clearing up space on my disk C

[codylocklun]

hi i'm new to this forum, so hello! im having great difficulty in freeing up space on my C drive of my windows vista. as a result i cant back up i tunes or i phone stuff. ive clicked on files on the c drive and sent and emptied them in the recycle bin, but its not freeing up the space on C drive but D drive isnt there anymore, maybe i've deleted this as well? whoops as there was a bit of space in there as well.

 

please help me...

 

:confused:

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

Let me know how much free space you have and the size of your hard drive.

Start > Computer > Right click on C:\ > Properties

 

============

 

You say D:\ drive was a partition - I assume from your comment that it is not showing when you click on "Computer" along with C:\ ?

 

Start > type in ......diskmgmt.msc .......ENTER

Does D:\ show up here alongside Disk 0 ?

[codylocklun]

Hi Ken, sorry for late reply (children!) on C drive I have 2.01GB free of 43.8GB on os©. I typed in the instructions you gave me and in disk management is no sign of D drive. In the meantime, I have been attempting to send 30,000 items to the recycle bin which is from C drive and which I think has taken up all the space, but even that was left going all night and nothing was transfered so I gave up....

 

Help please :D

[KenB]

Hi,

 

With a 45GB partition you should have 5GB free space for Windows to perform properly.

 

Click on the Recycle Bin > File > Empty Recycle Bin

 

Download CCleaner from here:

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

 

Run it using the default settings but DO NOT use the registry option.

 

===========

 

Start > Computer > right click on C:\ > Properties > Disk Cleanup

Run this too.

 

If you have photos / videos ...........if you have an external drive move them to free up some space.

 

============

 

If you have any installed software that you no longer use - delete it.

Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features

If you are unsure what it is - best leave it alone.

============

 

Check the Recycle Bin again.

 

let me know what the free space is now.

[codylocklun]

Hi Ken sorry I've had no Internet and still haven't as laptop states running low on memory space and shuts down.

 

I've tried all the above you suggested and the uninstall process on programs and features keeps telling me that the system adminstrator has set policies to prevent installations of windows installer!

 

I used cc cleaner but I'm still left with only 1gb of free space... Please help as I'm totally stuck :(

[KenB]

You initially had 2GB free ( post 1 ) now, after trying to free up some space you have just 1GB free.

 

system adminstrator has set policies to prevent installations of windows installer!

This could be as a result of malware.

 

Download MBAM from here ( if you can ) Click on Products > then select the FREE version.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

 

 

Install > Update > Run it.

 

It will produce a log

Copy this and post it here.

 

==============

 

If you cannot do this in normal mode try it in Safe Mode with Networking.

 

Reboot the machine and constantly tap F8 about once per second.

Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list of options.

 

The screen graphics will look odd due to minimal drivers.

 

==============

 

Still no luck?

 

1. Make sure that you are logged in to an Administrator account.

 

2. Click the Windows "Start" menu.

 

3. Click Run

 

4. Type gpedit.msc > OK

 

5. Select and expand the "Local Computer Policy" item at the top of the tree in the left-hand pane.

 

6. Select and expand the "Computer Configuration"

 

7. Select and expand the "Administrative Templates"

 

8. Select and expand the "Windows Components"

 

9. Select and expand the "Windows Installer"

 

10. Find and right-click the item "Disable Windows Installer" in the list in the right-hand pane. Select "Properties" from the menu.

 

11. Make sure that, under the "Setting" tab, "Disable Windows Installer" is set to either "Not Configured" or "Disabled".

 

12. Click "OK" to save these settings.

[codylocklun]

clearing up hard drive space cont

 

Dear Ken,

 

I attempted to install malware file and just as the installation process finished, windows pops up and states it is closing this programme and that there is not enough memory space on the computer.

 

I then attempted the second part pf your advice to go to start panel and type in gpedit.msc.ok and the computer was unable to recognise the wording....

 

I'm totally frustrated with this computer as I deperatley need it to work and now from attempting to freeing up hard drive space for itunes stuff it dosen't allow me to do much else.

 

Please help or if you could suggest somewhere I could take it to drop it off and let a professional sort this out.:(

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You initially had 2GB free ( post 1 ) now, after trying to free up some space you have just 1GB free.

 

 

This could be as a result of malware.

 

Download MBAM from here ( if you can ) Click on Products > then select the FREE version.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

 

 

Install > Update > Run it.

 

It will produce a log

Copy this and post it here.

 

==============

 

If you cannot do this in normal mode try it in Safe Mode with Networking.

 

Reboot the machine and constantly tap F8 about once per second.

Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list of options.

 

The screen graphics will look odd due to minimal drivers.

 

==============

 

Still no luck?

 

1. Make sure that you are logged in to an Administrator account.

 

2. Click the Windows "Start" menu.

 

3. Click Run

 

4. Type gpedit.msc > OK

 

5. Select and expand the "Local Computer Policy" item at the top of the tree in the left-hand pane.

 

6. Select and expand the "Computer Configuration"

 

7. Select and expand the "Administrative Templates"

 

8. Select and expand the "Windows Components"

 

9. Select and expand the "Windows Installer"

 

10. Find and right-click the item "Disable Windows Installer" in the list in the right-hand pane. Select "Properties" from the menu.

