Computer Hope
Software => Computer software => Topic started by: Starwind51 on July 07, 2012, 05:02:08 PM
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I have yet to figure out why my laptop hard drive is filled to capacity.
Is anybody familiar with this product or anything like it? Are they truly free products?
http://techsalsa.com/find-duplicate-files-in-your-computer-with-searchmyfiles/
I already read elsewhere on CH that some files are duplicated in case the original gets corrupted. How would I distinguish between need duplicates and un-need duplicates?
Would finding duplicates weed out different versions or just exact duplicates?
It's not my own work or temporary versions of my own work I'm trying check on.
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A more useful tool for investigating disk space usage would be something like WinDirStat.
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I have TreeSize Free, but I don't think that's quite what I'm going for. I would have to look at everything individually to find any duplicates - wouldn't I?
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I have TreeSize Free, but I don't think that's quite what I'm going for. I would have to look at everything individually to find any duplicates - wouldn't I?
Yes. But duplicates aren't using up the majority of your disk space, either. The only type of duplicate files that would take up a lot of space would be files you created, and since you excluded that as something you are looking for in your Original Post, and since your goal is to reduce- or at least determine- disk space usage, finding duplicate files is not the way to do so.
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:'( But what am I going to do? I only have 162 MB left on my C drive. :'(
I don't know what else to transfer to the G.
Modified: Well, I'm down to 8.85 MB. I had to move two personal files to the G, the C couldn't save them anymore. How do you get less space after you move things than you had before you did?
And with every move you apparently get a free HotFix. I had to delete that from the G, again.
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What is taking up the space in C:\Windows?
WinDirStat shows the same information as TreeSize but more graphically so you can visually identify the largest files and folders on the drive.
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Very pretty! Now what?
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Now you find the largest files or directories. By using the provided information present via the image-based interface. selecting a directory will show the percentage of the total drive it takes up by highlighting it's border within the lower pane. Large files are more visible as larger, solid blocks.
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I'm trying to post a screen shot of the WINDOOWS details, and a screen shot of the WINDOWS Installer details. Should I be :o at the numbers?
The list of Installers is much too long to fit on the screen, and the screen print would exceed the allowable attachment size anyway.
I would classify myself as being clueless as to what these things are (other than being installer programs) and what, if any I can get rid of. I clicked on a random item expecting to see details of what it was. To my horror it started installing and I cancelled the installation. How do I find out what each item is?
:( ??? :(
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WINDOWS
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WINDOWS Installers
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.....and since your goal is to reduce- or at least determine- disk space usage, finding duplicate files is not the way to do so.
Good point!
I bricked my first computer with a duplicate file finder. They are advanced tools and can be dangerous if you don't know exactly what you are looking at.
Duplicate files can be two or more of the same files (size and name) in different directories and they can also be two or more files of just the same size with the same or similar name. One or both, even being the same name and size, could be critical to Windows and removing one or both could result in an unbootable computer.
Windows has protected files/folders for a reason and you usually want to leave them alone.
It's not my own work or temporary versions of my own work I'm trying check on.
Maybe not but you had better be sure to backup everything (not to the computer you are working on) before continuing. Flash drive, CD, Online "cloud" services, etc...
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regarding C:\Windows\Installer
Those numbers are not extremely atypical; my win7 machine has around 10GB in that folder alone. However your drive is a lot smaller so that is a sizable chunk of the disk.
The folder itself stores the installers for all programs installed using Windows Installer. The purpose is so that you can add or remove features from those programs. without the original installer.
You can use a tool such as the Windows Installer cleanup utility (http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4459/) to clean-up that folder. Bear in mind that this will mean you need "original media" (either the disks or the original setup programs) for some programs to change them using add/remove in the control panel.
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Maybe not but you had better be sure to backup everything (not to the computer you are working on) before continuing. Flash drive, CD, Online "cloud" services, etc...
I have an external hard drive that has lots and lots of room - but before I back up my entire C drive, at your best guess, would this be something that happens quickly or is more likely to take hours?
Two reason I need to know:
1. I have to charge my other laptop so I don't have to be alone for a moment (alone meaning without internet or with just my cell phone internet, lol)
2. Old Bessie here tends to overheat when information is exchanged rapidly. I tend to overheat when old Bessie snaps off in the middle of me doing something.
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regarding C:\Windows\Installer
The folder itself stores the installers for all programs installed using Windows Installer. The purpose is so that you can add or remove features from those programs. without the original installer.
