Running out of space on 111 Gb Drive

glennc · 20 Jun 2019

Hello,
I am running Windows 10 1809 Pro N and it just updated yesterday. It then came up with a 1903 upgrade installation option. I have about 10 Gb left on my 111 Gb SSD C: drive. I've deleted files, used the Device Health and Performance as it had indicated that I was running low and let it delete files. I have not reinstalled in a long time and appdata is full of folders and files that I don't remember or use. Concerned about just picking and choosing.
Is 111 Gb Drive adequate to run the system and program files on? Will a clean install or upgrade to 1903 clear out non essential files for less space usage? I have an Admin and a user account, that's it.
Any ideas appreciated!

dalchina · 20 Jun 2019

Hi, as you have a desktop, your easiest way forward is to get a larger disk and clone your disk to that and expand C:

Here are some ways you can save space, mostly taken from the extensive Tutorial section here:
Turn On or Off Storage Sense Automatically Free Up Space in Windows 10
Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10
Free Up Disk Space Now with Storage Sense in Windows 10
Consider compressing your OS if it isn't:
Compress or Uncompress Windows 10 with Compact OS

As you have further disks for data, move as much personal data off C: to these as you can. This is also a great strategy assuming you follow this forums frequently repeated recommendation to use disk imaging routinely, as restoring an image to fix OS problems also reverts any data on C: to the date the image was created.

Personally I wouldn't use the Location tab to move default library folders- rather I'd create my own and add them to the library if I wished.

Is 111 Gb Drive adequate to run the system and program files on?

That's a 'how long is a piece of string' question.
It depends what programs you have installed, whether you've installed all of them to C: or modified the install path, which can save some space on C: for some programs, and how much transient working space is needed on C: given your usage.

10Gb is far too small to succeed in performing an upgrade: for example, that will effectively duplicate Windows as Windows.old (automatically deleted by default after 10 days). Plus you need working space- allow 30Gb +.

Use some of the routine cleaning procedures in the above links, and in particular disable hibernation (not really needed with a SSD for most), and use Wiztree (free) to rapidly and visually find any other large files.

(I use the results from that to selectively add further folders to Ccleaner to be cleaned when I run that - e.g. dmp files).

zbook · 20 Jun 2019

Windows 1903 can consume an extra 7 GB compared to older windows builds.
Windows will automatically delete memory dump files when there is < 25 GB free space.
Windows will automatically delete shadow copies if there is insufficient free space (sometimes these are useful).
Windows performance can decrease if there is insufficient free space.

Dalchina already posted the applicable Ten Forums tutorials to free up drive space.

There are also Microsoft links:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...feature-update
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...up-drive-space
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...up-drive-space

Some other links:
How to Save Space By Cleaning Windows' WinSxS Folder

glennc · 20 Jun 2019

Music, picture, doc all on the D: drive. Nothing but program files and what windows put there is on the C: Got rid of all the w10 programs you are allowed to without going into regedit.Thanks for the links and tutorials and I will investigate and apply all that I haven't done yet.
Cheers

Steve C · 21 Jun 2019

Review the size of your installed programs and uninstall any large programs you don't really need
Use the built in disk cleaner (admin mode) and Wise Disk Cleaner to remove 'junk' files
Use CCleaner to remove old restore points or disable System Restore
Buy a larger drive if the above doesn't free enough space!

glennc · 21 Jun 2019

Hello and thanks dalchina,
Not that it matters much but my disk size is 120GB with 111GB used.
All of the options 1 thru 3 have been done. Compression is not an option I would like and would rather upgrade my SSD size. I have been too long, not keeping up with my OS or this group so I'd like to stay fairly standard in layout. I used CCleaner and Windows Disk Cleaner. It looks like my newest increase and largest is GPS software and it's related files which I just previously updated. Fairly huge. Found this with the Explorer View size:large. Another thing on the list of I didn't know! Since I want to upgrade my motherboard/cpu/memory I can wait until then.
Again thanks for the guidance

glennc · 21 Jun 2019

Thanks zbook,
Looks like upgrade is the way to go for me in time!

glennc · 21 Jun 2019

Good and to the point info after all apparent options expended.
Cheers!

Try3 · 21 Jun 2019

I don't know any GPS applications so I have no idea if they could be the cause of this quite unusual situation.

If you install Treesize free you'll be able to see what is taking up your storage space.

Denis

glennc · 21 Jun 2019

Hello and thanks Try3. I used the Windows Explorer/View and Search 'size:'. In this I found many files that are related to my GPS software that eat up over 16GB. I hopefully accomplished the same idea!!??!?!