Re: Lost HDD space
G wrote:
| Thanks Guys
You are welcome.
| As usual your response and help has been terrific. I'm now an expert?
| on the win386.swp file; I've seen the file but always disregarded it;
I think you are an expert now. However, STILL Harper & Martell will hunt
you down-- if you set a maximum size! You may set a minimum, but not a
maximum. Here is what I usually post for that...!...
A very respectable name-- it was Harper, MVP (&/or Martell, MVP)--
has said: Under certain circumstances, perhaps rare, there can be a
serious crash, if a maximum is set for the Swap File, and there is no
telling how big it may wish to grow. HE HAS SEEN IT, with his own eyes.
(Now, he is blind.) So, forget about the 2.5x usable RAM rule. (He now
sits at his keyboard, day & night, waiting to pounce, should anyone
suggest using it.) I didn't do it long! I couldn't bear the sight of
nearly a GB worth of Win386.swp, (although it seemed to function well).
Unless turned off, Windows is always managing VM. It manages it based on
what is shown shadowed in min & max at "R-Clk My Computer, Properties,
Performance tab, Virtual Memory button". That is OK at defaults of zero
& "No maximum". The only MVP approved alteration is to set the min
larger, based on careful observation over days. You would set it at 20%
larger than the greatest value you saw for Swap File "SIZE" (not "use"),
using System Monitor. If your observation discovers a constant &
frequent Swap File "USE" figure, THAT is when to consider additional
RAM.
WARNING: Once, I turned off VM for a zero swap file. All seemed to run
well, UNTIL I opened a Windows DOS (in a box) session. It produced an
orderly crash of the DOS box. Later, online, I did it again, just to
report the experience accurately. The crash this time was horrendous- IT
HAD A HEARTBEAT. SO... careful turning it off!
| ssshhhhh! I know all too well of the dangers of the 'deltree' command
| though, from a couple of bad experiences way back.
Absolutely, be very carefull with DELTREE!
| Kind regards
| Graham
|
| "PCR" wrote:
|
|> "G" <G@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
|> news:821460BD-EC52-4D2E-86EE-321BDA995919@microsoft.com
|> | Hi all;
|> | Recently I removed a couple of programs from my computer, one of
|> | them being "Yahoo Messeger" because I really didn't need further
|> | use of it and also needed the disk space, having a fairly old
|> | computer. After duly removing these programs I gained an
|> | additional 300MB, but lost it again immediately after defrag.
|>
|> Like Richards, I find 300 MB to be an incredible amount to come & go
|> like that! Sometimes, though, it does take a reboot to know how much
|> space actually does exist after files are deleted or added. Also,
|> yea, as Zabcar says, the swap file (Win386.swp) is normally variable
|> in size. It could have grown by 300 MB (depending on what Windows
|> anticipates is needed going by currently running tasks) & shrunk
|> back to the 48 MB you last reported. At boot, it begins with its
|> last size, & 5 minutes later will reset up or down.
|>
|> Maybe do the Scandisk Richards suggested, & a reboot afterwards (if
|> it seems necessary).
|>
|> | I have cleared the history and temporary files folders to no
|> | avail; I run Win 98SE and everything seems to run well, but I
|> | would like my disk space back if possible.
|>
|> What about the TIFs (Temporary Internet Files)? Here is what I
|> usually post about them. Where is your slider set...?...
|>
|> Actually, at long last, I've come to like my TIFs, but I've only got
|> a
|> 4.8 MB Index.dat. Anyway...
|>
|> Do not delete TIFs individually, as you may cause corruption. Here is
|> the way...
|>
|> "Control Panel, Internet Options, Delete Files button, bolt Delete
|> all offline content, OK, OK"
|>
|> That does a credible job, in IE6 anyway. Note: It may take a few
|> moments: DON"T be impatient. The Index.dat inside Content.IE5 will
|> retain it's size, but is cleared or reset to emptiness. You still
|> will see Cookies in the main TIF folder, but all the weirdly named
|> folders in Content.IE5 will be gone.
|>
|> These were your Temporary Internet Files, which, since V4, has an
|> involvement with Windows Update. It's main purpose is to hold
|> bits/pieces of sites you visit, to make it quicker to load next
|> visit. Also, it is a work area for OE6. Naturally, TIFs will grow
|> back. It's size is controllable by the slider & input box under the
|> Settings button. Mine is set for 125 MB there. Many say to go
|> smaller-- say, 40 MB.
|>
|> If that fails to get them all, then...
|>
|> Some Cookies bleed into TIFs, so... "START, Settings, Control Panel,
|> Internet Options, Delete Cookies button". (Note, some site specific
|> passwords/settings may be wiped.)
|>
|> If you STILL have matter in TIFs or in Cookies after that, it is
|> possible you have a horrible corruption that can likely be cured
|> with a DOS delete...
|>
|> Verify, in Windows, where these folders are located before
|> proceeding.
|>
|> (a) "START, Find, F/F".
|> (b) Enter "Cookies, Tempor~1, History" (no quotes) in "Named".
|> (c) Click the "Advanced" button, & use the dropdown to select
|> "Folder".
|> (d) Then click the "Find Now" button.
|> If it is not in "C:\Windows", adjust the Deltree's below. If
|> you have more than one of any, then perhaps stop & report back.
|> (c) "Control Panel, Internet Options, Settings button"
|> Where does it say Temporary Internet Files are located? Use
|> that path below, but substitute "Tempor~1" for "Temporary Internet
|> Files".
|>
|> (1) "START, Shut Down, Restart in MS-DOS Mode"
|>
|> (2) SMARTDRV
|> This speeds up hard drive processing considerably in DOS--
|> considerably, & yet it may still seem slow if TIFs are incredibly
|> huge!
|>
|> (3) DELTREE C:\Windows\Cookies\ /y
|> These are your Cookies. They may hold settings & passwords,
|> site specific.
|>
|> (4) DELTREE C:\Windows\Tempor~1\ /y
|> These are your Temporary Internet Files. A DOS delete does
|> reset the Index.dat in Content.IE5 to 32 KB. It won't stay that
|> small for long. However, Cookies in the top TIF folder would survive
|> this Deltree.
|>
|> (5) DELTREE C:\Windows\History\ /y
|> This is a collection of the sites you have visited. It will
|> begin to grow again, depending upon "Days to keep..." at "Internet
|> Options, General tab".
|>
|> (6) EXIT or Ctrl-Alt-Del to Windows
|>
|> WARNING: DELTREE is a powerful command. It will wipe out the folder
|> you specify. DO NOT HIT ENTER too soon, or you will wipe out your
|> system. Get all the way to the end of those DELTREE lines.
|>
|> | Kind Regards
|> | G
|>
|> --
|> Thanks or Good Luck,
|> There may be humor in this post, and,
|> Naturally, you will not sue,
|> Should things get worse after this,
|> PCR
|>
pcrrcp@netzero.net
--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net