attillathehun@mongol.com wrote:
> I am using Windows XP on my computer and running very low on disc
> space. I've run "Disc cleanup" and checked on any hidden internet
> files but still getting a message " low on disc space".
>
> I have 519MB left out of 40GB.
>
> Are there ways to gain back disc space? Any free programs to use?



A primary space waster within each user profile would be IE's
penchant for storing copies (or significant portions thereof) of nearly
every web page you've ever visited. Try reducing the amount of
temporary Internet files cached, which is huge by default. I always
reduce it to a maximum of 50 Mb. In Internet Explorer, click Tools >
Internet Options > General, Temporary Files > Settings.

Same principle for the Java cache. Start > Control Panel > Java >
Temporary Internet Files > Settings.

The System Volume Information is the folder in which WinXP's System
Restore feature stores information used to recover from errors. By
default, WinXP sets aside a maximum of 12% of the partition's size for
storing System Volume Information, but the amount of space set aside for
this purpose can be adjusted by the user. Start > All Programs >
Accessories > System Tools > System Restore > System Restore Settings,
select the pertinent partition and click Settings. If you don't want to
use System Restore at all, and have some other backup/recovery mechanism
in place, simply turn off the System Restore feature (Start > All
Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore, System Restore
Settings) and reboot. This will delete all of your Restore Points,
freeing up the hard drive space.

Another great waster of space can be the Recycle Bin. By default,
this takes up to 10% of your hard drive capacity. On today's large hard
drives, this is tremendously wasteful. (It's even more wasteful,
relatively speaking, on the tiny drive you have.) It can be set to a
lower limit by right-clicking the desktop Recycle Bin icon, selecting
Properties, and using the slider bar to lower the maximum size to
something more reasonable -- 1% to 2% should be more than enough space.


--

Bruce Chambers

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