Disk Cleanup Automatically Deleted Something???

[Fred Mann]

Hello,
My disk was almost full -- 200mb remaining or so, and disk cleanup popped up
after I got a "disk space low" warning. This has happened to me several
times and I usually just delete some stuff in my recycle bin. But the last
time I got the low disk space message, I clicked "NO" when disk cleanup
offered to clear up some space (I was downloading a radio show). Next thing
I know, I have 1.25G of freee space. So it looks like something was deleted
without my approval. My recycle bin still has over 1G of deleted stuff that
I'm on the fence about keeping, and it doesn't look like much is missing
from there (I could be wrong). But I was wondering ... is there some
standard procedure that windows me employs to free up space under these
circumstances?

 

[Mike M]

Check with System Restore is still enabled. If free space drops too low
system restore will automatically disable itself and thus free up much of
the space it is using for its archive.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Hello,
> My disk was almost full -- 200mb remaining or so, and disk cleanup
> popped up after I got a "disk space low" warning. This has happened
> to me several times and I usually just delete some stuff in my
> recycle bin. But the last time I got the low disk space message, I
> clicked "NO" when disk cleanup offered to clear up some space (I was
> downloading a radio show). Next thing I know, I have 1.25G of freee
> space. So it looks like something was deleted without my approval. My
> recycle bin still has over 1G of deleted stuff that I'm on the fence
> about keeping, and it doesn't look like much is missing from there (I
> could be wrong). But I was wondering ... is there some standard
> procedure that windows me employs to free up space under these
> circumstances?

 

[Fred Mann]

Thanks Mike!!
It looks like it's still enabled- the disable box is unchecked. But the disk
space reserved for SR is set to 1117MB (1.1G).
Is this the default level? Maybe it just lowered the amount of space
available? If so, what is the correct setting for SR?
Fred



"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:Ok%23Vf0M0IHA.5944@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Check with System Restore is still enabled. If free space drops too low
> system restore will automatically disable itself and thus free up much of
> the space it is using for its archive.
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
> Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> > My disk was almost full -- 200mb remaining or so, and disk cleanup
> > popped up after I got a "disk space low" warning. This has happened
> > to me several times and I usually just delete some stuff in my
> > recycle bin. But the last time I got the low disk space message, I
> > clicked "NO" when disk cleanup offered to clear up some space (I was
> > downloading a radio show). Next thing I know, I have 1.25G of freee
> > space. So it looks like something was deleted without my approval. My
> > recycle bin still has over 1G of deleted stuff that I'm on the fence
> > about keeping, and it doesn't look like much is missing from there (I
> > could be wrong). But I was wondering ... is there some standard
> > procedure that windows me employs to free up space under these
> > circumstances?
>

 

[Mike M]

Fred,

On a new clean system system restore defaults to its maximum setting which
is 12% of the size of the C: partition. Personally I've felt this to be
excessive where a user has just a single partition and feel that a more
realistic maximum is around the 1GB mark although on a system where little
change is occurring a figure of 400MB can be adequate. If less than 12%
is available SR reduces the space allocated to fit what is available. If
free space drops below around 250GB or so then SR will disable itself or,
if already using space discard older checkpoints so as to drop below 70%
of the space it has been allocated. This latter action is normal with SR
keeping the size of its archive within the limits it has been set.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Thanks Mike!!
> It looks like it's still enabled- the disable box is unchecked. But
> the disk space reserved for SR is set to 1117MB (1.1G).
> Is this the default level? Maybe it just lowered the amount of space
> available? If so, what is the correct setting for SR?

 

[Fred Mann]

Thanks again Mike!!
Interesting. So I guess it just adjusted downward without telling me? That's
pretty rude. Well, I'm going to leave it where it is.
Still, it was pretty alarming.
Fred



"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:%23yjVjXR0IHA.704@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Fred,
>
> On a new clean system system restore defaults to its maximum setting which
> is 12% of the size of the C: partition. Personally I've felt this to be
> excessive where a user has just a single partition and feel that a more
> realistic maximum is around the 1GB mark although on a system where little
> change is occurring a figure of 400MB can be adequate. If less than 12%
> is available SR reduces the space allocated to fit what is available. If
> free space drops below around 250GB or so then SR will disable itself or,
> if already using space discard older checkpoints so as to drop below 70%
> of the space it has been allocated. This latter action is normal with SR
> keeping the size of its archive within the limits it has been set.
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
> Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > Thanks Mike!!
> > It looks like it's still enabled- the disable box is unchecked. But
> > the disk space reserved for SR is set to 1117MB (1.1G).
> > Is this the default level? Maybe it just lowered the amount of space
> > available? If so, what is the correct setting for SR?
>

 

[Mike M]

Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Thanks again Mike!!
> Interesting. So I guess it just adjusted downward without telling me?