 

11. Make sure that, under the "Setting" tab, "Disable Windows Installer" is set to either "Not Configured" or "Disabled".

 

12. Click "OK" to save these settings.

[codylocklun]

Also how do I ensure that I'm logged into an administrator account? Oh I don't know if I mentioned earlier, the windows vista operating system is 32bit, don't know if this information helps at all....

[KenB]

windows vista operating system is 32bit,

Sorry - I was looking at your profile details ( XP 64 bit ) - I now know you mentioned Vista in your first post.

 

I will ask one of our Security Experts to take a look at the posts so far to advise if this could be malware related or not.

 

In the mean time ......

 

Empty the recycle bin again.

Try to create more space by uninstalling programs that you do not use from Control Panel > Programs & Features.

 

If you are unsure what the program is - leave it.

 

Which AntiVirus are you using ?

 

==============

 

......let a professional sort this out.

We have a few more options left before we get to this stage

We don't like to be beaten ........stick with us. :)

[codylocklun]

Hi Ken,

 

I'm using Windows security essential as my anti virus. I've emptied the recycle bin lots of times and at the moment nothing is in the bin...I've attempted to create more space by uninstalling programs from the control panel but, again it won't let me as I've have not permission to do so, and it instructs me to speak with system administrator...Any help would be very appreciated .

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, not too sure if this applies to Vista, , as I am running W7 and sidestepped vista from XP. But we can but try.

Go to control panel and select User accounts and family safety. click directly on user accounts, that may be needed to be done twice, then select "Change your account type" You should be already administrator, but see if you can change your account to administrator there.

If not, I have to ask, is this your own computer or one from a company?

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi again

 

Try this:

 

Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Turn User Account Control On / Off > Take the tick out of the "Use User Account Control" > OK

Ignore any warnings.

 

Try deleting the programs now.

 

If you have no success - go back and enable UAC.

 

==============

 

Nev,

User accounts and family safety.

This isn't an option on Vista Home - I have just checked on mine.

codylocklun

To do what Nev suggests .....

When you click on "User Accounts" top right it will show the name you are logged in by.

It will also tell you if you are logged on as an Administrator.

 

Are you ?

[etavares]

Hello, codylocklun.

 

My name is etavares and I will be helping you with this log.

 

 

Here are some guidelines to ensure we are able to get your machine back under your control.

 

 

• Please do not run any unsupervised scans, fixes, etc. We can work against each other and end up in a worse place.
  
• Please subscribe to this topic if you have not already done so. Please check back just in case, as the email system can fail at times.
  
• Just because your machine is running better does not mean it is completely cleaned. Please wait for the 'all clear' from me to say when we are done.
  
• Please reply within 3 days to be fair to other people asking for help.
  
• When in doubt, please stop and ask first. There's no harm in asking questions!
  

 

 

 

First, we'll run two small programs to give us a view of what's going on.

 

 

Step 1

 

 

Please download aswMBR ( 511KB ) to your desktop.

• Double click the aswMBR.exe icon to run it
  
• It gives you the option to add the latest Avast definitions and recommends you do so. Ignore it and click No as it may crash your system or hang up and we don't need that info.
  
• Click the Scan button to start the scan
  
• On completion of the scan, click the save log button, save it to your desktop and post it in your next reply.
  

 

 

Note: aswMBR will save MBR.dat to your desktop. Do NOT delete it until I tell you your computer is clean. It is a backup of your MBR that we may need later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2

 

 

We need to create an OTL report,

• Please download OTL from this link.
  
• (If that link doesn't work, try this alternate link
  
• Save it to your desktop.
  
• Double click on the http://billy-oneal.com/Canned%20Speeches/speechimages/OTL/otlDesktopIcon.png icon on your desktop.
  
• Click the "Scan All Users" checkbox.
  
• Select "Use Safelist" under "Extra Registry"
  
• Under the Custom Scan box paste this in:
  
  netsvcs
  msconfig
  %SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.*
  %systemroot%\system32\Spool\prtprocs\w32x86\*.dll
  %systemroot%\*. /mp /s
  %systemroot%\system32\*.sys /90
  %systemroot%\system32\*.dll /lockedfiles
  %systemroot%\Tasks\*.job /lockedfiles
  %systemroot%\system32\drivers\*.sys /lockedfiles
  %systemroot%\system32\*.exe /lockedfiles
  %systemroot%\System32\config\*.sav
  %PROGRAMFILES%\*
  %USERPROFILE%\..|smtmp;true;true;true /FP
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
  hklm\software\clients\startmenuinternet|command /rs
  hklm\software\clients\startmenuinternet|command /64 /rs
  CREATERESTOREPOINT
   
   
   
   
  
• Click the Quick Scan button.
  
• The scan should take a few minutes.
  
• Please copy and paste both logs in your reply. If they are too big to paste in one reply, please split them into separate posts.
  

 

 

etavares