Hard Drive Problems...

GreyMatterOne
GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter
edited August 2023 in 2018 Archives
Hello Community Members...

I have a notebook and factory reset it but notice the OS has took about 16GB  of Hard Drive...
When Windows tried to update to a newer version said there was not enough space on the Drive so to delete the old version but this has n9t been done and have a few GB's left...

The Drive seems to get FULL UP for NO REASON !!!

All help VALUED

Best.
Paul

Best Answers

  • Sharanji
    Sharanji ACE Posts: 4,328 Pathfinder
    edited February 2018 Answer ✓

    GreyMatterOne

    The quickest way to clear space in Windows is to run Microsoft’s built-in Disk Clean-up utility, or an alternative such as CCleaner Free, Microsoft’s Disk Clean-up utility can safely delete hidden system files. Click the button that says “Clean up system files” for the option to delete various files including “Previous Windows Installation(s)”. 

    Next, go back to the Storage page and click on your C: drive. Windows 10 will scan your hard disk and tell you how much space you have free.  

    Though the disk cleanup method basically deletes every insignificant junk files and help regain some disk space, you need a manual deletion of this update installation files, which will definitely release several GBs of storage for you. 

    Step 1. In the search box in Windows 10, type cmd and Command Prompt should appear in the result. Right click on it and choose Run as administrator. 

    Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the commands and press Enter after each: 

    net stop wuauserv 
    net stop bits 

    Now follow the path C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Open the SoftwareDistribution folder and delete everything inside, not including the folder itself. 

    Step 4. Return to the Command Prompt, now type the other two commands and press Enter after each: 

    net start wuauserv 
    net start bits 

    Finally, you can open File Explorer, right click on the C: drive, select properties, and check the box for disk compression. According to Microsoft when done (takes a while) that should reduce the disk space by 1.5GB (-x86) to 2.5GB (-64)


    Hit 'Like' if you find the answer helpful!   
    Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,080 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Congrats Paul. Yes, you should be able to remove it after the update has completed. But not really necessary. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,080 Trailblazer
    Try putting in an SD card for addition storage for the update process. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Sharanji
    Sharanji ACE Posts: 4,328 Pathfinder
    edited February 2018 Answer ✓

    GreyMatterOne

    The quickest way to clear space in Windows is to run Microsoft’s built-in Disk Clean-up utility, or an alternative such as CCleaner Free, Microsoft’s Disk Clean-up utility can safely delete hidden system files. Click the button that says “Clean up system files” for the option to delete various files including “Previous Windows Installation(s)”. 

    Next, go back to the Storage page and click on your C: drive. Windows 10 will scan your hard disk and tell you how much space you have free.  

    Though the disk cleanup method basically deletes every insignificant junk files and help regain some disk space, you need a manual deletion of this update installation files, which will definitely release several GBs of storage for you. 

    Step 1. In the search box in Windows 10, type cmd and Command Prompt should appear in the result. Right click on it and choose Run as administrator. 

    Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type the commands and press Enter after each: 

    net stop wuauserv 
    net stop bits 

    Now follow the path C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Open the SoftwareDistribution folder and delete everything inside, not including the folder itself. 

    Step 4. Return to the Command Prompt, now type the other two commands and press Enter after each: 

    net start wuauserv 
    net start bits 

    Finally, you can open File Explorer, right click on the C: drive, select properties, and check the box for disk compression. According to Microsoft when done (takes a while) that should reduce the disk space by 1.5GB (-x86) to 2.5GB (-64)


    Hit 'Like' if you find the answer helpful!   
    Click on 'Yes' if the comment answers your question!

  • GreyMatterOne
    GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter
    Hello Community Members...

    Yes ! Thank you SO MUCH for your responses:
    In the Software Distribution folder I could not delete:
    1) DataStore folder
    2) Download folder
    3) ReportingEvents Text Document
    The file is open in Application Information or something like that ??? It said...

    Could not stop wuauserv and bits , it deleted many files and has GAINED 2.80 GB 

    What happens if I add a SD Card would it make that card and the Hard Drive one value ???

    All help VALUED and very much APPRECIATED with my inquiry.

    Best.
    Paul

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,080 Trailblazer
    No, the SD card would only be temporary space for the update process. It is NOT like a bigger hard drive. You might get a little more hard drive space by compressing it. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • GreyMatterOne
    GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter
    Hello Community Members...

    Yes! Thank you ALL for a VERY quality responses...

    I just brought a 16GB SD Card to update Windows and it says that ANOTHER 8GB is NEEDED to do the update , have 7 GB on my C:Drive lol !!!

