"Big" Problem with my Compaq Presario V6412

Hello all

Since I got my new notebook on the 18th August I have noticed it seemed to be losing hard driver space every day. At first, I thought nothing of it. Now today, from a total of 86 gigabytes free space on the 19th I now only have 74.6 free space - the catch is though, I have not been installing software, etc (maybe a few digital photos worth about 500MB), instead i have been purging the notebook of unwanted pre-installed programs. I've arranged to drop it in where I bought it from so they can either fix it or replace it (not sure if they'll let me have a different model of the same price though - Compaq Presario V6412's graphics chipset is Intel's idea of a joke *cough GMA 950 cough*).

Anyway, someone have any idea what the problem is? Its a pain to get a replacement, but the source of this problem is mysterious (no way it can be viruses as has hardly had internet use).

 

There's no point in replacing the computer, as it's almost certainly not a hardware problem. What OS are you using? Also, try running CCleaner, and see if that clears up some space. After that I would try a full defrag.

 

Are you using Windows XP or Windows Vista? Is it System Restore? Have you tried disabling (or reducing the percentage of hard drive space that) System Restore on the hard drive in question?

 

Its Vista Home Premium. I have already done full defrag and disk cleanup.

 

Also has just lost another 1.2GB when I deleted all my photos of it...I doubt its something like yous have mentioned...losing almost 12GB in total now

 

That's the craziest thing I have ever heard of. Maybe when you are uninstalling it is creating a restore point? I'm not sure though man.

 

Do a clean format?

Must be a windows related proccess thats taking up the HD space

Are u sure ur not reading the space remaining incorrectly? When i opened up My Computer on Vista for the first time, i kinda got confused.

 

Is shadow copy turned on?

 

Shadow copy..? And Im not making mistakes when reading the free space left either. Clean format?

BTW, just checked laptop again (im using desktop atm): 71.8GB...this is just not funny. The amount of memory lost is so drastic I think its a big problem.

 

And you've tried running CCleaner??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_copy

 

I meant that I dont know what CC cleaner is or how to get to it

 

Also, may I ask if anyone has a laptop like mine - Compaq Presario V6000? Comments? I dont think its worth paying extra for a new one if worst comes to the worst when I take it to the store...

Thanks people for your comments as well.

 

A clean format refers to reformatting your hard drive (which deletes everything and removes all partitions) and reinstalling a "clean" copy of your OS.

CCleaner is a program which will clean up unnecessary files on your hard drive. Get it here:
http://www.ccleaner.com/

 

CC cleaner site

As odin mentioned, it is not a problem with your hardware, it is probably a feature(s) in Vista that consume hard drive space so if you buy a new laptop with vista, the same thing will happen.

Also if you dont use Hibernation, then i suggest that you turn it off(hibernation can use a few gigs)

Disable Hibernation in Vista

EDIT: Odin beat me to the punch

 

Thanks Odin and Kdaw. I'll try that - I just dont understand why 12 gigebytes has remarkably vanished. It seems too much..and 12 gigebytes is a lot of space to reclaim if the CC cleaner does its thing.

 

Well, Im downloading CCleaner at the moment. I got a reply from HP regarding the matter; I did some of the things they suggested, but so far hasn't done anything. After that I'll run system recovery and CCleaner - if that fails, then I cant be bothered with it.

 

WOOT 0.2GB have gone down the drain as I speak. May god help this dis-illusioned machine.

 

Well, no one seems to have been paying attention to this forum in the last 12 hours, but...

-Full defrag DONE with no results
-System restore STUFFED UP (encountered error and it didn't run it)
-CCleaner INSTALLED and DONE by reclaiming 2 megabytes hard driver space I mean c'mon...
-Disable Hibernation DIDNT DO because it was only going to save 0.98GB
-Full virus scan DONE with no results

So there we have it; my almost brand new Compaq Presario V6412 is stuffed. If my retail store of purchase cannot fix it, they'll offer me a replacement. Do I really want to go through all this again? No. Do I want to retain a GMA 950 chipset? No. Do I actually want a replacement of this model? Not really. There is an option of getting Presario V3000 for $300NZD extra. Do I feel like coughing all that up? Not really.

Would I like some replies and advice? Yes please.

 

Have you tried disabling Shadow Copy, or reducing the space allocated to it?

http://taktau.me.uk/blog/276/reduce-disk-space-used-by-vista/

 

And you really think 13 gigabytes has vasnished in mysterious sequences, like drop-by-drop, is caused by this? Sorry for sarcasm, but you know...

Im on dial up and the shadow page is loading ATM very slow

 

Shadow copy can take up to 15% of your drive space by default, I believe.

 

Wow. I ran shadow and said it was taking up like 12GB. LOL cant believe it. Thanks very much.

Though, still not sure if I want to retain the V6412 - GMA 950 is basically the problem, as I want gaming. Not sure if I want to pay extra for the AMD version, which has nVidia 6150...but do I really need games? Im divided over the issue. My laptop was primarily bought as Im starting the IB Diploma at school next year so a laptop is a must. Then again I've always been a gamer...with no console anymore.

Although we have a desktop at home, I'd rather use the laptop with games when Im going through Uni. I really should stop waffling on all the time...

 

ok, now Im back to a fresh 86.5GB I no longer wish to upgrade.