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View Full Version : Studying/freeing Space Usage


Sylvander
10-06-2008, 07:10 AM
Normally I use the FREE WinDirStat (http://windirstat.info/) for this task...
Decided to study some of the tools included on the UBCD4Win bootable BArtPE-type CD (http://www.ubcd4win.com/contents.htm).
Came to Space Monger (http://www.sixty-five.cc/sm/).
[FREE version 1.4.0.1 is included in the UBCD4Win fileset, is portable so can be run from the fileset no matter where located] :cool:

Ran version 1.4.0.1 within Windows.
It looked really primitive, but nevertheless displayed the contents of a partition [C:] rather well.
Noticed a LARGE block of files within C:\WINNT\Internet Logs taking up LOTS of space.
Mostly TMP files, but whatever, they could have been anything...
The valuable thing this program did was to make me aware that these files existed and were using lots of space.
So [using Windows Explorer] I chose all that were made yesterday or before and sent them to the recycle bin.
No nasty consequences seen so far.

Decided to get a FREE more up-to-date version.
Got the nagware version 2.1.2-pre3 here at the "Betas" tab (http://www.sixty-five.cc/download/), installed it and have it running right now.
VERY FLEXIBLE.
It can be installed into Windows...
Or NOT, by sending the portable version to any [internal or external] location you like.
There are 2 shells can be chosen at installation...
Tried the gray one and didn't like it; tried the XP version and liked that better.

WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS PROG...
Is the way it displays the usage of space (http://www.sixty-five.cc/sm/img/scrnshot1.gif).
You click on a partition [C: say]...
It shows the proportion of free space.
The relative proportions being used by particular folders and their sub-folders.
Doesn't take too much studying to get a feel for what is using how much.

EASY TO DISPLAY IN DIFFERENT WAYS
Just click one of the many icons down the left-hand side to change to yet another display mode.
e.g. Click the ZOOM+ icon to magnify/zoom-in to look at the detail, with the name of every folder/file displayed.
I started "Eraser", erasing the contents of the Recycle Bin, and watched as Space Monger DYNAMICALLY displayed the changing state of the relative folder/file space usage.

NICE ONE! :D :cool:

Just noticed I have a lot of space being used by Sent Items.dbx in one of my OE email identities. :)
Deleted all prior to this year, and watched as they dynamically transferred to Deleted Items.dbx.
Close OE and expected to see the Deleted Items reduce to zero, but it hasn't happened even though when I reopen OE the folder is empty.
AHA...
Had to go into the identity and Compact All Folders...
Then I saw Space Monger re-arrange the relative occupation of space.
AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MADE!
The space occupied by the folders for that identity was greatly reduced, and the Free Space on the partition increased significantly.

Sylvander
10-06-2008, 07:56 AM
Discovered another suspiciously large file in my Firefox profile = urlclassifier3.sqlite

Found this thread regarding the file = urlclassifier3.sqlite and excessive I/O and CPU (http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=3381133#3381133).

mjc
10-06-2008, 11:58 AM
That's one of the new features of FF3...did you see that it is supposed to get up to 30MB? It's a 'local' copy of Goolge's malicious site list...

Sylvander
10-06-2008, 01:09 PM
"did you see that it is supposed to get up to 30MB?"
Yes...
Except my PC's copy is 55,975,936 bytes.

So Space Monger is promoting the increase of knowledge. :D

Are the contents of this file human-readable?

Sylvander
10-06-2008, 06:59 PM
Just installed the FREE McAfee Site Advisor got HERE (http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/ff.html).
I'm led to believe this is even better.

Will this double up on the database files or use the same file?

Ajmukon
10-06-2008, 08:02 PM
uses a downloaded thing from an online source.

it takes a few minutes for thing to load though, it has got to ask its server "
is this site legit?"

if it isn't, it redirects me to the Mcafee Site advisor site with information on why you were redirected

Sylvander
10-06-2008, 08:18 PM
I notice also that in Google searches it puts color-coded ticks [mostly green] at the right-hand side of each result.

Seems pretty good. :)