computer file question

[thecrip]

I'm not very computer knowledgeable. I'm a little confused. Here's my problem: I have Windows XP Pro on my laptop which is a 40 gig, 512 RAM system and when I use my disc defragmentor, it says I have 28 gigs of free space. I would like to know how I can check to find out what is taking up that space. I have 2.3 gigs on Peer2Peer files and use Opera browser. Is there a program that easily checks this or what? Anybody have any ideas? Thanks

[infringer]

a simple explanation,

You're drive though 40GB's is not exactly 40GB's once you're OS is installed and the disk file system you are looking at about 35gb roughly maybe less ok then you have 2.3 gb's of p2p files hey honestly that aint much at all so that would leave you sitting at lets over estimate a bit 32gbs. Finally, all the programs including preinstalled programs that you have on you're PC along with windows Big Updates accumulate most of the remaining 4 gigs of space. Some other things like you're offline internet content and you're cache for explorer as well as recent document history and temp files all take up space.

There is no missing space you just must understand that this all takes up space.

Finally there is a thing called a page file which is basically used as virtual memory and windows automatically sets this and it is a required system consumption for certain things.

One easy way to free up space is uninstall any programs that you do not use or need weather they be bundled software or not, then empty you're delete all offline content and away you go.

I really suggest looking into purchasing an external hdd enclousure USB2.0 and a 3.5 IDE hard drive that will match it AKA an external hdd. Its cheaper to make you're own or you can just purchase one ... Or for another solution a DVD Burner now very affordable with a fat stack of blank DVD's will cut the mustard. I've been messing with PC's for some time and you can never have enough space the further you go the more things you wish you woulda archived and so on between family videos and pictures and you're DVD's and CD's backed up you seem to need more and more space I suggest you start now by purchasing an external hard drive and a DVD Burner to boot a hard drive will last approx 7yrs they say before physically it looses some of its mojo. AKA half life as to where burnable media has a half life of 20+ years... keep you're stuff redily available that you need on hdd while also having it backed up in case of a crash.

You probably wont listen to a word of this nor heed any warnings but I will assure you after using a PC for some time you will finally realize the importance of having you're data backed up.



-infringer-

[the great one]

http://windirstat.info/

hopefully this helps.It's free

I found this software very helpful in knowing what was taking up my harddrive space.

[infringer]

Very nice find the great one...

Freeware as well that will do er too...

But the explanation will most likely cover the space usage it dont seem to me as if you have a ghost thief stealing space on you're space you'll see with that program for yourself.

[thecrip]

Thanks alot. Good info. I learned alot.

[Krell]

Treesize.exe

TreeSize Directory Sizer for Windows 95 and NT

384 KB (393,216 bytes)

FREE

.

[mfgbypooter]

what Krell said.

and just so you know XP takes up a boatload of space not counting any added programs you may have installed.

*

[shawners]

Oh yeah, some of the drive may be partitioned so thats another 2 gigs down.

[lion7718]

Go through Add/Remove Programs & uninstall all the crap that you don't use that came with your computer...
Making sure it's not a part of Windows....lol