What is taking up hard drive space!?

I just bought a new laptop thinking 200GB would be enough, I knew that I wouldn't actually get 200GB, turns out I only get 170GB but I barely have anything on this laptop and it is already down to 98GB... I uninstalled bloatware and stuff and the only think I have that really takes up space is WoW and that only takes 5GB... What is going on here!

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=287134

It's down to hard drive manufacturers lying about disk sizes - they class 1Gb as 1 billion bytes as opposed to 1024*1024*1024 bytes (1,073,741,824)

Gigabyte (GB) = 1,024 Megabytes or 1,073,741,824 Bytes

200,000,000,000 / 1,073,741,824 = 186

 

Read this guide written by orev.

That might help you find your missing space.

 

theres also 15.7gb of recovery space.

 

check the slimming guide in my sig. if you want to reduce the size of the 'windows' directory, by several GBs.

 

I just noticed when I was typing on this forum a blue looking tiny square tried to wipe it with a glasses cleaner but it didn't move, changed my background black and there it was bottom middle part of the screen this greenish square, how did this happen it is only 7 days old...

 

Try this to see if it unsticks it ... I have heard that it works pretty good.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/stucksweep

 

Yeah, I heard that pixels that are indeed DEAD appear to be white and stuck ones are a specific color but sometimes different tests can get them unstuck.

 

Here lies

Pix El
R.I.P.

 

Stuck/dead pixels are common for LCD screens. If you just have one I wouldn't be very worried. Just do what Ttime20 suggested to see if you can get it unstuck.
Tim

 

Where did you buy the Gateway? If it was from Best Buy and it really bothers you, they'll exchange it for a new one with no hassle since you're in the 14 day window.

 

Well for a few days now I've been complaining about how my ATI Mobility Radeon 2600 HD wasn't performing well. I was told to overclock it and I'm a complete idiot when it comes to the really technical stuff but I just figured it out how to overclock a little. I downloaded the AMD GPU Tool and put my ENGINE to 594.00 and the MEMORY to 693. My previous 3DMark06 score was 3,602 but after my little encounter with overclocking it now is scored at 4,050.

I have SpeedFan and the temps rose to around 70-73C is that ok?

Should I push it some more?

 

Try opening a graphic-intensive game that would be good to play windowed and use FRAPS to find out the frame rates you're getting. Start clocking one of the clocks 10MHz higher, then play the game for thirty seconds and clock the other 10MHz higher, and repeat (don't clock them both higher at the same time so you can figure out which one is causing problems) Keep doing that until you experience any problems, once you think you've gotten a little high above clock speeds, start clocking it by 5MHz each time.

Your temperatures should be fine until they reach 85C.

 

those temps idle or at load?

if those are at idle, then you need to monitor them to see where they get up to during full load.

if those are temps at max load, then you can push them further.

Keep in mind:
1) GPU temps should not exceed 90-95C degrees (which is the danger temp)
2) when OC'ing, realize that the temp you see (from monitors) is the GPU temp, NOT the video memory's temp.... which can be vastly different from the GPU temp and cannot be monitored.
.... by pushing the memory speed, you will notice that artifacts may occur if the memory is too hot, while the GPU temp is fine
...... which is when you need to back it up.... or there will be permanent damage and permanent artifacting.

 

90-95C is dangerous? Really? I hit 100+ regularly

 

That's because you've got the G1S

 

Right now it is at 614/738. It was higher but it started finding artifacts.

 

Do you know which caused it to start artifacting?

 

No I'm a useless at this.

 

Artifacting is usually a sign of memory overheating from mem clocks being set too high. Try lowering your mem clocks and see if that helps.

 

I pushed it more 621/747 and just got a 4,240 on 3DMark06.

If I'm getting artifacts I should lower the memory side?

On the AMD GPU Tool, I did thermal sensors and it came up with, average 82C, min 74C, and max was 93C.

 

Yes. Try lowering it on the memory side.

 

Now that I've overclocked my GPU should I try to overclock my CPU or undervolt it?

 

You cant overclock your CPU, but you can undervolt it using RMClock for lower temps. Check the undervolting thread for detailed instructions.

 

It won't let me use RMClock it says Cannot install or load RTCore64 driver.

 

Look further into the thread, towards the bottom and you will find the driver.

 

My HDD light is always on, the fan sorta loud. Any ideas?

 

I've got one red stuck pixel on my LCD and it's not really an eyesore...

 

Did u look if any processes is using the HDD all times in task manager?Virus may be?

 

Is the performance sluggish..??
Download HWMonitor to get the temps of the CPU, ACPI, HDD etc

 

If you have Vista, its normal for the HD to thrash.

Its mostly from Superfetch, defrag then indexing.

