Vista grows! How can I slow it down?

[Navid]

I see a folder at Windows/SoftwareDistribution/Download that is sized 413MB!

Can I delete the contents without screwing up windows updates?

Is there any other folder I can empty?

 

[Skeeedunt]

Deleting the SoftwareDistribution folder in XP was safe and would fix some Windows Update problems, I assume it's the same in Vista... Windows might just download it all again though, I never really checked.

Are you really running low on space, or just compulsively deleting stuff off your hard drive? 😉

 

[Navid]

If the OS (excluding the programs folder/partition) is going to grow by 0.5GB per month, I would like to know why!
No, I am not running low on space.

 

[Cogman]

It is becoming smarter, wiser. soon it will know enough to navigate your home, then it will start with the small things like flushing your toilet for you, turning on you shower, and ringing your doorbell every so often. Then it will attack, when you least expect it, the shower that always started up for you will all the sudden be freezing cold and you will hear the "Peanut butter Jelly song" Echo from your computer room....


That, or it just likes storing old app and update info incase of corruption, take your pick 😀

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: Navid
No, I am not running low on space.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Vista has a number of features that will consume memory and hard drive space to make things efficient, make things redundant, etc. These features will also free up those optional resources if they become depleted.

Expect drive space to drop as shadow copies, backups and whatnot are created. Just keep saving your files and doing your thing as normal. Vista should be freeing up that space and "getting out of your way" as you use the drive for your own data.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Smilin

Originally posted by: Navid
No, I am not running low on space.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Vista has a number of features that will consume memory and hard drive space to make things efficient, make things redundant, etc. These features will also free up those optional resources if they become depleted.

Expect drive space to drop as shadow copies, backups and whatnot are created. Just keep saving your files and doing your thing as normal. Vista should be freeing up that space and "getting out of your way" as you use the drive for your own data.

I don't save any files on my C drive.
The only one who stores files on my C drive is you Smilin! 😀

All my programs are installed on another partition. I have Windows Restore disabled. I have moved all the "My Documents" folders to another partition.
My emails are on another partition.
I know you do not approve of any of that!
But, will you tell me why my C drive is still growing?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Navid

Originally posted by: Smilin

Originally posted by: Navid
No, I am not running low on space.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Vista has a number of features that will consume memory and hard drive space to make things efficient, make things redundant, etc. These features will also free up those optional resources if they become depleted.

Expect drive space to drop as shadow copies, backups and whatnot are created. Just keep saving your files and doing your thing as normal. Vista should be freeing up that space and "getting out of your way" as you use the drive for your own data.

I don't save any files on C.
The only one who stores files on my C is you Smilin! 😀

All my programs are installed on another partition. I have Windows Restore disabled. I have moved all the "My Documents" folders to another partition.
My emails are on another partition.
I know you do not approve of any of that!
But, will you tell me why my C drive is still growing?

temp files for windows installer, windows update, microsoft office, yada yada...it'll clear itslef out when space gets low.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: Navid

Originally posted by: Smilin

Originally posted by: Navid
No, I am not running low on space.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Vista has a number of features that will consume memory and hard drive space to make things efficient, make things redundant, etc. These features will also free up those optional resources if they become depleted.

Expect drive space to drop as shadow copies, backups and whatnot are created. Just keep saving your files and doing your thing as normal. Vista should be freeing up that space and "getting out of your way" as you use the drive for your own data.

I don't save any files on my C drive.
The only one who stores files on my C drive is you Smilin! 😀

All my programs are installed on another partition. I have Windows Restore disabled. I have moved all the "My Documents" folders to another partition.
My emails are on another partition.
I know you do not approve of any of that!
But, will you tell me why my C drive is still growing?

Since we're getting all personal and all, yeah sure. Bring your computer over to my house and I'll tell you what's up with it. 🙂

Otherwise I'll have to leave you with my earlier advice...ain't broke, don't fix it.

This advice applies double since you've turned off System Restore. You don't want to go letting the smoke out while in that state.

 

[Navid]

OK thanks everyone for the suggestions.

One more question:
On XP, after I used Windows update and installed all the updates, I would delete all the compressed (blue) folders under Windows that were added by the update process.

I thought I needed them only if I ever needed to uninstall one of the updates. I don't! If anything goes wrong, I just restore an image.

Can I do the same with Vista? Where are the update folders/files for Vista? Can I delete them if i don't ever need to uninstall any?

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: Navid
OK thanks everyone for the suggestions.

One more question:
On XP, after I used Windows update and installed all the updates, I would delete all the compressed (blue) folders under Windows that were added by the update process.

I thought I needed them only if I ever needed to uninstall one of the updates. I don't! If anything goes wrong, I just restore an image.

Can I do the same with Vista? Where are the update folders/files for Vista? Can I delete them if i don't ever need to uninstall any?

You are become obsessed with something that doesn't need to be obsessed over. Although Vista does use more space on a modern computer it really isn't a concern and Vista is definitely capable of "house cleaning" if necessary.

Besides, with the cost of hard drives now it might be more expensive in the long run to have to reimage, update all software and restore your files than just leave the backup files on the system.

If you must do something run Disk Cleanup every once in a while. 🙂