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'Windows' folder taking up all storage in Local Disk (C:)

Anonymous
2020-06-13T11:28:42+00:00

I posted this question yesterday, however I have a few new problems now.

My local Disk (C:) has about 27GB of space, It only has 1.5GB free after deleting almost everything from my laptop.

I noticed that the thing taking up so much space (over 20GB) is a folder labeled 'Windows', it has thousands of files. I can't delete any files from this folder to have some storage space. 

I wanted to make a fresh start on my laptop because it seemed pretty messed up so I tried to do a factory reset, but there isn't even enough disk space to do this, as I need at least 5GB more space to be able to reset this laptop with its default settings and a new Windows 10 that isn't taking up all my storage. There are no other files on this laptop apart from the ones that I can't delete.

The reason I needed to clear my disk space in the first place was to be able to run an app that can fix problems I have on my phone, so nothing is really working out at the moment.

I also need this laptop to be able to do my online classes, and because there is such low storage i usually get cut off a few times in each class and have to join back in the call.

Recently I've found a new problem when trying to open Windows Edge, it stays open for a few seconds and then crashes/closes. Also, when my teacher sent me a PDF file yesterday it didn't let me open it, there was a very brief blank screen and then it disappears. I have a feeling I probably deleted an important file that allowed me to use microsoft edge or internet explorer.

Also, a problem I've had for a while is that when the laptop tells me it wants to do an update, it goes through with the update fine, taking a while to load to 100%, and just before it finishes it says something along the lines of 'We couldn't complete the updates, undoing changes.'

I've tried all of the solutions on YouTube for the storage problem, I tried the disk clean up, clearing up the softwareDistrubution file, the %temp% file, prefetch, clearing the rubbish bin, all of my documents (aka my school work and some photos) have been moved to an external hard drive, so there really isn't anything on here except for that huge Windows file that can't be removed.

These are a few different problems, maybe I should ask them in separate posts, however I think they might all be related.

Hopefully somebody knows why the file is taking up so much space and how I can get rid of it! I've had these storage problems for over a year and I've spend the last two days consistently trying to fix this so it would be nice to have a working laptop again :/

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2020-06-13T11:56:07+00:00

Hi Elizabeth, my name is Neil, I'm an independent adviser and a Windows 10 user like you.

I'm sorry you're having these issues.

You're instincts are correct though! They are all related.

Basically your hard drive is simply too small. To run Windows 10 64 bit you need a bare minimum of 20GB of space free. This has now gone up since the May update to 32GB!

The Windows folder you refer to is the operating system files that run Windows when your computer is on. Deleting any of these files will result in corruption and your computer will be broken and unable to work. My own Windows files come to 23.2 GB.

Even though you have a 27GB of hard drive space, you then have to consider updates, other programs you are using taking up space, updates to those programs, your files, photos, documents, etc...

Basically everything you do on your computer will add things to the storage space...even browsing the web.

You state you only have 1.5Gb of free space available. I'm amazed you haven't run into more problems than you have.

Obviously updates may try and download, but there simply isn't enough room to unpack them and install them and that's why they are failing.

The only real solution to this problem is to get a new, bigger hard drive. They are quite inexpensive for say a 500GB one. Here is a link to one on Amazon as an example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-MQ01ABD050-500...

The only caveat with this is that you will need to install Windows 10 on it after changing out your laptop drive.

However, your copy of Windows 10 should be linked to your Microsoft Account and therefore you can download a free copy of Windows 10 from here (download the file to a USB memory stick): https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-downlo...

And then install it on your new hard drive. When it comes to activation, just choose to activate later and then sign in. As soon as you sign in to your account, your copy of Windows 10 will be authenticated and activated automatically.

Let me know if you need more help.

**NOTE**

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-06-13T12:29:51+00:00

    Also, the link that you sent from Amazon is a Toshiba hard drive. Will that work with a HP laptop?

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-06-13T12:04:30+00:00

    Thank you so much!! I've been trying to find so many solutions on clearing my storage space and I never considered getting a bigger drive.

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