Running out of space on D drive!

[Hannahb]

Hi! We have hardly any space left on a drive on our computer called "WIN_XP (D:)" but have loads left on drives called "BACKUP (G:)" and "WIN_ME (C:)". Are the three drives designed to be used for specific things, please? I've noticed if we install anything it tends to default to D: drive. I do regularly delete temp internet files and the recycle bin but doesn't make much lasting difference. Has anyone any ideas of where we're going wrong please? Thanks very much!

[Llamatron]

Windows ME and Windows XP?
I think you need to find yourself a computer savvy friend.

[Hannahb]

Oh dear!! It was set up by a computer savvy friend but about 4 years ago.....

[VillageVicar]

Hannah: I hate saying what I'm about to say, but It might appear that you somehow have two operating systems on your computer. I'm a bit surprised to read that everything automatically goes to your 'D' drive. I agree with Llamatron. It might be best that you have someone check your computer. If you are home-based, you might wish to try Computer Angels. They'll come to you.

http://www.computerangels.co.uk/

Alternatively, and this is where I shudder to even mention the name - you 'could' take your computer to a PC world to have them clean it up for you.. I'm not fond of them at all. But it's an option. Or you may have a local techy nerd kid as a neighbour who will regale you with stories about technology...or the kid might just sort it out in twenty seconds, shake his head in amazement and wander back to his house.

I wish you best of luck

Fr Bill

[Ice-Maiden]

Hannahb - All my stuff goes on D drive, and my son sneaks on and uses C drive for downloading games & music, despite having a computer of his own!!! We run on two drives at the moment, but when they get full, they'll be wiped clean apart from any stuff we want to save by way of a memory stick.

[Hannahb]

Now you mention 2 operating systems, he did install Windows Millenium as well (not sure why) and when the computer comes on we have the option to choose that but otherwise it defaults to XP, which is what we always use. Looks like we'll have to get someone to look at it - thanks for your suggestions!

[fo3nix]

When on earth would he put ME on too?

Hannah: it sounds like you have one physical hard drive, split into 3 partitions (so that one drive acts like 3). If so, you should make sure you have no important data in the ME partition, and then remove that partition (and join it back up with XP).

I also note the other partition is called Backup. Do you use this for backing files up? If this is a different hard drive then that's fine, but if it's just another partition on the same drive as XP and ME, then it's not a real backup. A faulty drive would mean you'd lose everything, including your backup files.

To remove partitions etc., you can use a program such as Partition Magic (which will do it dynamically, without you losing data, hopefully). You may want to get someone who knows more about this stuff to help you out though.

If you do decide to go removing partitions etc., make sure you backup all your important data, onto either another hard drive, or CD or DVD.