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Dissapearing Hard Drive Space & can't stop it!

4 min read

This thread's last reply is from December 2, 2009, 5:50 AM UTC. Software, malware, and removal-tool advice below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.

I really need to fix this before my system crashes. About a year ago, I was given a hard drive that was around 6-7GB and after installing Windows XP and stuff, I was left with about 1 GB. So if a substantial ammount of Hard Drive Space goes missing, it substantially affects the performance of my computer. Where is it all going?

Key Notes:

*Originally when I went to Control Panel > System > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced >

and went to go adjust my RAM the first time this happened, it said I had about 1.5GB Available space for the paging file. Now it's telling me I only have 722. I've tried reducing the paging file size, going from 300 to 100 and from 100 to 50 (commanding the paging file to take what it needs from E)


*I have checked for temporary internet files and ran CCleaner and no substantial changes either....


and on to the log:


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 1:53:52 PM, on 11/25/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\sched.exe
E:\Program Files\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avguard.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
E:\Program Files\PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Pen_Tablet.exe
E:\Program Files\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avgnt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe
C:\Program Files\SMC\SMCWUSB-G 802.11g Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter\SMCWGUTI.exe
E:\RtlWake.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WTablet\Pen_TabletUser.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Pen_Tablet.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\devldr32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\taskmgr.exe
E:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - E:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "E:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] E:\Program Files\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe -expressboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avgnt] "C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avgnt.exe" /min
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: SMCWUSB-G 802.11g Wireless USB Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\SMC\SMCWUSB-G 802.11g Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter\SMCWGUTI.exe
O4 - Global Startup: WG111v2 Smart Wizard Wireless Setting.lnk = E:\RtlWake.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - E:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search && Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - E:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1213804781123
O23 - Service: Adobe Active File Monitor (AdobeActiveFileMonitor) - Unknown owner - E:\Program Files\PhotoshopElementsFileAgent.exe
O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Scheduler (AntiVirSchedulerService) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\sched.exe
O23 - Service: Avira AntiVir Guard (AntiVirService) - Avira GmbH - C:\Program Files\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avguard.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Acresso Software Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE
O23 - Service: Photoshop Elements Device Connect (PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect) - Unknown owner - E:\Program Files\PhotoshopElementsDeviceConnect.exe
O23 - Service: ProtexisLicensing - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSIService.exe
O23 - Service: TabletServicePen - Wacom Technology, Corp. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Pen_Tablet.exe
O23 - Service: Viewpoint Manager Service - Viewpoint Corporation - C:\Program Files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe

--
End of file - 6208 bytes
Hi Meeks,
Basically, you can't run WinXP SP3 from a drive that small without great determination and much tolerance.
The only suggestion I can offer is this:
Use Windows Explorer (My Computer), and navigate to the C:\Windows\ folder.
Click on View, Details.
If Your Windows is running OK,
Look at every folder labeled $NTUninstallKBxxxxxx$ and look at the date. Delete the folder if it's older than the last couple months. (xxxxxx stands for a set of numbers)
That means you will not be able to Uninstall any update you delete. Compared to your present issue, that is a small sacrifice.
If you have any photos on the machine (like .jpg files), burn them to a CD and then delete them.
-----------------------------------------------------------
REBOOT your machine.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Download ATF Cleaner by Atribune from here : http://www.atribune.org/ccount/click.php?id=1
It is a stand-alone program that does not need to be "installed". Save it to a convenient location and make a shortcut on your desktop.

Then RUN THIS EVERY DAY:
Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe or your shortcut to run the program.
Under Main, choose Select All
Click Empty Selected

If you use Firefox,
Click Firefox in the top bar, and choose Select All
Click on Empty Selected
NOTE: If you would like to keep any saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

If you use Opera,
Click Opera in the top bar, and choose Select All
Click on Empty Selected
NOTE: If you would like to keep any saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.

When it tells you how much has been removed, click Exit from the Main window.

Good Luck,
askey127
As this issue appears to have been addressed and a method proposed to mitigate the problem as much as possible under the circumstances, this topic is now closed.

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