SSD keeps filling up.

[Geosurface]

So I use an 80gb SSD for my C: drive, I have tried to limit it only to Windows and other "Program Files" (small Windows stuff)

I keep running into issues of it filling up... despite taking these steps:

- Making Chrome save to D: drive
- Making sure all games, and Steam are on D: drive
- Doing C: Disk Cleanup
- Going through Appdata / temp folders etc and cleaning them as much as I can.
- Having all music, pictures, etc etc on D: drive
- Turning off page file (I think, I did this and some other suggested SSD optimizations when I first go the drive)

I recently realized, as I was trying to keep the drive more breathable... that I had installed Diablo 3 (and ONLY that game) on the C: drive when it came out and I thought I'd play it a lot... I moved that to D: and yet, despite that clearing up a lot of room... despite nothing being designated to save to C:... it still fills to the brim constantly. Particularly lately.

I've had this problem primarily today while trying to download Assassin's Creed 3 installer file (quite large) from Ubisoft (I'd get it on Steam but it came free in only this way through their service with my new vid card)

I've done *.* searches on C: and ranked all files by size... tried to go in and eliminate obvious stuff (I may have missed some...)

I can only assume that it is temporarily shuffling things through C: before they get to D:... even when I tried to make sure the AC3 file was going to D: from the outset, the downloader is still telling me insufficient space... so it's still trying to go to C: in some way, it seems.

One thing that does build up on C: is saved games, unfortunately I don't know of any way to prevent many games from using My Documents for that.

 

[kleinkinstein]

[below]

 

[kleinkinstein]

You're living on 80GB? Wow! It's time to move up in the neighborhood to a 256. In the meantime, run CCleaner infused with Enhancer, JetClean and System Ninja to toss out all the trash and follow some suggestions from Tom. Also, use WinDirStat to find and whack the space hogs.

 

[hardhat]

Double check to make sure that the page file and hibernation file (if you don't use sleep) are actually deleted from C:. They are in the base C:\ directory, and are hidden by default as protected operating system files. You have to reveal them through folder options. They can each get to 5+Gb.

One of the windows updates last year silently enabled my page file after having it off for months.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

I'm in the exact same boat.. the 80 GB that was fine two years ago is becoming in adequate. Part of it is Windows bloat, which you can't really do anything about.

As hardhat said, the page and hibernation files can be large.

If you haven't yet, try using something like Treesize to show you where some stuff may be hiding you hadn't thought of.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I don't know what you guys are doing but, I've still got 26 Gb of free space on my 74 Gb 'C' drive running Win 7 Ultimate.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

My Windows folder alone is now 20 GB. :/

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Have you got Word or assorted media players on your C: drive?

 

[Geosurface]

I have a pretty substantial number of program files I must admit, VLC is on C:... lots of other sort of just, general Windows programs.

But this was the case not that long ago when C: filling up was not such an issue.

Is this just due to the crap all these program files generate as they operate over time, primarily?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I have a pretty substantial number of program files I must admit, VLC is on C:... lots of other sort of just, general Windows programs.

But this was the case not that long ago when C: filling up was not such an issue.

Is this just due to the crap all these program files generate as they operate over time, primarily?

No, something else is going on. I've had roughly the same amount of free space since installation. Program update creep isn't it.

 

[kleinkinstein]

Is this just due to the crap all these program files generate as they operate over time, primarily?

Another reason to run self-contained apps or PortableApps. Everything you could ever need fits in one folder (or USB key) and less than 2GB, maybe 4GB if you offline your mail. Sure makes updating a snap. Download zip file, unzip in apps folder, done!

http://www.liberkey.com
http://portableapps.com
http://www.pendriveapps.com

 

[Rvenger]

If you have 16gb + RAM, shrink your page file down to 1 or 2gb.


EDIT: Windows 8 automatically set my pagefile to 2gb. Windows 7 will automatically just set to how much RAM you have which can take up a ton of space.

 

[Geosurface]

Well, this isn't the entire beginning and end of the issue but I did figure out what the latest, biggest culprit was.

It was, in fact, that Assassin's Creed 3 install file trying to drop a succession of like 10 huge multi-gig temp files on my C: drive even though I'd instructed it to install to D.

I'm downloading it again now and I believe I've properly avoided any interaction with C:, or so I hope. And I've deleted those plus a lot of other crap.

I have about 20gb free and I'm comfy with that. No doubt, I need to seek further precautions to avoid future fill-up... but this is good. Thanks for all suggestions etc.

 

[postmortemIA]

C: \Windows\Installer is problem for me, all office and widows service packs, patch installers, other programs installers go there and keep filling up the drive. There's no safe way to remove anything from there.

BTW I have Win7 other rig with 40GB SSD

 

[superccs]

60gb and above are still usable...

Try spacemonger to visualize your data on each drive.

You should be able to find your space eating monster pretty easily.

Good luck

 

[corkyg]

And, don't forget to manage your temporary Internet files - make sure they are stored anywhere but C:\. They grow like weeds.

 

[Wall Street]

Are you sure System Restore is off? That eats GBs for breakfast.