You can use a tool such as the Windows Installer cleanup utility to clean-up that folder. Bear in mind that this will mean you need "original media" (either the disks or the original setup programs) for some programs to change them using add/remove in the control panel.
But I have to know what each file is to know if I have the original media. All I can recall having on disk is Office, Works, my printer, and my phone tools,, and I'm not sure my games, the only things I remember downloading and having keys for, would run if I tried to re-install them, because I didn't know, when I first got them, to make a folder that was obvious to me, to keep the keys in, so they would be hard to find.
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But I have to know what each file is to know if I have the original media. All I can recall having on disk is Office, Works, my printer, and my phone tools,, and I'm not sure my games, the only things I remember downloading and having keys for, would run if I tried to re-install them, because I didn't know, when I first got them, to make a folder that was obvious to me, to keep the keys in, so they would be hard to find.
If you right click the msi files, it should show in the details tab what product they are for.
The installers are unrelated to the product keys for any of them. Deleting them won't uninstall the respective programs.
Don't delete them via Windows Explorer, however, use the cleanup utility, since there are other bits of information in the registry that need to be changed so windows doesn't go looking for those installers and complain.
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I've been wandering around my computer and found this in Performance and Maintenance --> Scheduled Tasks.
Are they the same thing? Can I delete 3 of them? All 4?
By the way, since I mentioned my other laptop - it's a small screen Asus, and the little screen drives me crazy, so I really need to get my Toshiba under control. I disconnected the G drive from the Toshiba so I can access my most-often used files on the Asus, but it is a hardship doing that.
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The installers are unrelated to the product keys for any of them. Deleting them won't uninstall the respective programs.
I edited that post a few times and something got lost. I have Office, Works, my printer, and my phone tools on disk. In the past I didn't know it would be a good idea to have one folder, 1 page of Word even, to store all the game keys and whatever other keys I might have, in. So the product keys are hither and tither and before I try to install a game on the G drive I would be happier finding the key first. Otherwise I might burst into tears because I've been doing this meshugana thing for so many hours, and clearly the games aren't taking up much space anyway. ::)
Happily, I did find a folder for one of my games still on the C drive and I examined it very closely and it was exactly the same as what I had installed on the G drive, so I was able to delete the file from the C. That gave me a teensy amount more of hard drive space.
Modified to add:
I really am beginning to lose my mind a little from thinking about this for so many hours, so forgive my absurdly great joy at discovering registry errors that when removed add a few more MB's! I'm up to 223 now! ::)
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Is this product key stuff at all related to the discussion regarding the Installer folder? Or is this just a separate thing you tried?
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I have an external hard drive that has lots and lots of room - but before I back up my entire C drive, at your best guess, would this be something that happens quickly or is more likely to take hours?
Two reason I need to know:
1. I have to charge my other laptop so I don't have to be alone for a moment (alone meaning without internet or with just my cell phone internet, lol)
2. Old Bessie here tends to overheat when information is exchanged rapidly. I tend to overheat when old Bessie snaps off in the middle of me doing something.
Imaging your drive to a second hard drive using an app such as Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect should not take a very long time. It depends on the size of the drive you are imaging and whether or not you are verifying the image (which you should). It can take anywhere from 5 minutes for a small drive or partition to an hour or more for a larger one. Regardless, the image is created in the background so your system will remain usable during the process.
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Personally i walk away from the PC whenever creating an image and go do something else...
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Is this product key stuff at all related to the discussion regarding the Installer folder? Or is this just a separate thing you tried?
The product keys are for games I downloaded to my C drive, when a C drive was all I had. As is seen by the Tree shot, the games don't take up a lot of room on the C, but I'm desperate to move anything I can. But if I install the game on the G drive, I might need to use the product key to open the game. In the past I didn't understand where they key was being saved to. Now, before I download something, I make my own destination folder and give it a name that makes sense to me. I keep a separate folder for storing the keys in. Once I know a game is working on the G drive, I go back and uninstall or delete anything on the C that has to do with it. Or at least I think I uninstall/delete. Long later I sometimes come across related files and I delete them from the C. When I posted that comment I was just giddy from having found something I could delete.
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Imaging your drive to a second hard drive using an app such as Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect should not take a very long time... Regardless, the image is created in the background so your system will remain usable during the process.
I don't know what imaging is.
