WINXP

free space begins at 83.5 MB?

If that's true you need to free up some space. By default XP will be trying to use 1.5 times the memory as virtual memory i.e. if you have 512 MB of memory then XP will try to reserve 768 MB of your hard drive for virtual memory.

you need to uninstall some programs or delete some files.

Use drive cleaner from Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Drive Cleaner.
Run the same on C: drive and delete all the unnecessary files like temporary files etc. Also goto Control Panel->Internet Options. Inside there, you will find one option for deleting all temporary files. Use that. Finally Check for any viruses as well. You may also try using system command...
c:\sfc /SCANNOW.

Hopefully this will resolve problem and if not then use system restore.

The Swap File is getting bigger and your free space is getting smaller.

You need to clean up the Drive if it isn't already and then set about either fitting another Drive or a Bigger Drive as you shouldn't be running any Windows computer with less than 15% Free Space on the drive. I'm surprised that it's even working with lower than 1% free space but it must have been getting progressively worse for a very long time now.

Col

5.31GB of Data to enable the Drive to function properly. I use a rule of thumb @ 17% capacity on Drives. Then you don't have problems like this. ;)

< just to add that this has gone beyond worrying about Temp files. > ;)

Make some room and then try this.
If it appears to be Viral Activity try this otherwise skip to chkdsk.

avast! Virus Cleaner - free virus removal tool: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html

Spybot - Search & Destroy Update it: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Download avast! and Spybot and run these two programs in Safe Mode. Turn off System Restore and turn Don't forget to it back on when you are finished.

When you are up and running again.
Click Start and in the Run box type in cmd and press Enter.
type in chkdsk /r and press Enter.
Acknowledge the prompts and restart the PC.

When it has been through the stages and it has restarted.
Click Start and in the Run box type in cmd and press Enter.
type in defrag c: /f

< forgot to save my editing >

Good point OM, I had a son that used to do the same thing. I eventually let it crash on him. ;)
He learn't :) < I didn't I just did it twice. Opened Edit did a copy then went to post a reason for the Edit and couldn't remember how to spell the word. >

Googled it didn't I by copying and pasting. Nuff said. :p

But by your absence of replies to this thread, I fear you assume the job's been done. IT HAS NOT, not yet anyway.

You still need to lose at least another 2 to 3 gigabytes of data to have sufficient free space, otherwise you'll be back here in a few days when your system crashes again.

Also having regained OVER 3GB by deleting unnecessary files doesn't bode well for the state of your hard drive, contents wise.

Hopefully you'll continue this thread, but I've got my doubts. ;)

You may have a process creating, or adding to log files.

Search your drive for log files and see if there are any one that have current date/time. You may then be able to determine if an unwanted process is running, creating these. Or you may be able to reduce the logging of other processes.

MsiZap.exe is available from the Installer Cleanup Utility package:

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility package now. http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/9/d/e9d80355-7ab4-45b8-80e8-983a48d5e1bd/msicuu2.exe

The installation will install to C:\Program Files\Windows Installer Clean Up\MsiZap.exe you may have to navigate to this directory and the type msizapmsizap.exe G! and press Enter.

Use the msizap tool with the flag g! and it will identify orphan files, then you can delete them.

Msizap.exe uses case-insensitive command line options shown in the following table.

Option Description :

* Removes all Windows Installer folders and registry keys, adjusts shared DLL counts, and stops Windows Installer service. Also removes the In-Progress key and rollback information.

a Only changes ACLs to Admin Full Control for any specified removal.

g For all users, removes any cached Windows Installer data files that have been orphaned.

p Removes the In-Progress key.

s Removes Rollback Information.

t Removes all information for the specified product code. When using this option, enclose the Product Code in curly braces. This option may be used with either the full path to the .msi file or with the product code.

w Removes Windows Installer information for all users. When this option is not set, only the information for the current user is removed. Use of this option requires that the user's profile be loaded so that the user's per-user registry hive be available.

? Verbose help.

! Forces a 'yes' response to any prompt.

Let us know how you get on.

< add the command >

And the Installer Folder is only taking up 941 MEG of space with 110 files & Folders in it.

Col

this only works if the OP does'nt click on Print/View all posts.

If you look to the bottom of the Post under the posters name you will see something like the Buttons below . If you think that this post has solved or contributed to solving the problem please Mark it as helpful. Somehow this is going to help others seeking an answer to the problem. If they can find it.

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Keep us informed as to your progress.

If you think that this post has solved or contributed to solving the problem please Mark it as Helpful so that others may benefit from the outcome.

Sorry I cannot give you a thumbs-up (not my thread of course) thanks a lot.

I am certain that you are correct that this is not likely to be necessary, but I do have a bee in my bonnet about crap-cleaning! It depresses me that there is usually all sorts of rubbish piled up here and there. Looking at the list of stuff that is running does make me wonder what it's all for!

All the best

Paul