No. Not at all, you've aready stated it is set at 1.17GB and I don't
think that system restore played much part in what you saw. As for system
restore telling you each time it discards files on its First In First Out
basis, that's a first and certainly something that I would never expect or
want to see it doing.

> That's pretty rude. Well, I'm going to leave it where it is.
> Still, it was pretty alarming.

All I can suggest is that you don't run your system down to the last few
MB of free hard disk storage as this can cause the system to do some
unusual things but hey, that's where we started. If what you saw was down
to system restore then why worry? It didn't shut down the system or cause
the loss of any useful files whilst still leaving you with loads of system
restore checkpoints many of which are probably too old to be of any real
use. On a mature Win Me system running here where few software changes
are now made I tend to average over a dozen checkpoints with 400MB
allocated to the archive.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

[Fred Mann]

Thanks Mike. I must have misunderstood you somehow. So you don't think the
sudden gain in disk space was due to discarding of old system restore
checkpoints?
Either way, I'll be freeing up some extra space from now on.
Fred


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:OXwwrTU0IHA.2384@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > Thanks again Mike!!
> > Interesting. So I guess it just adjusted downward without telling me?
>
> No. Not at all, you've aready stated it is set at 1.17GB and I don't
> think that system restore played much part in what you saw. As for system
> restore telling you each time it discards files on its First In First Out
> basis, that's a first and certainly something that I would never expect or
> want to see it doing.
>
> > That's pretty rude. Well, I'm going to leave it where it is.
> > Still, it was pretty alarming.
>
> All I can suggest is that you don't run your system down to the last few
> MB of free hard disk storage as this can cause the system to do some
> unusual things but hey, that's where we started. If what you saw was down
> to system restore then why worry? It didn't shut down the system or cause
> the loss of any useful files whilst still leaving you with loads of system
> restore checkpoints many of which are probably too old to be of any real
> use. On a mature Win Me system running here where few software changes
> are now made I tend to average over a dozen checkpoints with 400MB
> allocated to the archive.
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
>

 

[Mike M]

Fred,

I really "dunno". What might have happened is that the state manager (the
process that runs system restore) kicked in and started analysing the
contents of the C:\_RESTORE\TEMP folder and found that much of its content
could be discarded and only a few of the files needed to be archived to
FS*.CAB files and transferred to the C:\_RESTORE\ARCHIVE folder.. You
mentioned that SR is allocated 1.1GB. Out of curiosity a) How much space
is currently used by the folder C:\_RESTORE\ARCHIVE and the folder
C:\_RESTORE\TEMP (both hidden folders)? and, b) How many check points are
visible in SR and how old is the oldest available checkpoint?
--
Mike


Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Thanks Mike. I must have misunderstood you somehow. So you don't
> think the sudden gain in disk space was due to discarding of old
> system restore checkpoints?
> Either way, I'll be freeing up some extra space from now on.

 

[Fred Mann]

Hi Mike,
I hope you're still there.
Anyway, to answer your questions...
The archive folder is only taking up 168 MB. "Temp" has two different sizes
listed -- size 8.2 kb and "size on disk" 96 kb.
The oldest checkpoint is now Jun 13.
Thanks again for all of your help. Much appreciated!!!!!
Fred


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:eObZnvZ0IHA.4572@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Fred,
>
> I really "dunno". What might have happened is that the state manager (the
> process that runs system restore) kicked in and started analysing the
> contents of the C:\_RESTORE\TEMP folder and found that much of its content
> could be discarded and only a few of the files needed to be archived to
> FS*.CAB files and transferred to the C:\_RESTORE\ARCHIVE folder.. You
> mentioned that SR is allocated 1.1GB. Out of curiosity a) How much space
> is currently used by the folder C:\_RESTORE\ARCHIVE and the folder
> C:\_RESTORE\TEMP (both hidden folders)? and, b) How many check points are
> visible in SR and how old is the oldest available checkpoint?
> --
> Mike
>
>
> Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > Thanks Mike. I must have misunderstood you somehow. So you don't
> > think the sudden gain in disk space was due to discarding of old
> > system restore checkpoints?
> > Either way, I'll be freeing up some extra space from now on.
>

 

[Mike M]

Thanks for posting Frank.

