Solved Hard drive just keeps running lower and lower on space

[Alkajak]

About 1-2 weeks ago, I had 15GB of space left on my SSD that is solely committed to OS and drivers. Today, I have 2.9GB left. I have downloaded nothing, and I have changed nothing. What is going on? Any programs to help me take a closer look at why my SSD space is disappearing? I've had this OS for 2 months now and it wasn't a problem until recently.

SpaceSniffer Details:

C:\ [35.2Gb]
  [   6.3Gb] hiberfil.sys
  [   4.3Gb] pagefile.sys
  [   256Mb] swapfile.sys
  [   392Kb] bootmgr
  [     4Kb] BOOTNXT


C:\Windows [18.7Gb]
  [   2.2Mb] explorer.exe
  [   1.9Mb] RtlExUpd.dll
  [   864Kb] HelpPane.exe
  [   544Kb] WindowsUpdate.log
  [   312Kb] WMSysPr9.prx
  [   240Kb] notepad.exe
  [   156Kb] regedit.exe
  [   124Kb] splwow64.exe
  [    76Kb] bfsvc.exe
  [    68Kb] bootstat.dat
  [    56Kb] mvtcpui.ini
  [    52Kb] twain_32.dll
  [    44Kb] mib.bin
  [    44Kb] avastSS.scr
  [    32Kb] Starter.xml
  [    32Kb] Professional.xml
  [    20Kb] hh.exe
  [    12Kb] write.exe
  [    12Kb] winhlp32.exe
  [     4Kb] WindowsShell.Manifest
  [     4Kb] win.ini
  [     4Kb] system.ini


