[Solved] Toshiba

[Gotalife]

Hi, I need some help with my daughters laptop, it’s a Toshiba Equium

using Windows Vista, it’s showing 1.34GB free of 55.8GB memory,

I have checked through her files and only the photo’s show any large

memory 15GB, have back up her computer onto Clickfree C2, but need

advice on how to free up the memory, I’m no computer tech,

so in simple terms please.:confused:

[Armageddon]

Hi Gotalife take a look at the following link from Microsoft explaining how to run disk cleanup in Vista http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-vista/delete-files-using-disk-cleanup this should help if not theres other stuff we can run

[Gotalife]

Hi Armageddon, tried that link and it did not recognize the link?.

I did a disc cleanup, which saved 171mb bringing the available memory up to 1.31GB,

I then did a defrag and that changed the memory down to 370mb?

More help if you don’t mind.:confused::confused:

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, it sounds like the auto backup in Vista may be creating backups and saving them to the hard drive, have a look at this Microsoft support page for disabling it, which should also give you an idea where the backups will be to delete unwanted backups from further back in time.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927014

 

You can disable it entirely, or set it so that backups go to an external source such as an external hard drive or even DVD disks, rather than cluttering up the hard drive space which is what I think may be happening.

[KenB]

I think Nev may be right.

 

Also - Windows needs about 10-15% disk space free for it to function properly.

You have about 2.5% free.

 

On the Vista machine goto Start and type in .bkf ( that is dot followed by bkf ) do not hit enter at this stage.

The backup files should be located and this will give you the path to the files.

Check there how many and how big they are.

[Gotalife]

KenB, just finish the first check, will try your tip after this response.

 

 

In Task schedular, it shows:

 

 

AutomaticBackup = Disabled, 31 events, last run 8/2/2012 ox80041324

Checkfull = Disabled, 31 events, last run 8/2/2012 ox80041324

Windows backup = Disabled, 160 events, last run 11/2/2012 oxo

[Gotalife]

KenB, just did .bkf, and came back after search with this, No items match your search.

[KenB]

It seems that the backup option is not the cause of your problem.

 

Which Anti Virus are you using.

I have seen Norton ( for one ) using up a lot of space storing scan results.

[Gotalife]

Update: Computer

 

 

Vista ( C: ) 0% free (1)

2.13GB free of 55.8GB

 

 

Data ( E: ) 90% free (1)

54.0GB free of 54.5GB

 

 

Backup Status And Configuration:

Automatic file backup is configured but turned off.

 

 

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool:

No memory errors were detected.

 

 

 

 

Bt Netprotect Plus,with McAfee

[KenB]

I am not familiar with that AV - although McAfee has been known to hog resources.

 

Download "Treesize" from here:

click here

 

You want the FREE version.

 

After you run it - it should show you where the disk space is being used up.

[Gotalife]

Thanks for that KenB, not sure what I’m looking for, but this is what showed up:

I'm showing the largest files only.

 

 

Vista 60,570.5mb

 

 

Windows 25,002.0mb

Winsxs 16,711.7mb

 

 

 

 

Users 23,147.7mb

Daughters 22,929.7mb

Photos 15GB

App Data 6GB

 

 

I’m guessing , clearing the photo’s which I have backup on Clickfree will save 15GB,

but what to do in Windows????.

 

 

Also just notice, running from mains showing that battery is not charging?.

Edited June 4, 2013 by Gotalife

[Armageddon]

Hi Gotalife could you download and run this to clean temp system files etc including app data then see how much space it frees http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/files/file/187-tfc-temp-file-cleaner-by-oldtimer/ click the green download on the link

[Gotalife]

McAfee would not allow Download?

[KenB]

Try it from here

 

click here

 

Use the @majorgeeks d/l not the authors site.

 

===========

 

Re Treesize

If you can move the photos then you will gain 15GB

 

If you click on Users / Daughters you should get further information.

Number of folders / average file size etc.

If all of this looks OK then I suggest moving the photos to another drive.

 

Also run TFC if you can as this will delete temporary files - which are not needed.

[Gotalife]

After Temp File Cleaner:

 

Vista 55.465 GB in use

1.24GB free.

 

:confused:

[KenB]

Hi - before the clean-up you had 2.13GB free

 

Now you have 1.24 GB free space ??

 

Something is eating up your drive. ( unless you can account for over 1GB ? ) Did you have a closer look at "Treesize" to try to discover what ?

[Gotalife]

Hi KenB, I downloaded the “Treesize and Temp file cleaner” that is all, looking in the treesize file I pick out the two largest files, 1 in Windows “winsxs” 16GB and 2 in Users “Photo” 15GB, “App Data” 6GB, I don’t know what else I’m looking for apart from the size of file, those 3 are using 37GB together, so guess the problem is there?. I did a memory test and a full scan, both showed no problems.

[KenB]

Hi

 

In Vista there is an "Advanced Search" option where you can search for files created after a specific date.

 

Start > click on Documents

In the toolbar at the top you will see a "Search" box

Type something into this then scroll down to the bottom.

You should see "Advanced Search" ............click on this.

 

You are looking for files created after 1 June 2013

 

Use the down arrow on "Date" and select "Created"

Change the "Location" to C:

Make sure the date is showing "After" then select 1 June.

 

This should give you some idea of where your space is going.

 

( you could also try "Modified" - this will throw up files that have been added to )

 

It may not be 1 big file you are looking for.

It could be lots of files of the same type added together.

[Gotalife]

Not looking good. just turned on the computer, starts to boot in showing TOSHIBA then the screen goes black with message in top left corner saying

"BOOTMGR is missing" Press Ctrl+Alt+DEl to restart, but does the same thing again.

[KenB]

Hi

As you say - not good.

 

Do you have anything on the hard drive that you need to recover - files / photos etc?

 

I suggest that before you start trying to fix the Boot-manager problem you get the important stuff off that hard drive and back it up.

 

Do you have a Vista installation disk ?

( not recovery disks )

[Gotalife]

Had already backup her files to Clickfree, will have to go and have a look for what came with the computer (got to be over six years ago) I think it had Vista already set up, but will have a look, may take a while but will get back to you. Thanks

[Gotalife]

Hi,

have found the disc that came with the computer Equium A200

“Product Recovery” For distribution only with a new Toshiba PC.

Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit.

 

 

I had backup to Clickfree, before this happened, so I guess it saved all her files, I think it showed 18GB

of saved info, which included Photo’s, Music and other files, I know she uses MSN, will that be deleted

along with anything on it?. I will have to check with her tonight before I can do anything.

 

 

Anything I can do in the meantime to check?

[KenB]

Hi

 

I wasn't going to suggest a complete re-install ......yet.

 

Switch on and constantly tap F8 ( about once per second )

Can you get to the advanced startup options ?

 

If you can I think there should be an option to "Repair your Computer"

( This may be on the installation disk )

Give this a try.

[Gotalife]

Hi again, have spoken to my daughter and agrees to do what ever is needed.

 

 

Did the restart four times using different speed tapping the F8 key, all resulted with the message BOOTMGR is missing.

 

 

The very start of booting in does show the Toshiba on screen and a band moving left to right at the bottom of the screen, then it goes blank with the message BOOTMGR is missing.

 

 

I will be on this site for the next hour.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, just to pop in, I noticed you mentioned earlier that the power supply didn't appear to be charging the battery, is that still the same?

 

Are you able to remove the battery and will it run the laptop on the mains unit only?

 

If the charger unit is duff, or more likely the jack it plugs in to, the battery may be nearly flat and could be why it isn't booting as a perhaps.

 

Nev.