Hard Drive Space.

[OldValentine]

Okay something unusual started acting up on my computer today. I emptied out my system restore points as I do once every month (cause of viruses, spyware, etc.) Which is normal..cause like I said, I've done this once a month for the past 2 years probably. Well anyway..my used space went back to 4.83 GB.

After downloading some songs on itunes and purevolume (Yes both legal...therefore i know i haven't received any kind of spyware.) My used space went up to 4.86 GB But for some weird reason..no matter how high my used space gets..it is CONSTANTLY dropping..like I've used 4.84 GB...then right back to 4.83 GB.

I've heard of viruses EATING harddrive space..but never giving it back? lol..No files or ANYTHING seems to be missing. Anyone know what might cause something like this? I appreciate any kind of advice/information.

 

[Deathblow]

Could it possibly be your recycle bin cache emptying? Also, Is your swap file variable size?

 

[kiwiguy]

Most probably the Swapfile (page file) that Windows manages dynamically.

 

[OldValentine]

Yeah I don't think its the Recycle Bin..I'm not really familiar with the Swapfile..so theres a possibility it could be that.

 

[OldValentine]

Okay please help again lol. After emptying restore points again, and clearing my temporary internet files.. My used space went down to 4.77 GB which was about right. Now as I was checking today..after using different programs and what not..my used space was at 4.85. After eating dinner and coming back to the computer..i check to see it BACK on 4.83 GB. Now either my computer is just in love with this number or something is wrong. I'm using up space, and its not showing it.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Howdy folks...

I think kiwiguy and Deathblow are on the right track...

If you let Windows manage the Swap File ( or AKA: Paging File ), it will constantly shrink and grow due to the demands on the file...

What the Swap/Paging file is, it is a file that is setup as Virtual Memory on the hard drive, Windows uses it to store "Memory Segments" for programs...

One way you can keep it from shrinking and growing is to set up a Permanent Swap/Paging file ( when Windows manages it it is called a Temporary Swap/Paging file, hence it shrinks and grows as the demands for Virtual Memory shrinks and grows )...

 

[OldValentine]

Thanks for all of your help. Its just odd that I've the laptop almost a year and its just now starting to do this. Even just now, I checked again after downloading 2 songs from itunes, and it was back up 4.86. And after 5 minutes, it was back down to 4.83 again lol. Its getting to be almost amusing. The only thing I don't get is..how can I be getting back space after I've been using it? (examples: downloading pictures, programs, files...)

 

[Jedi_Master]

If it is the Swap/Paging file ( which it looks like it is ) you're not going to recover it...

Assuming you are running XP ( going on the System Restore points statement ), Sysinternals has a fairly good program for defraging the Swap/Paging file, and it may recover some but not all, IMHO the best bet is to setup a Permanent Swap/Paging file ( but that is up to you )...

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/pagedefrag.shtml

 

[OldValentine]

No No...I don't need to recover space. I probably haven't explained well. IT KEEPS GIVING ME BACK SPACE! Something keeps giving me back space is what I'm trying to say lol.. When downloading songs, files, etc..should take up space...something is giving it back. It did start this after I emptied out the restore points..but I don't see why that would have affected it..cause I do that alot. Ya know? It just bothers me..that no matter what space I use..it keeps somehow giving me back a few MB's..and leaving it at 4.83

But thanks Jedi for all the help you've given me

 

[Jedi_Master]

It's the Swap/Paging file...

If you want to monitor it open My Computer - click on Tools - Folder options -click on the View tab - click on Show hidden files and folders - uncheck Hide extensions for known file types - uncheck Hide protected hidden system files...

And monitor the size of the file called pagefile.sys ( this is the Swap/Paging file )...

You see what is happening is...

When you delete the Restore points, temp Internet files etc. there is no need for Windows to store some of these segments in memory, and when you start using programs that need to store these segments, then the page file starts to grow...

After Windows determines about what you need it settles on a size ( looks like it is 4.83 ), then when you start something new ( like downloading songs, files, etc.. ) it will start to grow ( to 4.86 ), then after things settle down ( ie: no downloading ), it goes back to 4.83, if you are downloading just a few mp3's they shouldn't show up on the "Used Space" because they are small in size, Windows rounds the space to the nearest mega bite, so unless you are downloading a huge amount of files, it won't show...

And no problem on the help, it's what we're here fore ...

 

[OldValentine]

Oh I understand. I appreciate it once again.

I was just mostly worried that something was being deleted or something. I just thought that the used space should move up from 4.83 SOMETIME! haha.