted by DarkForest 09 July | 11:01

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