C:\Windows\WinSxS [10.2Gb]
  [     4Kb] poqexec.log


C:\Windows\WinSxS\Backup [385.2Mb]
  [  20.5Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..type-microsoftyahei_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_939ce994b9dd8090_msyh.ttc_e9e03d20
  [  20.3Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..e-microsoftjhenghei_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_be0a5fe769d9282a_msjh.ttc_ea675e59
  [  18.8Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16497_none_c4eb051a9bc588d3_shell32.dll_0d29dca9
  [  16.7Mb] wow64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16497_none_cf3faf6cd0264ace_shell32.dll_0d29dca9
  [  13.7Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..-microsoftyaheibold_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_678f3acc3db71a89_msyhbd.ttc_16e5cc5a
  [  13.6Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..crosoftjhengheibold_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_b77a40c1366af9dd_msjhbd.ttc_176ced93
  [  13.0Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-directui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_0ffc7b57782d258f_windows.ui.xaml.dll_9c9d9ec9
  [  10.2Mb] x86_microsoft-windows-directui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_b3dddfd3bfcfb459_windows.ui.xaml.dll_9c9d9ec9
  [   9.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..truetype-meiryobold_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_26174722016a6780_meiryob.ttc_d9ebd964
  [   9.0Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-font-truetype-meiryo_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_cd293cd4d13485d9_meiryo.ttc_ab0401d6
  [   9.0Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..uetype-malgungothic_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_5e1985dc4fedf0ec_malgun.ttf_166813d8
  [   8.4Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..pe-malgungothicbold_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_3e4cf1c49f47aabd_malgunbd.ttf_6ad5519c
  [   6.6Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-os-kernel_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16500_none_c54c8b093da9fdc9_ntoskrnl.exe_0fb0ab79
  [   4.6Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-security-spp_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_732afedcaab728dd_sppsvc.exe_fc6922a9
  [   3.8Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-win32k_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16504_none_1213a44b240a1a7d_win32k.sys_0d7a6fb3
  [   3.6Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-d2d_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_00a36e6ee5881f4e_d2d1.dll_ef77984b
  [   3.1Mb] x86_microsoft-windows-d2d_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_a484d2eb2d2aae18_d2d1.dll_ef77984b
  [   2.3Mb] amd64_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.9200.16384_none_418c2a697189c07f_comctl32.dll_9c499789
  [   2.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-store-service_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_18ec3d4540af9ce7_wsservice.dll_bebbea79
  [   2.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-msxml60_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16447_none_e165e61b20777e7e_msxml6.dll_ebe15265
  [   2.1Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-a..on-authui-component_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16465_none_35b79452998ace9c_authui.dll_05ff9fd2
  [   2.1Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-tcpip-binaries_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16516_none_0c356d8aefefe052_tcpip.sys_3339bd51
  [   2.1Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-d..wmanager-compositor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_5e810b93c8fa7c8f_dwmcore.dll_523baf47
  [   1.9Mb] x86_microsoft.windows.common-controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.9200.16384_none_893961408605e985_comctl32.dll_9c499789
  [   1.9Mb] x86_microsoft-windows-a..on-authui-component_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16465_none_d998f8cee12d5d66_authui.dll_05ff9fd2
  [   1.8Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-ntfs_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16497_none_ff3303f9a6b534a7_ntfs.sys_e80dca04
  [   1.8Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-crypt32-dll_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_b43969406797fcd1_crypt32.dll_9c3ccf73
  [   1.8Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-setupapi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16497_none_8db733ed50077569_setupapi.dll_8d9de2e7
  [   1.7Mb] x86_microsoft-windows-d..wmanager-compositor_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_02627010109d0b59_dwmcore.dll_523baf47
  [   1.7Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-ntdll_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_b1dd65ec85c4d232_ntdll.dll_ae4ef39c
  [   1.7Mb] wow64_microsoft-windows-msxml60_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16447_none_ebba906d54d84079_msxml6.dll_ebe15265
  [   1.7Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-dui70_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_b07e573587defcee_dui70.dll_5f097b0b
  [   1.6Mb] wow64_microsoft-windows-setupapi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16497_none_980bde3f84683764_setupapi.dll_8d9de2e7
  [   1.6Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-com-base_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_66f4be21b01ca45f_combase.dll_a2567a6a
  [   1.6Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-eventlog_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_358e037e9c9d657b_wevtsvc.dll_add42ce6
  [   1.6Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-font-truetype-segoeui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_2985ab1d9c00e45f_seguisym.ttf_e095394a
  [   1.6Mb] amd64_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_6595b64144ccf1df_1.1.9200.16502_none_726f4846cc233cf5_gdiplus.dll_423f7010
  [   1.6Mb] amd64_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_6595b64144ccf1df_1.0.9200.16502_none_831dd962331d634e_gdiplus.dll_423f7010
  [   1.6Mb] amd64_microsoft.windows.gdiplus.systemcopy_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16502_none_3ff8c0817f92a20d_gdiplus.dll_423f7010
  [   1.5Mb] x86_microsoft-windows-crypt32-dll_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_581acdbcaf3a8b9b_crypt32.dll_9c3ccf73
  [   1.4Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-com-base-qfe-ole32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16451_none_0504bf8c7bfff3ca_ole32.dll_e9dcc2e3
  [   1.4Mb] amd64_windows-defender-service_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_1e6fca32e090c9e9_mpsvc.dll_2d2efa15
  [   1.3Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-lddmcore_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16497_none_048a72db6d566090_dxgkrnl.sys_8aad3dfb
  [   1.3Mb] x86_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_6595b64144ccf1df_1.1.9200.16502_none_ba1c7f1de09f65fb_gdiplus.dll_423f7010
  [   1.3Mb] x86_microsoft.windows.gdiplus_6595b64144ccf1df_1.0.9200.16502_none_cacb103947998c54_gdiplus.dll_423f7010
  [   1.3Mb] x86_microsoft.windows.gdiplus.systemcopy_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16502_none_e3da24fdc73530d7_gdiplus.dll_423f7010
  [   1.3Mb] x86_microsoft-windows-dui70_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_545fbbb1cf818bb8_dui70.dll_5f097b0b
  [   1.3Mb] wow64_microsoft-windows-ntdll_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_bc32103eba25942d_ntdll.dll_ae4ef39c
  [   1.3Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-b..vironment-os-loader_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_b42572cef6436e5a_winload.efi_75834aa0
  [   1.3Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-windowsuiimmersive_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_8ace8bbd5da5cce2_windows.ui.immersive.dll_549e9b42
  [   1.3Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16497_none_c4eb051a9bc588d3.manifest
  [   1.3Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-grouppolicy-base_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_80ed094370c6dbfc_gpsvc.dll_970be02b
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-b..ore-bootmanager-efi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_e087708225f70134_bootmgfw.efi_139dd311
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-b..ore-bootmanager-efi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_e087708225f70134_bootmgr.efi_da0f14a8
  [   1.2Mb] wow64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16497_none_cf3faf6cd0264ace.manifest
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..-truetype-nirmalaui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_5e650e0ff9ba209e_nirmala.ttf_2e14013a
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-user32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_263ef3ebf6f3a54e_user32.dll_55f4ed20
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-rpc-local_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_0cc4467bced88556_rpcrt4.dll_5aa847dd
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-f..-truetype-nirmalaui_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_5e650e0ff9ba209e_nirmalab.ttf_63b65f82
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-gdi32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_b27d6298d2ee197d_gdi32.dll_1f014d57
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-b..vironment-os-loader_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_b42572cef6436e5a_winload.exe_75835076
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-lsa_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_ff49435ee667c648_lsasrv.dll_56db747f
  [   1.2Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-b..re-memorydiagnostic_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_30fef5ce8e6190b5_memtest.efi_01d7fdbb
  [   1.1Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-kernel32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16384_none_ec878ca5e00fbea5_kernel32.dll_ef9eca7e
  [   1.1Mb] wow64_microsoft-windows-com-base_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16420_none_71496873e47d665a_combase.dll_a2567a6a
  [   1.1Mb] wow64_microsoft-windows-windowsuiimmersive_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_9523360f92068edd_windows.ui.immersive.dll_549e9b42
  [   1.1Mb] amd64_microsoft-windows-b..vironment-os-loader_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16433_none_b42572cef6436e5a_winresume.efi_85cd069f
  [   1.0Mb] x86_microsoft-windows-com-base-qfe-ole32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.2.9200.16451_none_a8e62408c3a28294_ole32.dll_e9dcc2e3

