Very Low Free Disc Space.

[jontye]

I have a E-System ei 3102 laptop with a 40gb s-ata HDD hard drive. The free space is just about zero, to the point where I can't download and install updates, so how do I replace the hard drive with a larger capacity disc.

I've been using the disc cleaner on a regular basis for the last 6 months are so, also the download ccleaner.

I don't really want buy a new laptop as my main use is just searching the web, emails etc. The o/s is windows Vista home basic.

I'm reasonably practitable, I upgraded the memory card a while ago, so anything that is not too complicated I can most probably do to change the hard drive. Any help and advice will be most welcome.

Thank you in anticipation.

Regards Jontye. :confused:

[Ray1000]

You'll find it straightforward Jontye,

 

You could practice in advance of buying the new one by removing the old drive.

 

The few I've done have all been as accessible as the memory cards.

 

Afterwards you could buy a SATA enclosure for the old drive and transfer your files then use it for duplicate storage.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi

As Ray says you could replace the small hard drive with a larger one.

And you could also buy an 2.5 inch SATA enclosure and make use of the old drive for extra storage.

 

It is possible to backup a lot of your files / photos etc to another drive.

Delete a lot of the unused installed software.

This could free up some space but probably not enough - it depends what you have on your system.

 

windows Vista home basic.

You don't say if you have an installation disk for your system.

I suspect that the answer is "no" - but please confirm.

 

If you do not have an installation disk for Vista it is possible to clone the hard drive.

This method gives you an exact copy of what is on the drive already which you can copy to a larger drive.

 

We need to know which method you are going to use.

[jontye]

Thanks for your prompt reply, I will give it a shot. One question, what is a SATA enclosure ?

 

regards Jontye .

[jontye]

Hi KenB, Thank you for your reply, I have already backed up my photos/files onto an external hard drive and deleted any software that is no longer in use.

I don't have an installation disc, the laptop came with Vista installed, how would I go about cloneing the hard drive.

Is there a maximum gb size of replacement hard drive that my system would take.

Regards Jontye.

[KenB]

One question, what is a SATA enclosure ?

 

If you take the hard drive out of your system and replace it with a larger one the old one is still useful for storage.

It can be used much the same as a USB memory stick.

 

Hard drives come in 2 different sizes

laptops = 2.5 inch

desktops = 3.5 inch

 

There are also 2 types

IDE = older type

SATA = mostly used now

They are totally different connections

 

An enclosure is a small box-like device to put the old hard drive in so that you can connect it up via the USB port and use it just like a memory stick.

click here

 

Check which connections you have on your drive.

click here

 

If you need more advice - just ask :)

[Plastic Nev]

Just to add to the good advice so far, here is a recommendation, depending upon which type of drive is installed at the moment, IDE or SATA, obtain an enclosure for that type, and also obtain a new larger hard drive of the same type..

 

Using cloning software we can recommend as myself and Ken did some exhaustive tests on it, firstly install the new hard drive temporarily into the enclosure, then connect it to the laptop.

 

Using the cloning software make a complete clone of the existing drive in the laptop on to the new drive in the enclosure.

 

Then take the new drive out of the enclosure, also take the old drive out of the laptop, and install the new drive into the laptop that now has the clone on it. Your laptop should be good to go from then on.

 

If willing to go down this route we can give greater details as to how to set up the clone, the software and the hard drives.

 

Nev.

[jontye]

Hi Nev, Thanks for the information, I certainly will be going ahead with your suggestions, I have ordered an enclosure and looking at SATA harddrives. When I recieve the items I will come back for details on setting up the clone.

Thanks again,

Jontye

[jontye]

Thanks KenB, the label on my laptop states that it is a 40GB SATA HDD so I'm busy looking for one , have already ordered an enclosure, will get back to you when I have received the items. I'm now starting to get warning messages that the disc space is very low, it seems to be tumbling by the minute, showing less than 100mb at the moment.

Regards Jontye.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi,

In order to be able to install the software that will make the clone, you will need a lot more space than what you have left, is there any way you can transfer some data to DVD disks or similar storage, then delete it to make room?

 

Nev.

[KenB]

it seems to be tumbling by the minute, showing less than 100mb at the moment.

This could be related to your Anti-virus.

I have seen this before where the AV stores data on a daily basis.

