can you help with this - hard drive full??

[haus_kat]

I have a Compaq laptop (Presario) that's a few years old. It runs Windows XP. A relative gave it to me when they got a new computer. My problem is that it says the drive is full even though there doesn't seem to be enough tuff for it to be full.
I have about 7gb of files in the Document folder on C drive + 2gb of music in the shared folder. There are many programs installed but when I look on the list they are varying sizes that don't seem as if they'd add up to more than maybe 2gb at most, yet C drive is listed as full with maybe 1gb free space and 28gb used. I can't understand what is hogging all the space. D partition holds the OS and is listed as being about 7gb with 1gb free space.

[Allan]

Let's start by disabling system restore (as soon as you do, all restore points will be deleted, but you can immediately re-enable it if you like and change the space allotment). That should free a lot of space. You can also download and run treesize to see where the space is being used (http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml)

[soybean]

I'd suggest also running Windows Disk Cleanup utility.

[seeneedee]

Disk defragmentation also helpful for u!

[Allan]

Disk defragmentation also helpful for u!

No, it isn't. Defragmenting has nothing to do with space issues

[Linux711]

Go to C:\windows.

Look for the folder servicepackfiles.

Delete the folder. If you are worried about needing this at some point just back up to a DVD first.

Look for some blue folders labeled $NtUninstall or similar.

If your computer has been running stable for the last few weeks and you don't plan on uninstalling your service pack, then delete all these folders. *Hint* If you don't know what service pack is, then you should delete these folders.

Goto the system32 folder.

Look for the folder drvstore (should be blue).

If you don't have any problems with drivers, then delete it.

There are also many guides to gaining space on drive C:
http://helpful.knobs-dials.com/index.php/DLLCache
http://www.graphixanstuff.com/Forum/index.php?showforum=68

*Note* If you ever plan on reinstalling windows, I recommend you use MicroXP.
Buy a windows licence. Install MicroXP. Copy the licence into the MicroXP installation.
Now you will have a windows folder of about 250MB (400MB with all drivers and software installed).