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Disk Imaging software takes a "snapshot" of your drive as it exists at the time you create the image. You can then restore the entire image or any file(s) or folder(s) you choose. It is a virtually foolproof way of backing up your system and providing a safe haven in the event of a catastrophe that requires you to blow away your system partition and restore it to a previous state. It also allows you to "test" various software and be confident that you have a the ability to return to the prior state any time you choose.
I use Acronis True Image. It is the best of breed, but it isn't free. The best free alternative is Macrium Reflect.
1) I create an image of my system partition once a week to a second hard drive and keep the 2 or 3 most recent images. I also image my other partitions about once a month. I always enable "verify image" in the options. It takes a little longer, but insures a valid image.
2) I also create an image before performing any drive level function (ie, changing the size of a partition) or making any significant change to the OS (installing a service pack, upgrading IE, etc). Also sometimes before installing new software.
3) Images may be created on any medium (cd, dvd, external drive, etc). For obvious reasons they should not be stored on the same drive you are imaging. The best option is a second internal hd if you have one.
4) Images may be created "in the background" within the OS. If you need to restore the system partition, that will need to be done before the OS loads. You can start the process within the application in the OS and it will then tell you it needs to reboot to finish the process. Alternatively, you can boot to a "recovery disk" which you can create when you first install the software (or to the application disk itself if you have one). Other partitions can be restored without a reboot.
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I haven't done the image yet, but I have a question about deleting just parts of Works Suite (Microsoft Works Suite 2006). I have the original install disks and the product key. There are 6 programs on 5 disks in the package. I bought the Suite when I didn't really know what I was buying - I just needed the calendar, not the whole suite, so there were products included that I didn't need and didn't install.
Encarta (no longer on the C) has its own disk.
Streets & Trips, on two disks, has some updates installed on the C. I don't use the program for actual travel, but I'd prefer not to lose the updates if I uninstall it, so I'd prefer to keep it on the C. On the Add/Remove Program list, it is listed separately. 980 MB.
MS Money and MS Digital Image are on one disk. I didn't install Money, and "Digital Image Update" is listed separately in Add/Remove Programs, but I don't know if that's the whole Digital Image, or just the update. I'm not sure I've ever used the program, so if I lost the updates, or even the whole program, I don't think I'd cry. I have software for getting images off my camera and off my phone, and the default picture editor seems to be Microsoft Office, not the Works Digital Image. Do you think uninstalling Digital Image Update would remove the whole Digital Image program? 434 MB.
Word 2002 was an edition prior to the one I had so I didn't install it, and it's on a disk with other programs. But Microsoft Works Suite Add-In for Microsoft Word is listed in Add/Remove Programs. I'm guessing Microsoft Word is bundled within Microsoft Office Standard Edition 2003, so I'm also guessing it's entirely separate from MS Works Suite Add-In for MS Word - but what do you think? 79.78 MB.
On the same Suite disk as Word 2002 is the MS Works Suite Setup and MS Works 8. That's where the calendar is, along with templates for things like making greeting cards, checklists for projects, and a version of Excel. The only thing I need to keep is the calendar, but on Add/Remove it's all listed as one program. Any idea on this one? Works 244 MB, Works Setup Launcher 434 MB.
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I'm a bit lost here.
All your screenshots showed that the Windows folder was taking up well over half the disk. Worst Case Scenario, since you didn't actually provide anything other than a small capture showing the windows folder, is that the Program Files folder is using up all of the rest of the space.
Even so, that's still a minority of the space. Most of it is being used in the Windows folder, and most of that space is from the contents of the installers folder.
I haven't done the image yet, but I have a question about deleting just parts of Works Suite (Microsoft Works Suite 2006). I have the original install disks and the product key. There are 6 programs on 5 disks in the package. I bought the Suite when I didn't really know what I was buying - I just needed the calendar, not the whole suite, so there were products included that I didn't need and didn't install.
If you didn't install those products, what do you intend to delete?
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I'm currently at 24 KB of free space. CCleaner stopped creating backup points days ago. I'll take anything off the C drive I can. Nobody's telling me specifically what to delete, so I have to guess. If the pictures are too small to be useful, tell me how to get the information here in a usable form. I have no idea what the drivers are for. I have no idea how to find a list of them, and if I find a list and the program names are a string instead of a word I still won't know what they are. I'm not downloading or installing any programs, so I don't know where the drivers are coming from.
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24KB of free space ? ?...
