Memory (ROM) usage

I have IBM T42 laptop with XP, etc..
I am running out of ROM storage...

I checked the temp file which contains the cookies/history files, only 5meg there, so not it. This is in the windows file. (unless there are other history files somewhere else)

Yes I have few big files, but they account for only 1/3 of the 32 Gig ROM that I have. I recall that when I got the T42, it took up 9gig on the installed system. Granted there have been XP upgrade, printer, ISP software, etc. But that should not account for an additional 10+ gig that is "used" by I do not know.

So the ? I have is this, is it possible the software programs that I have (really basic stuff) is using that much memory of the other 10 gig? Or is there more likely a hidden history files ( I surf a bit)? Basically I have used up all memory in 10 months time Yes I will be going out today to buy an external HD to dump seldom used files. But that is treating the symtom, VS going after what possibly really is wrong, in that what is taking up the other 10 Gig? ( 9 original gig, 1 g uprgades, 10 gig know files, 2 gigs misc small files = 22gig) 32-22= 10 gig unaccounted for.

BTW, I do regular Norton AV scans, Spybot, and Adaware scans too. So I doubt I have any viruses, or at least there are no virus symptoms apperant-unless the other 10 gig has been downloaded with ??? At least looking over the size of the files, nothing seems out of the ordinary, and thus why I am stumped.

Any ideas what what happened to the other 10 gig?

Thank you,

Alan

 

ROM = 'read only memory' so ... i'm not sure where that plays here but ...

my guess on what's eating u'r HD space = win's swap file along w/ installed software u just don't need. swap is dynamic and changes based on what u've got running etc. and it's hidden so u don't see it unless u force win to show it to u ... while u CAN tune swap, it's not really recommended as win does fine allocating it as is. as to software, just uninstall what u don't need.

burn u'r big files/data to CD/DVD or copy them off to a network if u've got one.

 

Yes, I don't know of where Windows would use ROM. It uses RAM (Random Access Memory) and Virtual Memory (Page File). The only ROM I know is the CMOS (the settings to start the computer), but I have seen errors relating to ROM in other versions of Windows.

I would say the error message may relate to both physical memory (RAM) and virtual memory. Do Ctrl+Alt+Del ->Task Manager -> Performance (tab). If the "Available" Physical Memory is low, it means that background or currently running programs have filled your RAM and are starting to overflow into the page file, which means that new programs or data that are being run are being saved as virtual memory on the harddrive...very much slower than RAM...and you may notice a lot of Harddrive LED activity (not good for the drive).

You should look at stopping unnecessary programs from running at startup or in the background (look at the User programs that are running in Task Manager). If you cannot get enough "Available" memory after that, you may need to consider getting more RAM.

Do your disk clean up. You should be able to get information on the drive by right-clicking on the drive icon and selecting Properties. There is information about cleaning your drive at www.infinisource.com (where I discovered this forum ). As stated, uninstall old programs. Run CheckDisk and do a defragmentation when you are finished cleaning.

Matt

 

I'm thinking h2ofwlr means hard drive and not ROM. Another thing that can take up alot of space is 'SystemRestore'. Also doesn't IBM put 'recovery' software on their laptops? That could take up a sizeable chunk also... HTH

B