Just downloaded Windows 11..now running out of space on C Drive

I use an app that can move most apps on to another HDD, SSD, USB thumb drive or SDHC card. It updates all the registry entries and has never let me down.


It is very easy to use. If you use flash memory, be aware that it does not have unlimited life so take regular backups with Macrium Reflect.

spapakons said:

You can also go to Settings -> System -> Storage Space to see usage.

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Tried that. So much help here some I can understand and will work my way through it and report back.
Don't know what terminal is.
And yes I have externals as back up.
( But 2 stopped working which I thought was strange as only a couple of years old) bought 2 more now.
Would you suggest moving all my music photos videos on to them then?

They are all on D Drive not C so would that help though?
Don't store anything on C.

polli said:

Tried that. So much help here some I can understand will work my way through Iit and report back. Don't know what terminal is. And yes I have externals as back up.( But 2 stopped working which I thought was strange as only a couple of years old) bought 2 more now. Would you suggested moving all my music photos videos on to them then? They are all on D Drive not C so would that help though?

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No, if it's on D: drive you don't need to move it. When installing apps you normally get a choice where to put it. You could uninstall many apps and then reinstall them on D: drive. If a program suggests C:\Program Files\Claws Mail for example, you just change it to D:\ Program Files\Claws Mail

But the app I recommended is quick and simple.

polli said:

They are all on D Drive not C so would that help though?
Don't store anything on C.

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No, it wouldn't free up space on C:.

System Restore Points are often overlooked as something that may eat up space on the C: drive. They are stored in the hidden and protected 'System Volume Information' folder.

mackie said:

Now I see that he said he already ran cleanup

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The key thing here is if he did not run it as admin, windows.old would not have been removed

This poster has a 256 gb boot drive. I do as well. I run Pro, keep my apps with the OS, and it uses only 72 gb of this space. It's doubtful the OP has as many installed apps as I do and I still find that 256 is ample space since I have 162 gb free space left. All my personal data is on another drive. We can't assume and give good advise without seeing his disk management and knowing how he uses his secondary drive. Also he needs to tell us if windows.old still exists and how much space it is using.

Edit: something else, this poster may have a ton of space reserved for system restore.

You open this PC, click or open the C: drive and select Disk Cleanup from Drive Tools. How do you run that as Administrator? Alternatively, click on Search at the taskbar and type Disk Cleanup to find it, then select to Run as Administrator.

My C:/ Drive has 125 Gb and 74 Gb Free - where 10 Gb covers Program Data, Program Files & Program Files (86) + another 5 Gb in Users folder. I only use C: partition for Windows and the usual apps and it never got close to 100 Gb. I prefer it that way (around 50 Gb free - yet it's usually more - like now). Tho, it's also a "clean" drive. I even remove Windows updates - shortly after deducting that Windows runs stable with latest (sometimes i'm wrong tho - or catch an issue only latter, still - no biggie for me).

glasskuter said:

This poster has a 256 gb boot drive. I do as well. I run Pro, keep my apps with the OS, and it uses only 72 gb of this space. It's doubtful the OP has as many installed apps as I do and I still find that 256 is ample space since I have 162 gb free space left. All my personal data is on another drive. We can't assume and give good advise without seeing his disk management and knowing how he uses his secondary drive. Also he needs to tell us if windows.old still exists and how much space it is using.

Edit: something else, this poster may have a ton of space reserved for system restore.

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I have a guess, the disk is 256GB but not a single partition. He has divided it into two or more partitions.

spapakons said:

How do you run that as Administrator?

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search>disk cleanup>run as administrator

spapakons said:

disk is 256GB but not a single partition. He has divided it into two or more partitions.

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Possible but doubtful. If OP is experienced in partitioning, he would have answered his own question. Most likely his partitioning is the way it come from the factory. That's why we need a picture of his disk management.

When you upgraded to Windows 11 it saved the old version of Windows in a folder called Windows.old. The contents of that folder allow you to go back to Windows 10 if you don't wait too long. If you have no plans to go back to Windows 10 you can delete that folder.

It would really help to see a screenshot of disk management:

spapakons said:

You open this PC, click or open the C: drive and select Disk Cleanup from Drive Tools. How do you run that as Administrator?

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glasskuter said:

search>disk cleanup>run as administrator

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Alternatively, if you have started it as a normal user you can click the 'Clean up system files' button which restarts it as an administrator.

MisterEd said:

If you have no plans to go back to Windows 10 you can delete that folder.

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Uhh, that's why we're advising him to run disk cleanup which delete it. One can't just 'delete' the folder manually without jumping through all kinds of hoops.

glasskuter said:

Uhh, that's why we're advising him to run disk cleanup which delete it. One can't just 'delete' the folder manually without jumping through all kinds of hoops.

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I agree that Disk Cleanup is the best option. I also realize that if you check the right option it will delete Windows.old. However, I have deleted Windows.old manually many time in the past. I don't remember any complications doing that.

I think you need a system account to delete it. I have tried to delete it manually but access was denied.

@polli Maybe this will simplify it for you.
Too much has been thrown at you in this thread so I can see how it would cause you confusion. Take it one step at a time checking your disk space after each step.

1. Search>disk cleanup>run as admin-Check box next to 'previous windows installations'

2. Check amount of space reserved for system restore. You may have way too much space allowed. Default is 2% of drive. A lot of people here who make regular images do not use system restore at all. Adjusting Space for Windows System Restore

Other ways to gain space:

3. Clean up your browsers' cache and cookies. You'd be surprised how much data is stored if you haven't done it regularly.

4. Want to see what is using all your disk space??? Use storage sense. How to see what's taking up space on a hard drive on Windows 10 - Pureinfotech

Sir_George said:

There is a free utility "TreeSize" which can show how your drive space is being used. It can categorize the usage by size which makes it easy to see how much space may be gained by doing some cleanup. I have posted a link below to their site in case you want to give it a try.

TreeSize Free | JAM Software

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I like to use SpaceSniffer which does the same thing SpaceSniffer, find lost disk space the easy way.

These tools are great for visually seeing what is using up so much storage space. I cleared up like 400gb by moving my steam library to a second drive.

Again, we really need to see a screenshot of disk management. Everybody is just guessing without seeing what is available on the entiere disk.

He ran disk cleanup per the instructions he was given in post #2. Since he was not told to run as admin, the windows.old folder would not have been part of the cleanup.