That has to be a misprint...Windows probably wouldn't even run...
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I keep doing that, it's MB. I guess I just like the letter K. Anyway, the laptop with the issue just snapped off, and I'm on my tiny screen - stiff thumb bar Asus netbook now.
So, how do I find what all those drivers are that are driving me crazy?
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You can use a tool such as the Windows Installer cleanup utility (http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4459/) to clean-up that folder. Bear in mind that this will mean you need "original media" (either the disks or the original setup programs) for some programs to change them using add/remove in the control panel.
if you want space, do this.
Nobody is telling you specifically what to delete simply because there is nothing specific you can delete. If you don't use a program uninstall it. We don't know if you have documents or other files that use those applications.
You mentioned "hotfixes" earlier, But very little of what you said made any sense. A 'Hotfix' replaces and patches already existing files to fix issues. It wouldn't add new ones, so they will simply be applied to existent files.
Referring to the "treesize" output shown earlier, even if you uninstalled every single program on your PC, you probably wouldn't gain more than about 15% disk space.
The Installer folder is taking the bulk of space. Consider your original requirement to find duplicate files. These aren't duplicates per se, but they are installers for programs you currently have installed. Deleting them will <only> prevent you from using the Change option in add/remove for those programs to modify the installation.
Some other links re: the installer folder:
How to clean out the windows installer folder (http://www.theexperienceblog.com/2009/05/16/how-to-clean-out-windowsinstaller-folder-correctly/)
Another Forum thread on the MS Forums: C:\Windows\Installer is out of control! (http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/sqltools/thread/07db294a-79e5-4a5a-916c-6a51e44a5aa4/)
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What I said about the hot fixes is this: I keep getting notices of Microsoft Security updates. When I try to install them I get a message that ___ couldn't be installed. Often it pertains to a Service Pack apparently superseded by a later Service Pack, which I have, but techs always tell me not delete previous Service Packs. One day I started getting Hot Fix files on my G drive. Every time the security update would go through the cycle I just mentioned I'd get another one, apparently not needed because they were all the same. I couldn't get rid of the duplicates (and the original didn't seem to be doing what it was supposed to do) till some one referred me to Unlocker. They aren't a problem any more because Unlocker deletes them, and they aren't what I'm talking about here.
If I knew what various programs did I wouldn't be here asking about them. Some of them came with the computer, some of them get installed by Yahoo or other services I use or tried. Some don't get deleted when when the main application is uninstalled. Some of them sure looked like duplicates, hence my original question. Some folders have obvious names but a lot don't. I asked elsewhere in the forum if there was a central "Can I Delete This" thread or if one could be started.
If I'm posting little pictures of screen shots it's because I was asked for information and this is the only way I know of to provide it. If there's another way, tell me.
It's sounds like I have a lot more drivers than I do programs. But then, what do I know? If I knew, I wouldn't be asking. Is it safe to uninstall any given driver? I wouldn't know. That's why I'm asking.
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Some other links re: the installer folder:
How to clean out the windows installer folder (http://www.theexperienceblog.com/2009/05/16/how-to-clean-out-windowsinstaller-folder-correctly/)
Another Forum thread on the MS Forums: C:\Windows\Installer is out of control! (http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/sqltools/thread/07db294a-79e5-4a5a-916c-6a51e44a5aa4/)
Clicking the links provided ultimately leads me to this:
http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall
I created a destination folder on the G drive but I get a message from the C telling me the application can't be installed because the disk is full. I'm definitely directing it to download to the G, but the C won't allow it. As I said, I'm here because the C drive is full and I don't know what to delete.
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One day I started getting Hot Fix files on my G drive.
Thinking about this and forming a theory, this makes perfect sense. Everything is starting to fall into place here, actually! I'm convinced Windows Update has managed to get confused as to what updates it has installed. So it looks at available updates, sees a hotfix it thinks it needs, and downloads it. Normally, this download will download an installer to the Windows\Installer folder, however, if you don't have enough disk space, Windows Update will use any available Hard Disk it has access to. This is the first step of Windows Update- downloading it. Second, it runs that installer with a few arguments to say "be quiet and pretend you don't exist, I'll hum quietly to keep the user entertained". This works just fine- If that installer doesn't have a problem. In this case, that installer does have a problem because it finds that it is already installed, so it quits. But this confuses the heck out of Windows Update, which throws up it's hands and then forgets to delete the file it downloaded without leaving itself a note for later saying that update is installed. As a result, It won't be long until it sees "oh hey, another update" which is in fact the same one. Since the installer never finishes, Windows Update never marks that particular update as being installed, so it keeps thinking it's new; and each time it downloads it and doesn't delete it.
