Kitz Forum
Computer Software => Windows => Topic started by: toulouse on August 14, 2008, 07:40:14 AM
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Hi everyone,
Installed Service Pack 3 yesterday, and have been amazed at how fast disk space is being consumed. Does anyone have any ideas why that might be ? I seem to remember a similar situation when I tried it a few weeks ago.
TTFN
toulouse
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Funny you should ask that.
I put it on my lappie a couple of weeks ago, (well I got bored and needed something to do)
Anyway, apart from no obvious or noticeable benefits, I did notice the HDD was slowly being consumed.
So I have since removed it.
I do monitor my HDD space, because it makes a difference with the Ghost Image backups, and the time it takes to create it/them (Ok, so it's only between 2 - 8 minutes) but time is precious.
Although on this normal (Tower) PC it's not had any effect one way or another.
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Thanks for that, OF.
The disappearing disk space was brought to my attention yesterday afternoon when I started to get warning message boxes telling me I was critically low on disk space. This was around 3-4 hours after I had installed SP3. I found that after rebooting the available space on Drive C: was around 11GB, but over a period of a couple of hours this morning it has again dwindled down to around 2GB. Nothing particular running on the PC, apart from RouterStats, Outlook Express and Safari. I have now gone back to pre SP3 configuration, i.e. SP2, and everything seems normal again - Go figure !!!!
I suspect there are still some serious 'issues' with Service Pack 3.
TTFN
toulouse
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I suspect there are still some serious 'issues' with Service Pack 3.
But not effecting all PC's in the same way.
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Sorry toulouse I dont know the answer but when you mentioned this - just out of curiousity I decided to have a look at how much space was being taken up on mine... and unless Im being really stupid something doesnt add up.
C Drive Capacity 146GB. Used 32.9GB Free space 113GB
And these are the contents at the root aside from a drivers file of 405KB
5.15 GB - Windows
10.7 GB - Program files
4.22 GB - Docs and Settings
So thats just a tad over 20GB... Where the heck is the other 12GB?
Viewing Hidden files
MSO Cache (M$ Office) - 529MB
Recycler - 24.5 MB
System Volume Information 0
boot.ini + MS Dos etc <300KB
Page File 2.99GB
hiberfil.sys 2.99GB
Had to look up the following info
Hiberfil.sys and pagefile.sys are each set at 3GB by Windows since I have 3GB of RAM
Still doesn't add up and theres still 5GB+ missing somewhere.
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System restore files are usually hidden aren't they?
But your's do not show in the hidden files.
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@kitz
All that is with SP3 installed is it ?
I've unloaded it again this morning, and space is variable at around 10GB now.
I was up early this morning at around 6:00, started the machine up and space was at around 11GB, but within a couple of hours it was down to 2GB. At that point I offloaded SP3, and now things seem OK again.
METHINKS something is very wrong with SP3. it may be something to do with earlier reports about problems with AMD processors on some manufacturers machines. Mine is a Packard Bell Imedia 1280. I have had a quick 'google' to see if anything is on the wire, but haven't seen anything about disappearing disk space. The strange thing is, if I reboot, it goes back to what it was at the beginning of the day, so I assume something ??? is writing some kind of temporary file which gets deleted at system startup - go figure !!!!!
TTFN
toulouse
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My first thought was if you have a dynamic paging file, but if you did that wouldn't account for those discrepancies.
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Where did you get the SP3 installer from?
Is it on a CD or did you download from M$ Updates?
If from Updates then you will only have the bits that are relevant to your computer, but if from a disk or from a different download site, then you will jhave ALL the SP3 software.
Try from Tthe M$ Download site and get just what your system needs and see what size the file is.
dave
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thanks dave.m,
It was downloaded automatically yesterday morning from the M$ site. One big download, a partial install and then a further download from the M$site. Numerous system restarts along the way. What a pain !!!
I think, until the boys at Redmond or wherever get their act together, I'll keep away from the mother !!! It definitely ain't right.
Since I last posted earlier today, my free space on Drive C: has gone up from ~10GB to ~11GB - and I haven't had to delete any files manually - once again go figure !! I am of course now back to SP2.
TTFN
toulouse
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Yes I have XP3 on - downloaded via the updater.