 

Do you still want to go down the new hard drive route - or look at the possibility of this being large files stored by the AV ?

 

If it is the AV causing the problem - cloning the drive to a new one will only transfer the problem anyway :)

[Ray1000]

Is there a maximum gb size of replacement hard drive that my system would take.

 

This question seems to have been missed ...

 

Others will have a better idea than me but my desk top only has two x 40GB HD's, so 80GB may be a cost effective way to go. I also have a 500GB SATA HD enclosure

 

There may be something on the 40GB you are still unaware of ... I inadvertently had Vista and XP Pro on a 40GB at the same time and while it was nearly full it still worked normally.

 

Ray

[jontye]

Hi Nev, I've just transferred all the remaining files onto an external hard drive, well everything I can find, and unistalled the likes of Skype from the programes which now gives me 1.4gb of space.

The only programmes left are Adobe, Avast, Yahoo spyware, intel graphics, various microsoft, ralink wireless, realtek ethernet network, realtek audio, synaptics, bt hub/desktop, piriform ccleaner, motorola speaker modem, mxsml.

[jontye]

Hi Ken, I've ordered a new hard drive & encloser, but I would be interested in checking out the possability of large files being stored by the anti virus, how do I do this.

 

Regards John.

[jontye]

Hi Ray, Thanks for the input, other than checking the programmes that are installed I've no idea how to look at what else may be on the hard drive, any suggestions are welcome.

Regards Jontye

[KenB]

Hi John

 

I would be interested in checking out the possability of large files being stored by the anti virus, how do I do this.

Download Treesize from here - click here

Install and run it.

 

It will give you an analysis of file sizes.

It may take a bit of searching but it may show up "odd" file sizes.

[jontye]

Hi Ken, Carried the Treesize scan, nothing in the way of extra large files showed up, I was able to delete the 'Bit Defender' file which is no longer in use but that was about all.

Regards Jontye.

[KenB]

Looks like a bigger hard drive is needed :)

[jontye]

Hi Ken,

I'm now have the enclosure and new hard drive which I'd ordered, so could you please send me the instructions, the simpler the better, for installing the hard drive, using the enclosure and cloneing the o/s, Vista Home Basic, to repair my ailing laptop.

Looking forward to the experience.

Regards John.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi John, Ken will be back tomorrow if not later this evening here in the UK, So for now we will take it one step at a time to make it easy to understand. It isn't difficult to do, but lets try and make sure it is done with no major mistakes.

 

in the mean time I have looked at the space needed to install "Macrium Reflect" which is the software to use to create the clone.

Installed it takes about 70MB of space, I recommend having at least 100MB available, so you may have to remove some files to a CD or DVD to make room for it.

 

Once you are sure there is space to install it download it from here :-

 

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/macrium_reflect_free_edition.html

 

Make sure you get the free version as the downloader they provide can install either the free version or the 30 day trial. Also read every single page and make sure there are no ticks for unwanted toolbars or other junk. If there is an option for a manual install rather than automatic, choose the manual as that can expose any other junk you don't want, though MajorGeeks don't normally allow it, it is still worth while to check for junk and stop it.

 

Next is to temporarily fit the new hard drive into the enclosure, each enclosure is slightly different but there should be simple instructions supplied with it. Then plug it into the laptop, Windows ahould automatically find the drivers for it and you will eventually see a message "The Device is ready to use"

Down on the bottom right of the bottom task bar, you should see or click the small arrow, to expose the USB device, you can then click the "Safe to remove" it will tell you when it is safe. The other safe option is shut the laptop down and unplug it then.

 

We will leave it at that for now till Ken gets back to us for the next stage, or after you have got that far, and I am back on line.

 

Nev.

[jontye]

Hi Nev, I have downloaded and installed the Macrium Reflect software and plugged in and removed the new hard drive as per your instructions.

Regards Jontye.

[Plastic Nev]

OK John, I only asked you to disconnect until you are ready, no point having it plugged in doing nothing till now.

 

Please read through everything and please be sure you understand each stage before continuing.

 

OK, start up the computer and once fully booted up, (If it isn't already) plug in the USB enclosure complete with the new drive in it. Auoplay may open a window for the new drive, if it does dismiss and close it as it isn't needed. (Make sure no other device is plugged into any other USB ports or card slots, other than keyboard and mouse if they are USB.)