Obviously, the big thing we need to do is fix windows Update. Nothing else will resolve this problem, since Windows Update will continue to download the same updates over and over again and they will continue to consume more and more disk space. You can delete the contents of the Installer Folder, but that won't stop Windows Update from being annoying and also continuing the fill it up.
One thing you could try to fix the Windows Update tool is the "Microsoft Fix-it Center" (http://support.microsoft.com/fixit/)
Choose "Windows" in "Select a Problem Area".
Choose "Install or Upgrade Software or Hardware" in the "What are you trying to do?" section.
Choose "Windows Update"
The first item should be pointing at this (http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_update/). Run that little bugger. Hopefully it twiddles the Update data files so that it is no longer confused.
EDIT: If you need more disk space- run the installer clean-up tool before hand too. Or just delete the installers from the installer folder in the windows dir.
After that, I say run the aforementioned Installer cleanup tool, which should delete a good portion of the Installers in the Installers folder. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that if you don't know if you need them, you probably don't. This should get everything back in sync.
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In the meantime, I can't uninstall anything.
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Well something I deleted earlier today sent a whole lotta HotFix's to the recycle bin (C Drive). I just found this now, and haven't FixIt'ed anything yet.
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"You can use a tool such as the Windows Installer cleanup utility to clean-up that folder"
I had to delete and move stuff in order to have room on the hard drive to uninstall little stuff in order to have room to uninstall bigger stuff in order to have room to download the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, and I've run it, or at least I think I have. The hard drive light flashed a lot but there was nothing on the screen to show that the product was running and no report on the screen to tell me any results, and I've got the same amount of free space as before I ran the utility - a little less than 800 MB, the result of my deleting, moving, uninstalling, and more uninstalling. Now what?
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How long have you had this PC ? ?
When did it hit you that you were running out of HDD free space ? ?
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Now what?
Delete the files in C:\Windows\Installer
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How long have you had this PC ? ?
When did it hit you that you were running out of HDD free space ? ?
I've had the computer about 7 years. Running out of HD has been an ongoing issue. I've been to Computer Hope several times for different reasons related to hard drive space and have gotten different solutions depending on the cause. Prior to the present discussion, Allan gave me this, and it worked for a while:
Re: "Can I Delete This?"
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2012, 06:43:49 PM »
I suddenly had over 1 GB more space. I don't know how it got filled up again. I didn't install anything other than CCleaner, which I use often.
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Delete the files in C:\Windows\Installer
Ultimately I had to uninstall my biggest program, but after several forced shut downs due to a frozen screen, I was able to install it on the G drive.
I don't think the driver problem is solved, though. I still don't know how to find a list of drivers that are installed, and what programs they match up with.
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I don't think the driver problem is solved, though. I still don't know how to find a list of drivers that are installed, and what programs they match up with.
Drivers? you mean installers?
Like I said, your original problem is because Windows Update thought it needs an update that already exists, it downloads it, tries to install it, and the installer for the update goes "oh, I'm already installed" and quits. Windows Update got confused and just ignored it, but it forgot to delete the file it downloaded. And, worse, next time it checked for updates it sees that same one again and downloaded it and tried to install it again, ad infinitum. I use the past tense here, because if you used the "fixit" tool it should have fixed that particular issue, just leaving you with the excess files to delete.
I guess one way to see which ones are the update that Windows Update keeps trying to install would be to check the C:\Windows\Installer folder, and sort by date modified. There should be quite a few files of the same size.
FWIW in low disk space situations quite some time ago on XP I deleted the entire contents of C:\Windows\Installer without any traumatic effects.
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I looked up the address of the installer and list goes on and on...
Then I went one level up to Windows and every time I hovered over "Installer" the number of GB went up, starting at "larger than 2.62 GB" to holding at "20.1 GB".
Any further opinions on deleting the entire contents of this file?
Other than don't try to actually delete it all at once because I think my laptop will overheat if I tried.
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Re the original question, I've recently come across DupKiller, which seems pretty comprehensive: http://www.dupkiller.net/index_en.html
(I ran it on my machine and it came up with something like 35,000 suggestions of duplicated files, at which point I shrugged and closed the program.)