Laptop complaining of a full memory

[SpeckledJim]

This really should be something I know how to do at my age.

I've a HP Pavilion laptop, about 3 years old, quite high spec I think, running Windows 10.

It's complaining about a full memory, but I can't see how to clear it of any old crap it doesn't need.

I tried a clean-up wizard thingy, but it only found 900 odd Mb to clear.

Anyone any advice for a luddite please?

[bitchstewie]

Download TreeSize and run it and see what it reports.

I haven't used it for a while but CCleaner always used to have a good reputation for clawing back disk space too.

Obvious caveats of be careful before deleting things you're unsure about

[SpeckledJim]

Thanks very much, I've done that.

My windows folder is showing as 25gb, but it all reads like pretty serious important undergrowth stuff.

Is that right - 25gb for Windows!?

[HRL]

As long as your PC has been running OK, run Clean Up again but click the include system files option.

That will remove any older redundant Windows Updates too and will probably free up some space, assuming of course that you’re running out of storage, not system RAM.

[bitchstewie]

SpeckledJim said:

Thanks very much, I've done that.

My windows folder is showing as 25gb, but it all reads like pretty serious important undergrowth stuff.

Is that right - 25gb for Windows!?

Sounds about right especially if Windows 10 - don't go randomly deleting things from there.

Like I said CCleaner used to be pretty good for helping with the "undergrowth" that most people won't want to go near manually.

Broadly speaking things in Temp or Tmp folders is fair game but of course I don't want to be the guy on the internet who tells you "yeah just delete that"

Maybe post screenshots but blur out anything sensitive.

[captain_cynic]

HRL said:

As long as your PC has been running OK, run Clean Up again but click the include system files option.

That will remove any older redundant Windows Updates too and will probably free up some space, assuming of course that you’re running out of storage, not system RAM.

This.

Chances are there are a few GB in your WinSXS folder that can be reclaimed (WinSXS is where the updates and drivers go, so best not to delete anything manually, let disk cleanup do it's thing)

I'd also recommend using Space Sniffer over treesize, it's free and generates an easy to figure out graphic.

http://www.uderzo.it/main_products/space_sniffer/

[mmm-five]

Is it actually running out of MEMORY (RAM) as the OP is saying, or STORAGE (HD/SSD)...as everyone seems to be recommending ways to recover some disk space?

If it is storage, then how big is your C: drive, and how much used/free is it reporting?



If it is memory, then how much RAM do you have, and do you have any programs running that will be using lots of physical memory (or creating huge files for virtual memory/swapfile/pagefile).

Edited by mmm-five on Sunday 13th September 10:50

[annodomini2]

If it's running out of ram, usually you have someone else logged in with loads or web pages open, storage then you probably need to backup stuff and free up space