168MB sounds reasonable for checkpoints going back to June 13. I'm a
little surprised at the small size of C:\_RESTORE\TEMP which suggests to
me that the state manager has recently done a tidy up operation, archiving
files required for checkpoints to FS*.CAB files and moving them to the
C:\_RESTORE\ARCHIVE folder and discarded the remainder.

In my view it's always worth keeping an occasional eye on the size of the
C:\_RESTORE folder as this can give an early warning of potential problems
with system restore.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com


Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Hi Mike,
> I hope you're still there.
> Anyway, to answer your questions...
> The archive folder is only taking up 168 MB. "Temp" has two different
> sizes listed -- size 8.2 kb and "size on disk" 96 kb.
> The oldest checkpoint is now Jun 13.
> Thanks again for all of your help. Much appreciated!!!!!

 

[Fred Mann]

How big should the "temp" file be?
I've only used system restore once, so I'm not too worried. Livin' on the
edge.
Thanks!!!!


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:eeyb07e1IHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Thanks for posting Frank.
>
> 168MB sounds reasonable for checkpoints going back to June 13. I'm a
> little surprised at the small size of C:\_RESTORE\TEMP which suggests to
> me that the state manager has recently done a tidy up operation, archiving
> files required for checkpoints to FS*.CAB files and moving them to the
> C:\_RESTORE\ARCHIVE folder and discarded the remainder.
>
> In my view it's always worth keeping an occasional eye on the size of the
> C:\_RESTORE folder as this can give an early warning of potential problems
> with system restore.
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
> Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > Hi Mike,
> > I hope you're still there.
> > Anyway, to answer your questions...
> > The archive folder is only taking up 168 MB. "Temp" has two different
> > sizes listed -- size 8.2 kb and "size on disk" 96 kb.
> > The oldest checkpoint is now Jun 13.
> > Thanks again for all of your help. Much appreciated!!!!!
>

 

[Mike M]

Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> How big should the "temp" file be?

How long's a piece of string? Files copies are placed in the
C:\_RESTORE\TEMP folder each a system restore monitored file is either
amended or deleted. How often this happens depends upon the activity of
the system. A stable system where nothing is added or removed will see
less activity than one where the user makes frequent changes or additions.
On my check system a 1,332KB file is placed in the TEMP folder each time
the system is booted. This file is ISafeEngine.dll which forms part of
the Computer Associates AV application that is installed on that system.
Why? I don't know since the file doesn't change and the CRC check remains
unaltered.

> I've only used system restore once, so I'm not too worried. Livin' on
> the edge.
--
Mike Maltby
mike.maltby@gmail.com

 

[Fred Mann]

Thanks again Mike.
I'm learning. I shold have Windows ME figured out by 2020.
Fred


"Mike M" <No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only> wrote in message
news:O9yGLxl1IHA.4040@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Fred Mann <famnn@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> > How big should the "temp" file be?
>
> How long's a piece of string? Files copies are placed in the
> C:\_RESTORE\TEMP folder each a system restore monitored file is either
> amended or deleted. How often this happens depends upon the activity of
> the system. A stable system where nothing is added or removed will see
> less activity than one where the user makes frequent changes or additions.
> On my check system a 1,332KB file is placed in the TEMP folder each time
> the system is booted. This file is ISafeEngine.dll which forms part of
> the Computer Associates AV application that is installed on that system.
> Why? I don't know since the file doesn't change and the CRC check remains
> unaltered.
>
> > I've only used system restore once, so I'm not too worried. Livin' on
> > the edge.
> --
> Mike Maltby
> mike.maltby@gmail.com
>
>
>
>