Window directory huge

Hi,

In the past couple of weeks, my Windows directory has gotten really big, 159 GB. I noticed this a couple of days ago running a virus scan, which took forever and then reported that 187 GB had been scanned rather than the usual 34 or so GB. I use CCleaner on a regular basis. Nothing turned up running Superantispyware. Explore says I have 1952 folders in my Windows directory, but I sure don't see that many. The virus scan was clean as well.

What might be going on here? Computer is running just fine. I have Windows XP Professional.

 

Do you have Symantec / Norton AV installed?

 

FWIW, my Windows Folder (W7 Ultimate 32 bit) is just under 10 gigs.
Even 34 gigs, for you, seems excessive.

Bazza

 

Along those same lines, do you use Google Earth?

RE: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=222889

 

Download, and install Disk Space Reporter: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Disc-Space-Reporter.shtml
In opening windows, select a drive to be scanned. Make sure, there is a checkmark in Store filenames in database.
Click Start button.
See, what's taking space in Windows folder.

 

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Rather than the usual 34 GB total on my computer, the scan showed that it had scanned about 187 GB total, and the additional GB I later discovered were in the Windows directory.

 

No. I use Avast Professional Edition Antivirus (have for a while now) and Comodo firewall. I routinely use CCleaner and scan with SUPERantispyware and Spybot.

 

No, but that is great to know. I have used it in the past but not on this computer.

 

I have XP Pro SP3. No freezes or errors at all so far. I just incidentally found out by running a virus scan and noticed that on the report it had scanned an unusually large amount of files, and I later figured out it was all coming from the Windows directory. I will try that with CCleaner and let you all know.

Thank you!

 

Well, that is interesting. I ran it, and it shows a total of about 33 GB in use on my C drive with Windows taking up about 9 GB. The biggest single file is hiberfil.sys on C:\ at about 3.5 GB. Next is RTaDbg.txt at 2.8 GB in C:\WINDOWS\. That is definitely different from what I am seeing when I look at the properties of my C:\ drive and the properties specifically of the Windows directory in terms of free space and space in use.

 

Read up on hiberfil.sys at http://www.google.com/search?q=hiberfil.sys&hl=en&num=10&lr=&ft=i&cr=&safe=images

One link.
Hiberfil.sys: What is it's function? How do I use it? How to delete it?
http://www.softwarepatch.com/tips/hiberfil-sys-xp.html

This quote mentions/is for XP, but hiberfil.sys continues in Vista and Win 7. :cry

You can save over 3 gigs of hard drive space if you do not put your PC into hibernation, but this still does not solve your initial query. Sorry.

Bazza

 

I heard about a false-positive-virus that afects AV Symantec and possibly affects Avast too, makes folders with over 25000 files, try checking the folders of the AV.

There's too a real virus that consume the HDD space, did you tried any antimalware tool different that mentioned, i mean, malwarebytes or MRT (Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool)?

 

I finally found the file that is so big in the windows directory - it is RTacDbg.txt. Apparently, from what I have found searching here and on Google, this is a log file associated with Neatgear's wireless adapter. I don't have a Netgear wireless adapter, nor do I have a Netgear router. I use a Rosewill adapter and a Realtek router, so it is pretty strange that I have this log file on my computer.

Is it safe to delete this file? How do I go about getting rid of it?

 

Wow no sense... :confused

 

As long as it is a genuine text file (*.txt), make a copy and save it to an external drive, or whatever, and then just delete it.

Right click on the file and select/press "Delete". That should get rid of it. :major

Bazza

 

Might want to get something to drink, though.
Even deleting something over 100GB in size will take a while.