C drive full: I keep almost everything on external hard drives and the cloud. Everyime there is a windows update, computer wants more space to download. I have optimized computer...

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

I keep almost everything on external hard drives and the cloud. Everyime there is a windows update, computer wants more space to download. I have optimized computer, deleted files, got rid of unused apps etc.
The computer is only two years old and this is very frustrating.
Thanks for any input

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

junglejim1949 wrote:

I keep almost everything on external hard drives and the cloud. Everytime there is a windows update, computer wants more space to download. I have optimized computer, deleted files, got rid of unused apps etc.
The computer is only two years old and this is very frustrating.
Thanks for any input

How large is the C drive? You have the OS and programs on C, right? When you look at the contents of the C drive, what do you see. There is obviously a problem here because your drive mus be at least 1TB, and that should be filled up since you have only Windows and programs on it. I suspect you have a large amount of something unknown on there. Maybe it's partitioned.

RichJ207 Loc: Sammamish, WA

If you want for this interaction to be productive, you might tell us the details about your computer setup and how you use it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

RichJ207 wrote:

If you want for this interaction to be productive, you might tell us the details about your computer setup and how you use it.

(Like how large is C: 500Gb? 2Tb? What folders exist?
On my desktop I have a 2Tb C: drive and only 350Gb is used. All my photos, documents, etc. are on C:)

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

junglejim1949 wrote:

I keep almost everything on external hard drives and the cloud. Everyime there is a windows update, computer wants more space to download. I have optimized computer, deleted files, got rid of unused apps etc.
The computer is only two years old and this is very frustrating.
Thanks for any input

Your drive probably has space taken up by "/tmp" and/or "/temp" files.
It should be deleted, and the trash emptied.

tramsey Loc: Texas

I use CCleaner to take care of my C drive. Just the free one. I used to see that every once in a while but not any more. I thought my C drive was clean but CCleaner found many pages of just plain crap that was hiding out.

Najataagihe

tramsey wrote:

I use CCleaner to take care of my C drive. Just the free one. I used to see that every once in a while but not any more. I thought my C drive was clean but CCleaner found many pages of just plain crap that was hiding out.

What he said!

Also, every update of Windows leaves a complete copy of the old version on the C: drive.

Once you are satisfied that the new version works, you can delete the C:\Windows.old directory.

8)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Najataagihe wrote:

What he said!

Also, every update of Windows leaves a complete copy of the old version on the C: drive.

Once you are satisfied that the new version works, you can delete the C:\Windows.old directory.

8)

Interesting. I don't have a Windows.old directory on my laptop. Have not checked the desktop.
Did you by chance upgrade from 7 to 10?

Najataagihe

Yes.

I have upgraded computers for me and the company to each new version since MS-DOS 2.11, both directly and by skipping versions.

Also OS-9, Unix and (shudder) OS/2.

Whatcha got?

???

Note: The C:\Windows.old will automatically delete itself after 30 days. If you are out of room NOW and you are happy that you are not going to roll it back, delete it early!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Najataagihe wrote:

Yes.

I have upgraded computers for me and the company to each new version since MS-DOS 2.11, both directly and by skipping versions.

Also OS-9, Unix and (shudder) OS/2.

Whatcha got?

???

Note: The C:\Windows.old will automatically delete itself after 30 days. If you are out of room NOW and you are happy that you are not going to roll it back, delete it early!

Two Win 7 boxes and one Win 10 (OEM not upgrade).
Sticking with 7 on mine until they break.

Najataagihe

I thought you were having a problem with a transition.

The only reasons to upgrade a computer OS are to retain support for security patches, new features or just because you want new and shiny.

I am not counting your computer bricking and having to go to a new OS on the replacement PC.

cdayton

Is there a partitioned D: drive lurking in the background that uses space? If so, you can transfer files and free up C: drive space.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

cdayton wrote:

Is there a partitioned D: drive lurking in the background that uses space? If so, you can transfer files and free up C: drive space.

I do have partitions, I will check.
No matter what, I think I will have to upgrade (increase) memory. If I increase what happens to data on old C drive?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Najataagihe wrote:

I thought you were having a problem with a transition.

The only reasons to upgrade a computer OS are to retain support for security patches, new features or just because you want new and shiny.

I am not counting your computer bricking and having to go to a new OS on the replacement PC.

Nope, no problem at all.
The OP had questions about running out of space on C: though.

wireloose

Desktop or laptop? On a desktop you can just add another hard drive, and leave the existing one untouched. On a laptop you either have to go external, or upgrade the drive, which means you transfer everything from the old drive to the new one. Either way you shouldn’t lose any data.