C:\Windows is... growing?

When I first installed Windows XP no service pack 2 years ago it was about 1GB in size. Now it's SP2 with all the latest updates from microsoft, with over 130 programs installed and naturally windows has grown. It's now 4.7GB in size.

What is really bothering me is that it keeps growing on average about 10MB a day and continues to grow. Now with 280GB and 3 harddrives that wouldn't be a problem but... why the heck is it growing so much?!

I know windows grows whenever you install/uninstall apps 10MB/day when I ain't doing anything seems erratical! Any ideeas as to WHERE on earth it's stockpiling so much data and what I can do to stop its tumor-like growth?

I have already disabled logging on anything that isn't windows service, tried cleaning temps and prefetch, disabled indexing service and system restore service. I absolutely know I have no viruses or adware since up-to-date NAV2005 and Ad-aware don't detect anything, and I never have any suspicious programs running. Also, none of my programs have automatic updating enabled. And I have no useless services installed by any of my many programs running.

As for background programs I have yahoo, msn, aim, zonealarm, norton goback, and nav2005. Those are all, with all possible logging options disabled. Running processes are okay. Also would it have to do that my windows folder is growing so fast because my computer runs 24/7?

Please point out any possible places where it keeps stockpiling files and if there's anything I can do to stop it, or anything I could safely delete.

 

Heh, I wouldn't be concerned about it unless you suspect a malware infection. The C:\windows folder contains temporary files, so it will grow as your applications cache files there. CCleaner will help you remove temp files, but that's hardly the only thing going on with that folder. When you installed SP2, did you choose the option to archive files? If so, every update you do creates a folder in c:\windows so that you can uninstall an update. That's going to be taking up quite a bit of space.

This is just what I can think of off the top. I bet there's much more that I haven't covered here. Unless you see unusual behaviour (malware - ie not able to open task manager, or command prompt, or other Windows system utilities) accompanying this, I would not be worried.

 

Maybe try Trillian. One application to replace these 3.

Quote]As for background programs I have yahoo, msn, aim,

 

Check out thread
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=97007
for more users/uses of Trillian. Bazza

 

After windows live + live plus' superb features and yahoo and msn merging I REALLY don't wanna quit windows messenger live ever. <3 Besides, you didn't point out how it could be filling up my windows folder?

Mada_Milty: Yeah, I have a buncha $ntuninstall folders for every windows update. How do I disable it from doing that?

No, my comp is 100% clean.

 

Suggest that you burn all $ntuninstall folders to a CD or DVD.
Then you could delete them for more space.
Make 2 copies for extra safety and label them accordingly.
All care and no responsibility for this suggestion as I have not tried it myself, yet.

I assume this will be safe and ask others to comment.
Bazza

===