 

[David Bailey]

Disk Cleanup ?

I don't know if you have tried Disk Cleanup or not.
It's worth a try.

 

[Alkajak]

Frees up about 3.00 MB. My harddrive shifted upwards to 3.28 GB free, but still nowhere near the original 15GB.

 

[David Bailey]

System Files ?

I just now cleaned up System Files/Old restore points & got rid of around 5 GBs of junk---

 

[Alkajak]

I am happy for you, but as I said, it only cleaned 3.00 MB for me.

 

[David Bailey]

I am happy for you, but as I said, it only cleaned 3.00 MB for me.

Did you delete old restore points ?

 

[Alkajak]

I never had old restore points. By default, my system restore is set to store 0 MB of system restores. I cleaned up my system restores to make sure.

I haven't touched anything on my computer and now have 1.67 GB, down from 3.28 GB when I posted 2 days ago.

 

[Alkajak]

Alright, I downloaded WinDirStat.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb
is 22 GB large. This consists of 39% of my hard drive currently.

57% of my hard drive, which is almost the rest, is allocated in
C:\Windows\WinSxS
where there are thousands of amd64, msil, x86, wow64 files.

 

[Alkajak]

How to clear out the Windows.edb file in Windows 8 - Microsoft Community

Solved by myself.

 

[vincentt]

Alkajak, I am facing the same issue as yours, what did you do to free up some space. This winsxs folder drives me nuts, it takes more than 50% space, on my 64 GB HDD, this folder takes more than 12 GB, thanks to me installing and uninstalling.

I generally re-install to keep the system clean, but its not always the best approach. Please share your thoughts.

 

[Alkajak]

My winsxs takes up 10.9 GB, I think it's quite normal depending on the features you have enabled.

Cleanup the WinSxS Folder in Windows 8 & 7 - Help Desk Geek

Ctrl+F and type "In windows 8"

 

[vincentt]

Thanks, that article is too generic, is it fine to get rid of the entire folder and how can I do that?

 

[Alkajak]

I don't think it's generic at all. All you have to do is google a list of those W8 features and find out which ones you can/want to disable.

You cannot get rid of the entire folder, or anything in it as it's of important use to your OS.

I've personally seen mods on this forum link to the site I gave you when explaining how winsxs works.