Vista - hidden files and large files issues

lappyhappy

Weaksauce
Joined
Apr 25, 2005
Messages
80
Problem 1 - My 100gb laptop harddrive is at almost full capacity but I don't know why. I used a program to find the top 100 largest files, but there's nothing out of the ordinary. I'm wondering if there's some kind of auto-archiving going on that keeps eating up more and more HD space. Suggestions?

Problem 2 - When I searched for the largest files, it also listed their location path. But when I follow the displayed path (ie - C:\Users\All Users\Apply Computer\Installer Cache....) I can't find the folder "All Users". It doesn't exist.
 
Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 956.719 MB
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 1.172 GB
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 2.316 GB

Doesn't seem to be too bad, what do you think? Is approx 2 GB ok for system restore on a 100GB HD?
 
Tree Size - http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml

freeware_treesize_gr.gif
 
Use search there was another Vista user with a similar problem. The problem with Vista is that it takes control away from the user totally. If you buy OEM you're not the administrator of your computer anymore, for an example.

I can feel your pain for choosing the wrong OS.
 
Results:

treesizejx0.jpg




How can the C drive only be taking up 32,141 MB of space and yet when I click "my computer" it shows this?

mycompbn6.jpg
 
Hidden files m8. Hidden files. Vista is taking unprecedented steps of hiding things from users and/or making it difficult to get access to them.

Take ownership to the whole contents of C: and then set view options to include hidden files. If your box is OEM you don't have ownership to your drive as default.
 
It's probably system restore then. You'll have to adjust the storage limit on that. I kow it takes up about 18GB on my 150GB Raptor. I just happen to have enough space on my machine to afford that.
 
Rerun Treesize, but this time run as administrator to get a complete report
 
It's probably system restore then. You'll have to adjust the storage limit on that. I kow it takes up about 18GB on my 150GB Raptor. I just happen to have enough space on my machine to afford that.

Adjusted maxsize to 2GB as follows:

resizern8.jpg




When I open "my computer" I still get this:

mycompbn6.jpg
 
Few things to consider...

System Restore (Disable it)
Paging file (leave it alone - this can contribute to the problem if u have low amount of RAM)
Indexing enabled (Disable it)
 
I think that RRbackups folder is going to be your answer. Google turns up plenty of "where is my hd space" associated with a search for rrbackups.
 
Yes, it seems that the Lenovo backup software is, erm, "intelligent" enough not to worry about filling up all your hard drive space.
 
Adjusted maxsize to 2GB as follows:

resizern8.jpg




When I open "my computer" I still get this:

mycompbn6.jpg

What you're talking about here is shadowcopy, not system restore. To get to the system restore settings hit the windows key and Pause together to get the system properties, then click the "Advanced System Settings" under tasks on the left. Then click the System Protection tab and uncheck the C: drive. Then click OK. This should delete the system restore information and clear a bunch of space on your hard drive.

It looks like Vista doesn't allow adjusting the space used by system restore like you can do with XP. I had not known that. you can only turn it on and off.
 
What you're talking about here is shadowcopy, not system restore.

The Volume Shadow Copy Service is also responsible for System Restore in Vista.

The problem here is almost certainly the Lenovo backup software.
 
From google it sounds like you have a Lenovo laptop with Rescue and Recovery installed. Here is a thread I found that names 2 people having uninstalled that software and recovering 50% of their disk space.

http://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=55986

We have a winnar!

Running a Lenovo T61. Went to "uninstall programs" and removed the R&R program. Gee, that just cleared up 70 gigs of HD space. Way to go, Lenovo *rolls eyes
 
We have a winnar!

Running a Lenovo T61. Went to "uninstall programs" and removed the R&R program. Gee, that just cleared up 70 gigs of HD space. Way to go, Lenovo *rolls eyes


Holey Schnikies! That's a lot of space to lose to a 'backup' program! I'm glad I don't work with Thinkpads anymore.
 
Holey Schnikies! That's a lot of space to lose to a 'backup' program! I'm glad I don't work with Thinkpads anymore.

Yea I was pretty shocked. Though I must say, this T61 is my favorite of all the laptops I've owned. Aside from the issue in this thread it's a solid system that's treated me great. But this R&R issue is unacceptable, not sure what Lenovo was thinking with that one...
 
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