I'm not particularly fussed about mine, since I have plenty of spare space on my system, just thought it was strange. (C Drive is for Windows and prog files only - everything else is elsewhere)
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(C Drive is for Windows and prog files only - everything else is elsewhere)
Same here.... my 40GB C: drive is barely 20% full.
BTW, I have the indexing service switched off which makes for smoother running. ;)
[edit]
Just one of the many tips that I picked up from Koroush Ghazi's excellent tweaking companion
http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html
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I'm having the same problem on my Dell D420 laptop: after installing SP3 empty disk space was 18.2MB, and is eaten up fastly with no apparent reason. Space drops to 0 after a few hours. Winoptimizer doesn't find anything. Rebooting gets back the space, but it gets eaten away again very fast.
Anyone with a solution ?
If it persists, I'll have to remove SP3.
Niek
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@nvd
I was experiencing exactly the same problem, so I decided to revert to SP2. The problem has now gone away.
TTFN
toulouse
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I'd just like to say I'm not having problem (lot of help I am).
Because I only have a 30g hd (look after coming from an 8g one it seemed big at the time - ok) I do tend to keep an eye on my space and I lost about half as gig after installing SP3, but have not continued to do so. Although SP3 appears to be the culprit possibly some other prog is being affected that I don't have, I don't download music and films for a start, so whatever you need for that I don't have (I'm a luddite).
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Hello again to all who may (or may not) be experiencing this disappearing space problem,
I've been doing a little research on the InterWeb, trying to find out a little more about problems with SP3. Although the disappearing disk space does not seem to be a major problem for many users, it certainly affected my system, and I suspect some others as well. I have now reverted to SP3, as I don't like it when something is happening on my system which I have no reasonable explanation for. OK, maybe I AM anal !!!!
From my research, it would appear that certain manufacturers, HP and Dell were specifically mentioned in a couple of items that I read, may have extra drivers installed in their supplied systems which seem to cause problems with certain systems. The affected systems appear to all have AMD processors, but one of the extraneous drivers that they all appear to install is called intelppm.sys - which it would seem should only be used on systems with Intel processors. At least that's the way I understood it. The problems reported as having started since XP SP3 had been installed are many and varied, the most serious of which means that the affected system keeps rebooting ad infinitum. Not much use for the average computer user.
Anyway, I suppose like many things in life, you pays your money and you takes your choice - use SP3 or don't - your choice.
TTFN
toulouse
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I'd just like to say I'm not having problem (lot of help I am).
I do tend to keep an eye on my space and I lost about half as gig after installing SP3, but have not continued to do so.
Same here, No problems. (as mentioned previously)
I have had SP3 on 2 of my PC's now for some time, both of which have Intel processors.
Apart from the initial loss of space due to the download from the M$ update (not full SP3 install) everything has remained pretty stable.
Although I have plenty of space available, I only ever allocate 20GB for the C: partition.
This was derived at using approximately four times the average install size, (at the time this was about 5GB) although it has changed slightly since then, but I still maintain a 20GB C: partition, which then still leaves plenty of room for further programs if required.
Any more then this would just be a waste of storage space, that would/could never be used.
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Did you monitor your 'temp' folder during these problems ?.
Maybe some of your software did not like sp3 and kept dumping into 'temp' folder and trying to reload itself over and over.
Edit ...also use file manager to monitor whats running.
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@tickmike
Yes, the 'temp' folder was empty throughout these problems as far as I can recall. It was in fact the first place I checked, thinking along the lines that if it was an application creating temporary files, that that's where they would be. haven't got to the bottom of it yet, but until SP3 becomes a must have, I think it's best if I leave it alone for now. At least until I work out how to install a bigger drive without losing the contents of the one I'm using now. (It's a Packard Bell machine which can only accomodate one HD, and there's something special that you have to do to preserve the contents I think)
TTFN
toulouse
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I think it's best if I leave it alone for now.
At least until I work out how to install a bigger drive without losing the contents of the one I'm using now.
Three possible solutions would be to:-
1) If there is not a second IDE connection on the ribbon lead, then you could change the lead and install a second drive on a temporary basis. (Followed by No4 below)
2) Using a USB to IDE "adaptor"
On the new drive, first of all partition it how you would eventually want it to be, IE
Partition 1 (C:) = 20GB?
Partition 2 = GB?
