Invisible 5GB's Space used

E

Emmaxxx

1
Hi :)

I'm using XP Home and very puzzled to why 5GB's are taken up in the directory below. Yet there is nothing there?
Is it something to do with System Restore? If so, could this be reduced?
I have another PC on XP Home and nothing like this shows up...very strange!

C:\Documents and Settings\Emma\Local Settings\History

Thanx
Emma
 
S

scarecrow

1
These ought to be Internet Explorer cached files, not System Restore ones. I think you can delete them safely (in fact: their own existence is a security compromise, native to Internet Sexploiter).
 
stimpleton

stimpleton

1
Go to
Start
Programs
Accessoties
System Tools
Disc Cleanup
this will prompt for hard drive to cleanup unwanted files and show where all the rubbish is kept, just click on OK and you should get your space back
 
A

adrian5800

New member
also if you are using norton antivirus 2004 empty the norton protected recycle bin.. that will release disc space

ade
 
E

Emmaxxx

1
:)

Already tried that guys. In my folder options I have 'show hidden files and folders' checked & 'hide protected operating system files' unchecked.
But yet when I open the History folder, nothing is there.....Invisible!

Internet cache shouldn't show there anyway, I moved the location to another partition, as with my documents to keep my 'C' drive defragmented as possible.
My 'C' drive is 15.6 GB in total size. Windows takes up 1.67gb, Program Files take up 1.38 GB and C:\Documents and Settings\Emma\Local Settings\History
Takes up 5.65GB. I have 5.59gb free space.

Could it be a hidden backup of Windows XP and Prog Files for restoring purposes (hence the recovery CD) that the factory have set??

MXXX
 
S

scarecrow

1
Restoration files if on harddisk are NEVER stored in the primary+active partition
(else restoration would not be possible), so no, this isn't the case. Should be something NortonCrap related, I guess- system restore files are not put in there.
 
VIPER_1069

VIPER_1069

1
MY DOCUMENTS Folder is not changed when XP restore is used ...

System Restore does not monitor the following files and folders:

1. Any files of any type stored in the following personal data folders: My Documents, Favorites, Cookies, Recycle Bin, Temporary Internet Files, History, and Temp.

2. Image and graphics files, including bitmap and JPEG files, and files that use extensions commonly associated with data files, such as .doc, .xls, .mdb, and .pdf.

3. E-mail files managed by Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express
Click to expand...
so anything in any of these locations will remain AS IS :)

@Emmaxxx check all the above mentioned locations and see how much each has taken up in hard disk space and maby have a clear out of none essential things :D

Maby also try reducing the size of your recycle bin by right clicking it and choosing properties and changing the % used for GLOBAL settings :)

also maby reduce the size for your internet cache and the size of the restore file space used :)
 
E

Emmaxxx

1
Hi Thanx for getting back to me :)

Recycle bin now reduced from 10% to 2%, this is empty.

My Documents-Not on C Drive, moved to another HD
Favorites=10.3kb
Cookies3x80kb Dat files
Temporary Internet Files-moved to another HD
Temp=17.6MB
History=C:\Documents and Settings\Emma\Local Settings(hidden folder)\History=5.56GB. Only 'Today' is visible. Yet Properties say there are 8 Files and 6 Folders. These are not visible even with 'show hidden files and folders' checked & 'hide protected operating system files' unchecked.

This unexplainable 5.56GB as been like this a while, before installing Norton AV.

Could Partition Magic have screwed up here? I have 2 partitions:
C = 16,002MB & F=79,391.5MB (used for video editing)
I have a second HD G & H where My Documents and Internet Cache are etc.

Thanx for your patience
Emma
XXX
 
stimpleton

stimpleton

1
I once had a problem with a hard drive running out of space when there was next to nothing stored on it, i ran scandisk and this released all of my space back. give it a go it cant hurt. You also mentioned video editing, re you using pinnacle studio 8, if so on the file drop down select Delete auxillary files, this will release lots of HD space as pinnacle seems to make a backup of nearly everything you do here.
 
J

jonss

Member
I was just in another forum where a member was attempting to install XP on his computer and had a similar problem. As his computer was shipped with an OEM version of XP, the general consensus was that this section of the HDD was for access by the supplier. Product support, what have you. I could be wrong but it sound very similar.
 
E

Emmaxxx

1
Hello again :)

Ran scandisk 3 times last night
As for Pinnacle, yes I have it but I've never used it and the 'Delete auxillary files' is greyed out anyway.

The PC that I have is from 'Evesham' (UK) and all that I can tell you is that I was only supplied with a recovery disc. It would seem odd though that this location (C:\Documents and Settings\Emma\Local Settings\History) of the HDD is for access by the supplier,very unlikely as scarecrow pointed out. And 5.56GB is an hell of a lot of backup storage, to say it was shipped with minimal software and no games. ???
I may have to call them to clarify this, but at a £1 a minutue to their support line, I'll try whatever you through at me first :).

Now, hidden folders in IE History. Well, when I right click on this and select properties it does say there are 6 folders and I think that was confirmed by the 'attrib' command
It showed 6 entries C:\Documents and Settings\Emma\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist[whole batch of numbers]\index.dat
But however, it was on day 1 that I received my PC, that I moved the IE Cache to another location to my other HDD, so really there shouldn't be any cache there.

It's all very baffling to say the least.

M
XXX
 
Last edited:
stimpleton

stimpleton

1
I may be stupid?
if you cant access the files why dont you just delete them (after making a backup ) and see if this releases your space
 
VIPER_1069

VIPER_1069

1
Deleting the Index.dat file isnt as easy as it sounds windows will tell you that the file is in use or not able to delete :(

So use a washer program such as WEBWASHER to clear the INDEX.DAT or wash its contents :)
 
VIPER_1069

VIPER_1069

1
whoooopppppppps .......ermmmm sorry Emmaxxx i reallly ummmmm ment to say WEB ROOTS WINDOW WASHER :)

er sorry about that ;)

when you install it it is already pre set to bleach the INDEX.DAT file when the system restarts :) this should flush the cache on the INDEX.DAT file and hopefully make it a little smaller ?!
 
E

Emmaxxx

1
Well, nice prog....and WebWasher :D But still the 5.56 GB remains :(

C:\Documents and Settings\Emma\Local Settings\History\5.56GB

If I right click on the History Folder there are no options to shred. But if I right click on the Local Settings Folder it then gives me the option to shred, but with a warning. Is It safe to shred the contents of this folder?
Application Data, History, Temp,Temporary Internet files& Desktop.ini

M
 
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