    All help is APPRECIATED...

    Best.
    Paul


  • GreyMatterOne
    GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter
    Hello Community Members...

    Can I get say Windows 7 for example if it's say smaller than Windows 10 . which I think is about 16 GB

    As my Hard Drive is getting full lol...

    Is there a link to say download it...

    Help VALUED

    Paul

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,080 Trailblazer
    Have you tried to compress the drive? You might get a bit more space. Jack E/NJ



    Jack E/NJ

  • GreyMatterOne
    GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter
    Yes! Did compressed and saved about 2.80GB
    The notebook came with Windows 10 can I get 7 or something like

    Help VALUED 

    Paul
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,080 Trailblazer
    Windows7 HomePremium and Ultimate have bigger footprints. However, you might be able to get away with installing Windows7 Starter edition or Windows7 Lite but the machine might not work properly because some of the hardware drivers may not be available. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • JHP
    JHP Member Posts: 114 Fixer WiFi Icon
    Hello Community Members...

    Yes! Thank you ALL for a VERY quality responses...

    I just brought a 16GB SD Card to update Windows and it says that ANOTHER 8GB is NEEDED to do the update , have 7 GB on my C:Drive lol !!!

    All help is APPRECIATED...

    Best.
    Paul



    Maybe a dumb question -- but does your unit see the SD card? Maybe it needs to be formatted to work...
    Jeff

  • GreyMatterOne
    GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter
    Hello Community Members...

    Yes ! That would be GOOD but if unit functions un-towardly maybe will not be worth it...to install anothet OS...

    The SD Card once plug in the computer shows it as another Drive...

    So why do you think that I cannot update Windows ???

    VALUED with your help...

    Best Always

    Paul

  • JHP
    JHP Member Posts: 114 Fixer WiFi Icon
    edited March 2018
    what is the SD card file system? In other words was it formatted to be used in Win 7 And Like Jack said the SD Card is only used for off-system storage

    Jeff

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,080 Trailblazer
    >>>I just brought a 16GB SD Card to update Windows and it says that ANOTHER 8GB is NEEDED to do the update , have 7 GB on my C:Drive lol !!!>>>

    So try either a 32GB card or a 32GB USB drive which ever is cheaper. And try it again. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • GreyMatterOne
    GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter
    Hello Community Member...

    Can try a bigger drive say 32GB but have about 7 GB on my C:Drive and a 16GB storage card and DOES NOT work...

    So you think if a bigger drive is used MAY WORK ???

    May try when I get monies for it lol 
    Paul


  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,080 Trailblazer
    Paul--- I don't think we know your ACER model but you seem to have Cloudbook. It has a very limited 32GB built-in solid state drive (SSD) that cannot be easily changed. Windows operating system files must be on this built-in SSD and cannot be on a removable drive (SD card or USB drive). However, Windows update process should be able to temporarily use both the 7GB free space on C: plus the removable 16GB drive space --- 23GB temporary space should be adequate for the update process. If it is not adequate, then I suspect that the removable 16GB drive space is either not being used or not seen by the Windows update process. Jack E/NJ   

    Jack E/NJ

  • JHP
    JHP Member Posts: 114 Fixer WiFi Icon
    edited March 2018
    JackE said:
    Paul--- I don't think we know your ACER model but you seem to have Cloudbook. It has a very limited 32GB built-in solid state drive (SSD) that cannot be easily changed. Windows operating system files must be on this built-in SSD and cannot be on a removable drive (SD card or USB drive). However, Windows update process should be able to temporarily use both the 7GB free space on C: plus the removable 16GB drive space --- 23GB temporary space should be adequate for the update process. If it is not adequate, then I suspect that the removable 16GB drive space is either not being used or not seen by the Windows update process. Jack E/NJ   

    I am shaking my head yes on Jacks suggestion...I think the two file formats that can be used on a SD CARD is FAT32 and exfat (whatever that is)
  • GreyMatterOne
    GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter

    Hello Community Member…

     

    I have an Acer Aspire ES1-332 JUST added the SD Card to have as a backup and think it's updated to Windows 1607

     

    Can I now take out the SD Card , for now when needed again…

     

    All help VERY MUCH appreciated !!!!

     

    Best Always.

     

    Paul

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 45,080 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Congrats Paul. Yes, you should be able to remove it after the update has completed. But not really necessary. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • GreyMatterOne
    GreyMatterOne Member Posts: 18 Troubleshooter
    Hello Community Members...

    Thanks lol...

    Paul