(Followed by No4 below)
3) Install your original drive into a second PC. (Followed by No4 below)
4) - Now, create a "Ghost Image" of your original C: partition/drive onto "partition 2" of the new drive.
Install the new drive, replacing the old drive.
Re-install the Ghost image file from partition 2, to partition 1 (C:)
Note:
The original size of the partition/s do not matter, as it only copies the actual data.
If using Norton Ghost, this can be done with using either a floppy drive rescue disc, or you would need the actual CD to use the rescue facility on the disc.
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The job needn't break the bank... here's an example: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/120289
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Ok, first a thank you to OF and Floydoid for your suggestions.
Now, a little more by way of explanation about my XP system.
I purchased it from PC World around 2005. It is a Packard Bell Imedia 1208/1280 (can't remember exactly). It was supplied as a complete system with display, keyboard, mouse, etc. and 80GB hard disk, but no installation media. The HD contains 1 hidden and 2 visible partitions (C: - programs, D: - data). I believe that the hidden partition is used for recovery data, and I also understand that if you attempt to restore from that recovery partition, the machine will be set back to how it left the factory. In other words, everything that has been installed since I purchased it will need to be reinstalled (including a shed load of Windows updates) or am I wrong ? I also understand that this recovery process is only successful some of the time, i.e. it may not work at all.
I have recently purchased a new 160GB HD, but before attempting to install that I thought I'd take a look at the Packard Bell website which has all sorts of helpful 'stuff' about upgrades. It turns out that the case can only physically accomodate one HD (it's a restriction in the case construction apparently, although I haven't taken it apart to look yet).
What I would like to do is to install the new 160GB HD into a machine, along with the XP 80GB HD, and after partitioning the new drive copy everything from the old to the new. At the same time hopefully preserving absolutely EVERYTHING required that is currently on the old drive, including whatever is in that recovery partition.
Now it may be that I'm making more of this situation than I need to, but I would hate to have to go back to how this machine was originally delivered and try and remember what is currently on the HD and attempt to reinstall it all again. So, I figure that what may be the best way to go is to back up each visible partition, i.e. C: and D: to CD or more likely DVD - the only problem then is how to access the hidden one for backup and restore.
Now, OldFogey mentioned a Norton product called Ghost, with which I'm not familiar. Would it be likely that that product could assist me with this situation ?
I guess what I am looking for is someone to 'hold my hand' through this little adventure, so obviously I would love to hear from any other Packard Bell owners who may have already trodden this route and installed a larger drive in their system, or maybe just a precise step by step guide through the process.
Sorry if I seem a little anal about this, but I definitely don't want to screw this system up.
TTFN
toulouse
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1. Now it may be that I'm making more of this situation than I need to,
2. Now, OldFogey mentioned a Norton product called Ghost, with which I'm not familiar.
Would it be likely that that product could assist me with this situation ?
3. I guess what I am looking for is someone to 'hold my hand' through this little adventure,
4. Sorry if I seem a little anal about this, but I definitely don't want to screw this system up.
1. Not at all, if you have never done it before, then this is quite understandable.
2. Yes, Norton Ghost will achieve what you want to do.
(although there are also other product which will do the same thing also "possibly even free programs")
but as I only ever use Ghost, then that is the only program I can relate to and recommend.
3. No problem, just read carefully, and anything you don't understand just come back and ask.
4. ditto.
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At present you only have one drive split into three partitions, C: D: E:
Basically a restore disc usually only consist of a "Image file" of the C: partition. (When first installed)
And should not effect the other partitions, so you should not lose any data on your D: partition.
(or in some cases "A Clone of the actual HDD" BUT this type of restore/clone is very rarely used and would have to be on a totally different HDD "which you don't have" so it can't be that) so we can forget that.
Mainly only used to Clone one HDD to another. (to copy the entire disc, along with partitions etc)
*************
Firstly, you can't just copy the data from your C: drive onto another drive, "it will not work" it has to be "Imaged" so that it also copies all of the hidden data from the MBR (Master Boot Record)
But, yes you can copy the data from the other two partitions onto the new partitions of your new drives partitions.
Question:
Did your new drive not come with any software to enable you to do this?
If not, then sometimes this is available from the HDD manufacture.
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edit:
Just remembered:
- If you have a DVD burner on your PC, you could backup to DVD,