Hard Disk Space

[Bob F]

After the basic checks for defragmention, free disk space, and RAM, something
I've found is to get rid of the latest versions of always running software. I've
seen computers significantly slowed down when they get updated for the latest
version of firewall, antivirus, or spyware programs. I run, for instance AVG
8.5, and zonealarm 8, rather than the latest versions. My father's computer was
way slow when I visited once, and I found that Zonealarm had been updated to
version 10 or something. I uninstalled that, and installed 8.0, and it was back
to where it was before. I keep the virus definitions, etc up to date, and so far
have had no problem this way.

 

[Jason]

Yes, that will save some space, but it's typically a small amount.

It's not a matter of saving space. Apparently the presence of a large
number of files in Recycle affects filesystem performance adversely. I
don't know why. I do know I've seen the effects.

 

[Jason]

Defragmentation saves *no* space at all.

That's not the point. A highly fragmented filesystem means way more head
motion. Disk seeks are on a glacial timescale compared to most of what
happens in a PC. I thought the issue was speeding up the OP's parents'
PC.

 

[Ken Blake]

It's not a matter of saving space.

Your reply was to "Any suggestions, to recover HD space, would be
MOST appreciated" (see above). If you meant something other than that,
you should have said so.

Apparently the presence of a large
number of files in Recycle affects filesystem performance adversely. I
don't know why. I do know I've seen the effects.

I've never seen it. If you have a citation on the web that claims it's
true, please post it.

 

[Ken Blake]

That's not the point. A highly fragmented filesystem means way more head
motion. Disk seeks are on a glacial timescale compared to most of what
happens in a PC. I thought the issue was speeding up the OP's parents'
PC.

Once again, his question was "Any suggestions, to recover HD space,
would be MOST appreciated."

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>, Wolf K

If the PC slows down that much, main reason is registry and other junk.

(Not always - though maybe usually; In my limited experience,
now-inadequate RAM is often significant.)

Another factor is start-up demons, you'd be surprised how many programs
install one. Also, some machines have integrated video which
appropriates part of RAM. Can't say for sure, but I think that's more
likely with older motherboards.

Though that of course wouldn't cause a slowdown, it would be there from
the start.
[]

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>, glee <[email protected]>
writes:
[]

It's not prescriptive, it's standard operating procedure. Any computer
more than 3 to 5 years old or older should get a hard drive diagnostic,
with those symptoms. It's standard for any computer before it leaves
my shop, and on an older computer that may have the original hard
drive, drive integrity must be checked first. Your other suggestions
are fine, but not before the drive integrity is checked. The client's
data is always the number one priority.

Not a bad idea, but since it takes so little time to do, I'd always
check the PF usage level against the actual RAM, in Task Manager, if the
complaint was a sudden slowdown. If I found it wasn't the RAM being
overfilled, I'd certainly check the HD; if I found it was the RAM being
overfilled, I'd probably still check the HD, but in the knowledge that
replacing it wouldn't solve the slowdown problem.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>, Ken Blake

Once again, his question was "Any suggestions, to recover HD space,
would be MOST appreciated."

His fuller question was (paraphrasing): "the PC has slowed down, and I
think it's the hard disc being full. Any suggestions ..."

Replies that suggest other reasons why it might have slowed down,
especially if they are from people who think trying to lighten the HD
would be a waste of the OP's time, are IMO not inappropriate.