SSD Space suddenly reduced...?

[Enthusiast25]

I remember a while ago, my SSD (840 EVO 120GB) had like 60+ GBs of free space. Since then, for some reason Windows says it only has 21.6GB of free space left. I made sure that hidden files and hidden operating system files are shown, and it only says that 61.6GB are in use (http://puu.sh/hjwMl/eaa630d715.png). I haven't installed any large programs on it, I have my TEMP and libraries on the D:\ drive. I really need to find what's causing this and how to reclaim my space...

[DavidTheWin]

Install WinDirStat and take a look at the results from it

[CalumGiff]

Mibbe reinstall windows if the windirstat dont work

[DimasRMDO]

Install WinDirStat and take a look at the results from it

^^^^ WinDirStat! Check what fill your storage, if you find files that you don't even know but it's filling your storage you can delete it.

[Enthusiast25]

What exactly am I supposed to do on WinDirStat?

[Altecice]

What exactly am I supposed to do on WinDirStat?

 

Look at the files taking up all the space, I suspect it will be your pagefile that has increased in size.

[DimasRMDO]

Look at the files taking up all the space, I suspect it will be your pagefile that has increased in size.

^^^ You should see things like this:

The bigger the square the bigger the file.

[Enthusiast25]

This is what I got (the stuff is arranged from largest to smallest) http://puu.sh/hjzmt/9b3b1a31d6.jpg

[Opcode]

This is what I got (the stuff is arranged from largest to smallest) http://puu.sh/hjzmt/9b3b1a31d6.jpg

If you never use the Hibernation feature of Windows that would free up 12.7 GB of space.

 

Disable hibernation.

• Run command prompt as administrator.
• Enter "powercfg.exe /hibernate off"
• You should notice the huge hiberfil.sys file is gone.

[Enthusiast25]

If you never use the Hibernation feature of Windows that would free up 12.7 GB of space.

I did that, and it helped. Now for some reason, it says I  only iused 46GB on the SSD in total, but apparently I only have 36.8GB left...(http://puu.sh/hkDAN/6188d1d76c.png) I should have waaay more than that

[Enthusiast25]

@Enthusiast25, what are those big green tiles at the left? If they're what I think they are, old and/or duplicated driver install packages, you can use Rapr to remove some of them. https://driverstoreexplorer.codeplex.com/

That stuff is on the D: drive. Here's a screenshot of only the C: drive http://puu.sh/hlJX6/9f1d02c91b.jpg

 

Everything adds up to 44.5 gigs, so I really need to know why only 37 are available...

(and if ur wondering, this is what comes up in disk management http://puu.sh/hlK4f/0aa5c5fe6c.png)

[Enthusiast25]

Guys?

[Jarsky]

Go into Disk Cleanup, then select "Clean up System Files" and select your C: drive.

See if you get any Windows Setup files/Windows Update cleanup/Service Pack backups in there, you can just clear them. You might also want to try CCleaner - to go through all your temp folders and stuff to clear up space - often you'll find a few GB of files there too.

[Circs]

That stuff is on the D: drive. Here's a screenshot of only the C: drive http://puu.sh/hlJX6/9f1d02c91b.jpg

 

Everything adds up to 44.5 gigs, so I really need to know why only 37 are available...

(and if ur wondering, this is what comes up in disk management http://puu.sh/hlK4f/0aa5c5fe6c.png)

 

Right click WinDirStat and click run as administrator. Yes even if you're using an admin account.

[Enthusiast25]

Right click WinDirStat and click run as administrator. Yes even if you're using an admin account.

It says 56.5GB free, and now that I checked it, Windows explorer also says so. Still, 120GB (total) - 47.9 (used) = 72.1

I know it's normal that if you buy an X GB drive you won't get exactly X GB of usable space, but is 15.6 GB of unusable space normal?

 

Go into Disk Cleanup, then select "Clean up System Files" and select your C: drive.

See if you get any Windows Setup files/Windows Update cleanup/Service Pack backups in there, you can just clear them. You might also want to try CCleaner - to go through all your temp folders and stuff to clear up space - often you'll find a few GB of files there too.

There was a negligible amount to clean up in both Disk Cleanup and CCleaner.

[GoodBytes]

Ok here is how to save a lot of disk space on your system.

1- (already mentioned) - Disable hibernation

2- Perform a System Disk Clean up. To do this, right-click on the C:\ drive, and select Properties, and click on the Disc Cleanup button. Once the progress finishes, click on Cleanup System Files, it will then scan your system. Once done, it check all boxes, and click on "OK". Once done, restart your system.

3- Open Device Manager. Then click on "View" on the menu bar, and then select "Show hidden devices". As you expend each category inside Device Manager, you will see items where the icons are faded. These are old drivers that Windows has, but aren't loaded. Select each of them, as you go along checking every section, and hit the Delete key to remove it. This will help you clean up space. Once done, restart your system.

