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C drive full....

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pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -  
pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -

Hello,

On my laptop running Windows 10, my C drive is full (red), so I wanted to free up some space on it by moving some files to the other D data drive, but my documents, downloads, and videos folders are empty.

Can you help me because I don't know where to look for the files that are filling up the C drive?

Thank you very much


12 answers

  1.
    jfmimi Posted messages 13643 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   1 929
     

    Hello

    Download and run the software "tree size free"

    It allows you to see which files or folders are taking up space.

    Provide a screenshot.

    Example:

    If my answer helped you, click the Thank you button.
    Mark as resolved if your problem is fixed.

    2
  2. Pierr10 Posted messages 13848 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   5 849
     

    Hello,

    In this kind of situation, I always make the same recommendations, which I have applied to my personal case.

    1) Move user libraries to drive D.
    Follow this tutorial:

    https://www.commentcamarche.net/informatique/windows/25209-changer-l-emplacement-des-bibliotheques-utilisateur-windows/

    2) Install all possible software on D.

    I create 2 folders similar to those on C: Program Files and Program Files (x86). This way, we avoid installing software anywhere.

    The software must be uninstalled from C and reinstalled on D. It’s quite time-consuming and there’s no other way. No copying files!

    Attention! Some software does not allow installation anywhere other than on C; this is the case for Microsoft Office.

    For others, we take control of the installation and just change the drive letter.

    ----------------------

    Once you have done this, you should have gained quite a bit of space.
    There remains the case of AppData folders. You cannot move them.
    From experience, I have seen that it is the Thunderbird folders that take up a lot of space. Try to reduce the number of saved emails.

    What can be well conceived is clearly expressed,
    And the words to say it come easily.
    (Boileau)

    1
    1. pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   30
       

      thank you very much for all the detail

      0
  3. pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   30
     

    For your information, when I double-click on the C drive, I have the following folders:

    android

    inetpub

    perflogs

    program files

    program files x86

    sandbox

    users

    windows

    0
  4. pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   30
     

    Thank you very much. Am I necessarily required to go through external software?

    0
    1. .eric Posted messages 1386 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   87
       

      Hello

      Never mandatory. But we all do it. "Because I don't know where to look" with Windows.

      "TreeSize Free" does not create "virtual presentations" like Windows:

      1
  6. fabul Posted messages 42210 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 074
     

    Hello,

    C:\Sandbox can probably be deleted; it might come from a portable program or be a temporary folder that normally shouldn't be there, unless it comes from a program you know. Investigate the folder's date and the dates of your programs.

    Delete everything in the folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download

    In the search box, type Disk Cleanup and choose > C:

    You will be able to choose to clean up "Previous Windows installations" if there are any

    Set your Internet browser to download to a folder on D:\ rather than in C:\Users\YourName\Downloads

    You can organize elsewhere on D:\ if there is a D:\ drive for what is in the folders of C:\Users\YourName\...

    TreeSize Free (As already mentioned) can help to see what is taking up the most space
    https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free

    Then clean up with:

    Wise Disk Cleaner
    https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/24193-wise-disk-cleaner/

    CCleaner (Portable)
    https://www.ccleaner.com/fr-fr/ccleaner/builds

    ATF-Cleaner
    https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/atf_cleaner.html

    Then right-click on This PC > Properties > System Protection

    Or do a "Search" for systempropertiesprotection.exe

    Select C:\

    Configure > Delete

    Go back > Create

    And re-check with TreeSize Free

    0
  7. pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   30
     

    I downloaded TreeSize Free but now I don't know what to do with all the names that are displayed. I don't know if you will understand the novice that I am, but I thought I could see everything that clutters the C drive and gradually eliminate the different files myself.

    0
    1. fabul Posted messages 42210 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 074
       

      What's under C:\Users\Your Account\ in all the folders, nothing?

      Otherwise, we need relevant screenshots showing the contents of certain folders.

      But first, start by cleaning as per my general cleaning explanation.

      0
  8. pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   30
     

    Cool, well I'm making progress, thank you so much.

    I have found a large part of my files and documents by going to: this PC, C drive, users, user, and downloads.

    What should I do now?

    0
  9. fabul Posted messages 42210 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 074
     

    Move them to another drive

    (But not in AppData or folders, just your data).

    0
  10. pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   30
     

    I agree, but how exactly to do it. There are photos, videos, and documents.

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  11. fabul Posted messages 42210 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 074
     

    Right-click > Copy on point A (file)

    Go to folder B and right-click > Paste

    Or simply Drag the files by selecting them with the left-click held down > drag with the mouse, and send them to the other drive by dragging, organized as you see fit, in folders created by right-clicking > New > Folder...

    Start by creating folders by right-clicking in your drive D:

    Then drag your things there, and only afterwards, delete the originals that are at the source on C:

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  12. pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   30
     

    When you say folder B, are you referring to the data drive D?

    Can’t I just select everything, copy it, and paste it all onto drive D?

    0
    1. fabul Posted messages 42210 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 074
       

      It's better to organize personal data into personal folders,

      It's more work, but it brings more benefits later.

      I never change the location of my system folders to D:

      I keep System (SSD) and data (HDD) well separated, and it works fine.

      The fewer symbolic links to other drives, the better.

      0
  13. pelton Posted messages 402 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   30
     

    Thank you very much. I will try to implement all of this without making a mistake.

    0