Hard drive is eating itself

[highup]

The hard drive has become self-consuming on the C drive half of my hard drive.
I have a single 80gb hard drive, partitioned off with the C: using 18.6gb and D: using the rest of the space.
C: of course is where the system and programs run, and the free space is getting smaller and smaller all on it's own.

I googled my problem and ended up downloading this program called WinDirStat to try and see if I can find out where my memory is going. There's a link at the bottom.

Long story short, the "free space" on the C drive was over 8+ GB months ago.

The free space went from about 8.5gb ..........6 months ago, down to 7.21gb a week or two ago and has been getting smaller every day by just a little bit.
It started out today at 6.0 and I just checked it again and it's 5.99 free space

I have not downloaded anything significant that would make any change to the present unused space.
As a matter of fact, I even removed my trial ACDsee and a couple other programs and have done a defrag and disc cleanup using ATF Cleaner and CCleaner.

My computer is a cannibal, and eating itself.

Just recently, you were helping me with my computer start up issue. I had under 8gb of free space then.
Why would over 2.5gb disappear?
............. I'm melting melting melting! (Wizard of Ozz)

I found and downloaded a program so I can see what parts of the computer are consuming the most memory.
Neat program, but I will need time to monitor what is happening and what is using up my memory.


[ame="http://download.cnet.com/WinDirStat/3640-2248_4-10614593.html"]http://download.cnet.com/WinDirStat/3640-2248_4-10614593.html[/ame]

 

[Nick]

Suspect you caught a virus .
Let's start with a scan using malwarebytes .
Post the results and we will go from there .

STEP 1.
Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: http://www.malwareby...lwarebytes_free to your desktop.
(Malwarebytesis free to use as a manual scanner. Payment is only required if youwish to have it run and update automatically which is not necessary for our purposes)

***VERY IMPORTANT! Make sure, you update Malwarebytes before running a scan.***

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
* When completed, a log will open in Notepad.

The log can also be found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt
Or at C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt

 

[highup]

That's gonna take a while. Update is 49 days old and about 7mb.

 

[Nick]

Download OTL to your Desktop.http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?autocom=downloads&showfile=187
Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
Under the Custom Scan box paste this in:


netsvcs
drivers32
%SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.*
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.com
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.dll
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.ini
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.ini2
%systemroot%\Fonts\*.exe
%systemroot%\system32\spool\prtprocs\w32x86\*.*
%systemroot%\REPAIR\*.bak1
%systemroot%\REPAIR\*.ini
%systemroot%\system32\*.jpg
%systemroot%\*.jpg
%systemroot%\*.png
%systemroot%\*.scr
%systemroot%\*._sy
%APPDATA%\Adobe\Update\*.*
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Favorites\*.*
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\*.*
%PROGRAMFILES%\*.*
%APPDATA%\Update\*.*
%systemroot%\*. /mp /s
CREATERESTOREPOINT
%systemroot%\System32\config\*.sav
%PROGRAMFILES%\bak. /s
%systemroot%\system32\bak. /s
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\*.lnk /x
%systemroot%\system32\config\systemprofile\*.dat /x
%systemroot%\*.config
%systemroot%\system32\*.db
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\*.lnk /x
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\*.exe
%PROGRAMFILES%\Common Files\*.*
%systemroot%\*.src
%systemroot%\install\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\DLL\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\HelpFiles\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\rundll\*.*
%systemroot%\winn32\*.*
%systemroot%\Java\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\test\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\Rundll32\*.*
%systemroot%\AppPatch\Custom\*.*
%APPDATA%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\*.lnk /x
%PROGRAMFILES%\PC-Doctor\Downloads\*.*
%PROGRAMFILES%\Internet Explorer\*.tmp
%PROGRAMFILES%\Internet Explorer\*.dat
%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\*.exe
%USERPROFILE%\*.exe
%systemroot%\ADDINS\*.*
%systemroot%\assembly\*.bak2
%systemroot%\Config\*.*
%systemroot%\REPAIR\*.bak2
%systemroot%\SECURITY\Database\*.sdb /x
%systemroot%\SYSTEM\*.bak2
%systemroot%\Web\*.bak2
%systemroot%\Driver Cache\*.*
%PROGRAMFILES%\Mozilla Firefox\0*.exe
%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Common\*.*
%ProgramFiles%\TinyProxy.
%USERPROFILE%\Favorites\*.url /x
%systemroot%\system32\*.bk
%systemroot%\*.te
%systemroot%\system32\system32\*.*
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\*.dat /x
%systemroot%\system32\drivers\*.rmv
dir /b "%systemroot%\system32\*.exe" | find /i " " /c
dir /b "%systemroot%\*.exe" | find /i " " /c
%PROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft\*.*
%systemroot%\System32\Wbem\proquota.exe
%PROGRAMFILES%\Mozilla Firefox\*.dat
%USERPROFILE%\Cookies\*.txt /x
%SystemRoot%\system32\fonts\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\winlog\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\Language\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\Settings\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\*.quo
%SYSTEMROOT%\AppPatch\*.exe
%SYSTEMROOT%\inf\*.exe
%SYSTEMROOT%\Installer\*.exe
%systemroot%\system32\config\*.bak2
%systemroot%\system32\Computers\*.*
%SystemRoot%\system32\Sound\*.*
%SystemRoot%\system32\SpecialImg\*.*
%SystemRoot%\system32\code\*.*
%SystemRoot%\system32\draft\*.*
%SystemRoot%\system32\MSSSys\*.*
%ProgramFiles%\Javascript\*.*
%systemroot%\pchealth\helpctr\System\*.exe /s
%systemroot%\Web\*.exe
%systemroot%\system32\msn\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\*.tro
%AppData%\Microsoft\Installer\msupdates\*.*
%ProgramFiles%\Messenger\*.*
%systemroot%\system32\systhem32\*.*
%systemroot%\system\*.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\Results\Install|LastSuccessTime /rs
/md5start
/md5stop

Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows: OTL.txt and Extras.txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
Please copy (Edit->Select All, Edit->Copy) the contents of these files, one at a time, Send them to me .

 

[Nick]

We'll create fresh, clean restore point, using following OTL script:

Run OTL
Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following:

Code:
:OTL
:Commands
[purity]
[emptytemp]
[EMPTYFLASH]
[CLEARALLRESTOREPOINTS]
[Reboot]
Then click the Run Fix button at the top
Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done

 

[highup]

We'll create fresh, clean restore point, using following OTL script:

Run OTL
Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following:

Code:
:OTL
:Commands
[purity]
[emptytemp]
[EMPTYFLASH]
[CLEARALLRESTOREPOINTS]
[Reboot]
Then click the Run Fix button at the top
Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done

I opened up System Restore from 'my computer' and it had no old restore points.
Both the C and D drives were listed as 'suspended' and it said something about not enough space.
...but I have 5.99gb of free space. (scratching head)

I have run CCleaner and ATF Cleaner recently. I should have plenty of space.

 

[Nick]

Try turning off System Restore, rebooting and turning it back on again.

Corrupt archives are a source of many problems. This will delete the entire archive.

A new restore point should be created automatically -- or you can try creating one manually.

Run disk cleanup using XP's system properties then diskcheck.

 

[highup]

Try turning off System Restore, rebooting and turning it back on again.

Corrupt archives are a source of many problems. This will delete the entire archive.

A new restore point should be created automatically -- or you can try creating one manually.

Run disk cleanup using XP's system properties then diskcheck.

Did the restore thingy and it's 'monitoring' now.
Did disk cleanup.
Ya want me to do the error checking too?

If so, what boxes do I check before running?

Automatically fix file system errors ?
Scan for and attempt recovery ?

 

[Nick]

Do both . How is it running now ?
Keep me posted .

 

[highup]

Do both . How is it running now ?
Keep me posted .

Roger el capitan........... be back in a few.

 

[highup]

OK, how'd ya do that?
System Restore is workin again and I have a new restore point.
Disk cleanup and checkdisk have been done.

Lookie what I got now.
Last night I was down to 6.99gb of free space and now I have 9.52 I figured it wouldn't be above 8 or so if this was straightened out.

What's the moral of the story.
clean, clean, clean? I hate cleaning.

Thank you Mr. Computer Guru. I think we need to have a contest and get you a 'nick' name.

 

[Nick]

Pardon the pun , But i have a Nick Name .

 

[highup]

Pardon the pun , But i have a Nick Name .

Not from us.
I'm thinkin Carnac

 

[Nick]

Then i have to get a Martha Stewart towel .

 

[highup]

Then i have to get a Martha Stewart towel .

OK, I can go with Martha if ya like that better.
No glitter and sticky glue, OK?