4- Once that is done. Clear your Download folder if it is a mess. Decide what to keep, and what to remove. Many people tend to forget to clean that folder.

5- Once that is done, go to C:\Windows\Temp, and delete all files and folder inside.

6- Then go to C:\Users\<ACCOUNT NAME>\AppData\Local\Temp, (note that AppData is a hidden folder), once there delete all files and folders that you can. Files that you can't remove are being used by a or some programs.

7- Go to C:\Nvidia and delete that folder. Do the same for Intel, and any other manufacture folders. They are not drivers or software, just extracted setup files, which are no longer needed.

8- If you use OneDrive, and you have a lot of data, mark them online to save space.

9- Delete old Shadow copies. Start Command Prompt as admin, and execute: vssadmin delete shadows /for=c: /oldest

10- Make updates permanent. Start Command Prompt as admin if it is already not open, and execute: dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded

Once done restart your system.

Your C:\ drive should only have the following folders:

-> Program Files

-> Program Files (x86)

-> PerfLogs

-> Windows

-> Users

-> ProgramData (hidden)

-> EFI (may or may not have it depending on the version of Windows and configuration)

-> RecoveryImage(may or may not have it depending on the version of Windows and configuration)

If you have anything else, it should not be there. Either relocate or delete.

This should substantially save you space.

A far more comprehensible software to see what consumes the most space on your system, and is free, is Space Sniffer.

It is easy to understand, clean looking, and easy to use.

http://www.uderzo.it/main_products/space_sniffer/

[Enthusiast25]

Ok here is how to save a lot of disk space on your system.

1- (already mentioned) - Disable hibernation

2- Perform a System Disk Clean up. To do this, right-click on the C:\ drive, and select Properties, and click on the Disc Cleanup button. Once the progress finishes, click on Cleanup System Files, it will then scan your system. Once done, it check all boxes, and click on "OK". Once done, restart your system.

3- Open Device Manager. Then click on "View" on the menu bar, and then select "Show hidden devices". As you expend each category inside Device Manager, you will see items where the icons are faded. These are old drivers that Windows has, but aren't loaded. Select each of them, as you go along checking every section, and hit the Delete key to remove it. This will help you clean up space. Once done, restart your system.

4- Once that is done. Clear your Download folder if it is a mess. Decide what to keep, and what to remove. Many people tend to forget to clean that folder.

5- Once that is done, go to C:\Windows\Temp, and delete all files and folder inside.

6- Then go to C:\Users\<ACCOUNT NAME>\AppData\Local\Temp, (note that AppData is a hidden folder), once there delete all files and folders that you can. Files that you can't remove are being used by a or some programs.

7- Go to C:\Nvidia and delete that folder. Do the same for Intel, and any other manufacture folders. They are not drivers or software, just extracted setup files, which are no longer needed.

8- If you use OneDrive, and you have a lot of data, mark them online to save space.

9- Delete old Shadow copies. Start Command Prompt as admin, and execute: vssadmin delete shadows /for=c: /oldest

10- Make updates permanent. Start Command Prompt as admin if it is already not open, and execute: dism /online /cleanup-image /spsuperseded

Once done restart your system.

Your C:\ drive should only have the following folders:

-> Program Files

-> Program Files (x86)

-> PerfLogs

-> Windows

-> Users

-> ProgramData (hidden)

-> EFI (may or may not have it depending on the version of Windows and configuration)

-> RecoveryImage(may or may not have it depending on the version of Windows and configuration)

If you have anything else, it should not be there. Either relocate or delete.

This should substantially save you space.

A far more comprehensible software to see what consumes the most space on your system, and is free, is Space Sniffer.

It is easy to understand, clean looking, and easy to use.

http://www.uderzo.it/main_products/space_sniffer/

I've done everything that's included on this list, except for clearing the downloads (they're all on the D drive) and clearing the Windows temp (only 13MB). All in all it saved 3.4GB (from 56.3GB free to 59.7).

 

As for spacesniffer, I've already had it for a while, and here is a screenshot of it on the C: drive. I know I can clear some more space somehow, just need the right solution...

Btw thanks for the great reply, GoodBytes!

[Enthusiast25]

Actually, no, I can't clear any more space... thanks guys!

[GoodBytes]

If you click under Space Sniffer on "Windows", it should split and show more content inside, and see which directory is the biggest, and you can continue.

Another way to save space is to install program on a different drive, but if it is on an HDD, it will start slower.

But yes, you need to look for a larger SSD.

[Enthusiast25]

If you click under Space Sniffer on "Windows", it should split and show more content inside, and see which directory is the biggest, and you can continue.

Another way to save space is to install program on a different drive, but if it is on an HDD, it will start slower.

But yes, you need to look for a larger SSD.

Do I need the "Installer" folder in Windows if I have the installation CD?