 

Next is to open the Macrium reflect program.

You should see this page open, if not click the "Disk Image" tab to open it.

 

Area "A" will be your existing drive, it will also show as being a lot more full than mine is here.

 

Area "B" should be your new drive in its enclosure, unlike mine it should show as empty. (Mine is a previous clone as I am showing my rescue drive)

It should also show the model number of the new drive, make a note of that in case you need to search for it.

 

[ Click on the images to enlarge ]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1167.vB5-legacyid=2134[/ATTACH]

 

Click anywhere in area "A" to make sure that is selected, underneath it you should then see as in my picture as ringed "C" and click on "clone this disk."

 

You should then see this next page open. check that there is a tick in all the boxes as you can see here, to be sure all will be copied as the clone.

Click on the "Select a disk to clone to"

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1172.vB5-legacyid=2133[/ATTACH]

 

Hopefully you should see something like this, if not you may get the system window open and you will need to search for the new drive, hence why I said to make a note of the new drive model number.

Otherwise Macrium normally knows which it is and shows this providing no other storage medium is plugged in to a USB port or memory card in a slot.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1171.vB5-legacyid=2132[/ATTACH]

 

As shown click anywhere to select it and the next should be as here

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1170.vB5-legacyid=2131[/ATTACH]

 

If there are any partitions, which in your case there should not be, click on the red crossed item "Delete existing partition" and in your case with no partitions it should then look like this.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1169.vB5-legacyid=2130[/ATTACH]

 

Make sure there is a tick in the box for copy selected partitions when I click nex, it usually is by default, but no harm to make sure.

If all is as above at this point, click the next button on the bottom right, and you should then see a list similar to mine which is listing the existing partitions to be cloned to the new drive in its enclosure.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1168.vB5-legacyid=2129[/ATTACH]

 

Click the "Finish" button bottom right and it will then start to create the first stages of the clone, it may show a box asking to either format or over write the contents of the destination drive, accept it by clicking yes or whatever it says to mean yes, and it will carry on.

Depending on how much data which in your case is near the maximum 40GB it will take some time, mine being much bigger does take a few hours, yours should be less than that.

 

Once the clone has been completed, and it does tell you, close everything concerned with Macrium, then have an explore of everything that is on the new drive to check it out.

 

If happy all is as it should be, use the safe to remove system to disconnect the external USB enclosure, or shut down the computer, which you will have to do next any way.

 

Shut down and then remove the power plug and battery from the laptop.

 

Remove the now cloned drive from the enclosure, and after removing the original drive from the laptop computer, fit the new drive in its place ans replace covers and battery and power plug.

 

If everything went correctly, the laptop should now boot up from the new drive.

 

The next step will be to expand the partition into the extra space on the new drive, but let us know how all the above went before we do that.

 

Nev.

[jontye]

Hi Nev, I've cloned the hard drive and installed the new hard drive into the laptop, everything seems to be working ok, although a pop up message has just come on the screen, from windows asking permission to install driver software for unknown device.

Regards Jontye

[Plastic Nev]

That is OK, Windows does that, it is only the driver to run the new hard drive at its best, so please allow it.

 

I will have a word with Ken as the next thing is to expand the partition, or partitions into the free space on the new drive so you get the space, It can be done within Vista I think but I haven't had Vista so can't be sure. Otherwise it means downloading and installing a partition making and arranging software called EaseUS Partition Master.

 

However, there is one check that is a good idea to be done, not absolutely necessary, but providing it comes up at the end as no problems found it sets your mind at rest that the operating system is all there as it should be.

 

The check is called sfc /scannow..

 

To do this, click the start orb, then type CMD in the search box, it will then show "CMD" at the top. You must right click on it, then select "Run as administrator"

A black box then opens up, (Looks a bit like the old DOS command box)

Type in at the flashing cursor,

 

sfc /scannow

 

Note there is a space between sfc and the /slash.

 

then press the enter key, the system will then check all the operating system files. It takes around twenty minutes to a half hour, and providing it then says no faults or problems were found, then you are sure then that the operating system is OK.

 

Nev.

[jontye]

Hi Nev, Do I run the sfc /scannow first or after expanding the partitions to free space.

If you are not sure of how Vista does the partitioning I will download the software you suggest and run that.

Thanks once again, Jontye