why does my hard drive keep filling up?

[BananaBandit]

I don't download anything of considerable size.

 

And yet the C drive keeps filling up.

 

Why?

 

I have a Windows 7 laptop.  I don't want to upgrade.  My dear Lenovo has been wonderful, and I still believe she has much more to give.  I just want to understand why her C drive keeps filling up, and what I can do to remedy this matter.

[OneMoreFarang]

Find out yourself!

TreeSize Free | JAM Software (jam-software.com)

Yes, it's free, virus free and it works.

[soi3eddie]

You say it "keeps filling up". What do you do to create more space again? What types of files are filling it up?

 

[BananaBandit]

42 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Find out yourself!

TreeSize Free | JAM Software (jam-software.com)

Yes, it's free, virus free and it works.

Are you sure it supports Windows 7  ?

 

It seems to say it won't run on my computer.

[BananaBandit]

42 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

What types of files are filling it up?

I dunno yet. Hopefully, I can ascertain.

[BananaBandit]

42 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

You say it "keeps filling up". What do you do to create more space again? What types of files are filling it up?

 

I go to old videos, delete them, then empty the trash bin.  Not very scientific.  But it works, for now.

[OneMoreFarang]

4 hours ago, BananaBandit said:

Are you sure it supports Windows 7  ?

 

It seems to say it won't run on my computer.

I am sure there is a version which runs on Windows 7, because that program exists forever.

Just click on that link and follow the steps and then it wants to download an exe file which installs this on your PC.

Worst case your Windows will tell you it can't be installed.

If that happens then post here again, preferably as a reply to one of my posts. Then I will dig a little deeper and find the correct version for you.

[DezLez]

Here is the link to treesize for win 7;

TreeSize Free for Windows 7 | JAM Software (jam-software.com)

 

PS; What size is your HDD?

Edited November 1, 2022 by DezLez
PS added

[Kan Win]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I am sure there is a version which runs on Windows 7, because that program exists forever.

Just click on that link and follow the steps and then it wants to download an exe file which installs this on your PC.

Worst case your Windows will tell you it can't be installed.

If that happens then post here again, preferably as a reply to one of my posts. Then I will dig a little deeper and find the correct version for you.

Your link was for 64bit, we require 32bit one,

 

Win ????

[dingdongrb]

Browsers, especially Chrome will eat up drive space as the browser is used. Also WIN updates will utilize space.

[KhunHeineken]

I had the same problem a few years ago.  It ended up being the restore point setting was set to 100% so all new restore points just kept getting saved and building up, when you only need about the last few.

 

The fix for me was deleting all restore points, moving the setting slider from 100% down to about 5%, creating a new restore point, and I got back all my storage. 

 

Depending on your HDD size, you could even go lower than 5%. 

 

Check it out.  It could be the same problem. 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Kan Win said:

Your link was for 64bit, we require 32bit one,

 

Win ????

TreeSize Free for Windows 7 | JAM Software (jam-software.com)

 

[soi3eddie]

It's a long time since I used WIN7 but is it still receiving updates? Maybe doing a "disk clean" up of "system files" in "windows administrative tools" might remove a good few GB of space. Especially if you have never done that before. 

 

I also use CCLEANER FREE which can essentially do the same thing and more. Can also disable startup applications for faster boot times.

 

[blackshadow]

try doing disk defragmentation.......

[soi3eddie]

13 minutes ago, blackshadow said:

try doing disk defragmentation.......

disk defragmentation does not free up space or delete files. It simply moves data around on the HDD to speed up system. It's largely redunadant on recent PCs that used SSD disks (the OPs WIN7 is likely to be running HDD).

 

 

[DezLez]

50 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

It's largely redunadant on recent PCs that used SSD disks

It is actually counter productive on SSD's to run a defrag.

 

Should You Defrag an SSD? (helpdeskgeek.com)

From the source above;

"do you need to defrag an SSD? The short answer is no. 

There are two main reasons. The first relates to the lack of performance benefits, which is, after all, the entire point of defragmentation. The second reason has to do with the health of your SSD. It turns out that defragging an SSD can shorten its life"

[BananaBandit]

13 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

TreeSize Free for Windows 7 | JAM Software (jam-software.com)

 

This helped me identify some more old gibberish to delete.  Excellent. 

[blackshadow]

20 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

disk defragmentation does not free up space or delete files. It simply moves data around on the HDD to speed up system. It's largely redunadant on recent PCs that used SSD disks (the OPs WIN7 is likely to be running HDD).

 

 

ok you know more than me....it was just a suggestion

[thaibeachlovers]

21 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

It's a long time since I used WIN7 but is it still receiving updates? Maybe doing a "disk clean" up of "system files" in "windows administrative tools" might remove a good few GB of space. Especially if you have never done that before. 

 

I also use CCLEANER FREE which can essentially do the same thing and more. Can also disable startup applications for faster boot times.

 

My windows 7 very rarely gets an update.

 

Re the OP, see if you can set computer to delete history when shut down. Given I know little about the way computers work that may be wrong, and not do much.

[CharlieH]

What is filling up C drive in Windows 7/8/10/11?

Read this........