 

It could be as suggested by RAMBO29 a process or a virus running in the background, or it could be that your HDD firmware need updating.

I checked in the gateway website and the only update available is a bios update. If you're interested this is the link:
http://support.gateway.com/support/...t=browse&platform=10022&model=12053&os=&type=

What's the name and the specs of your HDD?

 

I would try using ATITool's handy 'Scan for Artifacts' -feature after setting your Graphics card's clocks (in whatever OC program that works for you) instead of 3DMark06. It will push the card more constantly than 3DMark and detect overheating faster. Run it like max hour or so, but stop it immedietly if it finds any artifacts, lower your clocks and then try running it again. This way you'll definitely find the most stable clocks for your card. Here's screenshot of it doing the scan:


Pressing the 'Abort'-button will stop the scan.

Latest ATITool should also work with Vista: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Video-Tweak/ATITool.shtml

 

I think the whole point is not that its an "eyesore" but rather that he has had the laptop for only 7 days.

I would go exchange it.

 

100% on all the time?

Mine turns on/off (i.e. flashing) constantly.

 

As rambo said, take a look at task manager and sort the cpu column to see which program is taking up the most cpu usage. usually that's the culprit...and it could also possibly be some sort of virus.

And I wouldn't be surprised if it's the "svchost" process.

 

Most BestBuys don't have them in stock any more(not in my area)so exchanging one now,you might have to wait.

 

punch your screen that helps ...jk
yeah just try to exchange it if it is really that bad

 

That's because you've got a Nvidia card and the slowdown temperature is at 110C and emergency shutdown at 130C, Ati cards are not made to go that high.

 

You can check on BestBuy.com to see if a local store still has it in stock, then call ahead to have them hold it. However, they will not replace a laptop with a dead pixel without a restocking fee. It is considered normal on LCD's especially with higher resolutions. Best Buy is known for allowing returns on TV's and monitors with dead pixels simply because there is no restocking fee on those items.

 

There shouldn't be a restocking fee. My 6860 had a dead pixel and so I called the BB number on their website and asked if I could exchange it without a fee and the rep said yes, as long as it's within the 14 days of purchase. I brought it back to BB the day after and they swapped it out with no fee and no problems.

 

You know, everytime someone says "I don't believe in orcs", a pixel somewhere dies

 

Thats not good, you are looking at some permanent damage within a year or so.

You must have a defective Nvidia card and/or the notebook's cooling is not sufficient (which the G1S has shown to be under par).

I highly recommend for you to get a really good notebook cooler like NZXT Cryo LX to help get those temps down.

As well as you should do monthly cleaning of the vents with compressed air.

Thats about right.

90-95C is danger temp... causing the videocard to downclock to try and cool down

100-105 is the threshold temp, where the videocard will force the system to shutdown

 

My cards max at 75C under very heavy load. That's with 8800M sli.

My wife's temps are in the high 70's, 78ish max. She's got an 8600M

Those temps are crazy high. I hope you have a good warranty package.

 

There should have been one, the store basically ate 15% of the laptop cost on your behalf (more if they cannot sell it open box before it goes end of life). You were lucky, as many are due to poorly trained staff at many stores.

 

But I told you, it wasn't luck. I called Best Buy, the general number on the website, not the store, and they told me yes, they would exchange it for a new one. The staff at the store only confirmed what the BB phone rep said. It seems like official policy to me, so long as it's within the 14 days.

 

Just yell at them until they replace it.

 

Or punch em in the groin until they pass out. However, I recommend this method only as a last resort. It tends to upset people.

 

You spoke with a corporate phone representative. It is not policy to return a laptop with a dead pixel. It really just depends on the employee you speak with when returning. Customer service is not allowed to return a product before a Geek Squad agent inspects it, and those agents are at least aware of the industry standards to dead pixels as outlined in ISO 13406-2 for LCD panels. Like I said, the common misconception comes from allowing a return on TVs and Monitor with no restocking fee, even if the product is 100% OK. Laptops are ONLY exchangeable / returnable without restocking fee if they are defective, and a dead pixel does not qualify as a defect.

But again, a supervisor or manager would have good sense to waive the restocking fee in the event you wanted an upgrade for customer service. They might even allow you to exchange the 7811 for another without fees if they deem it good business. But its not outlined in official standard operating procedure to allow it. By the way, the odds of having a stuck pixel or two goes up exponentially with larger resolutions. At 1920x1200 odds are you will have one in a cheap TN panel...

EDIT: I reiterate, the reason you feel its their policy is because of untrained staff. I'm quoting you the *actual* policy. And I'd also +rep you for the names of the employees you spoke with

 

That's how your escorted out by Police