[X-RaY]

Hey guys!

This isn't rlly urban terror related, (well... it is, if you look far enough)
The issue: Windows XP is gaining size, without any reason to do so.

I've got parallels (version 4 atm) installed on my Macmini OSX intel.
There i added Windows xp from a disk, having yay windows on mac.

At first, the file was 2 gigs.
So, my sister installed some little apps on it, because of school work (8 times 5 MB)
I also installed a few little apps (max 200 MB all together)

Theoretically, my windows should be about 2.5 Gigs big...
but in the meantime... it grew to 11 gigs!

I mean... seriously?? that thing just ate 9 gigs from my hard drive
my dad has it to, he's windows started with 2 gigs as well, and is 16 gigs now...

It wouldn't be much of a issue if i got enough hard drive space... but i don't
if windows eats another 6 gigs... i don't have HD space anymore.

Already defragmentated [?], but that wasn't helpful at all.

Any of you guys having any idea how to prevent it, or get my space back?


Tnx in advance!

X-RaY

[Solved]

This post has been edited by X-RaY: 18 May 2010 - 05:53 PM

[Mod ObScUrE]

I think thats the system restore feature internet cache and win updates and etc, etc, etc...
run CCleaner.

[X-RaY]

ok, did that.
Freed 200 mb of space, in the meanwhile, windows took another 500 mb...
so, still 9 gigs to go...

[Kampfer]

I'm not really sure how Parallels handles everything memory wise. It might hog more room than an actual partition, but I doubt it would take up that much more room. At any rate, I assume the file size increased (at least a little) since there are some updates that Windows probably wants (or already did) install after you set it up. I doubt this would ramp your memory usage to the levels you're at. (I have Windows partitioned via bootcamp on a mac. I THINK the basic windows components are hogging about 4.5 gigs, and I THINK it's installed all the updates.)

I don't really know how to fix your problem. At the very least, you could check the sizes of your folders and such and see exactly what's hogging the most room. It might give you a clue as to what's eating up your memory. The only cross-over application I've ever used is VMWare, so I'm not sure if it functions the same way as Parallels. I assume the basic functions are the same though, so you should be able to simply delete your Virtual Machine should you want your space back. Obviously, all your stuff in Windows will be gone.

[X-RaY]

Yea, i tried to look into the: 'Show package contents'
in there, there are a few little files, and one nine gigs file called 'Windows XP.pvm'
when i show package contents of that, i have 3 little files, and one nine gigs file called: Windows XP-0.hdd.0.{<numbers and digits>}.hds
<numbers and digits> is: i dunno, some kind of serial number
but i can't show package contents that file :(

So can't see what's taking all this space...
Is there some kind of way to set windows to factory default?
i could do that :S

[Kampfer]

X-RaY, on 16 May 2010 - 08:44 PM, said:

Yea, i tried to look into the: 'Show package contents'
in there, there are a few little files, and one nine gigs file called 'Windows XP.pvm'
when i show package contents of that, i have 3 little files, and one nine gigs file called: Windows XP-0.hdd.0.{<numbers and digits>}.hds
<numbers and digits> is: i dunno, some kind of serial number
but i can't show package contents that file :(

So can't see what's taking all this space...
Is there some kind of way to set windows to factory default?
i could do that :S

Lol, I meant poke around inside your Windows VM. You should be able to get more info that way. I think...

This post has been edited by Kampfer: 16 May 2010 - 09:08 PM

[X-RaY]

Aha, well parallels is just an app, where you can import virtual machines in
parallels is located in /Applications/
the virtual machines are in: ~/Documents/Parallels
(i have Ubuntu Linux.pvm and Windows XP.pvm)

But to see what's taking up that much memory... well, i've been using mac since, like... forever
so i know where the shutdown button is on windows... but that's about it, lol...
is there any tool to see what directory is taking how much space.
ex:
My Documtents: 1 GB
My Desktop: 15 KB

As far as i know i have only one disk: C:
so, it might be something in Program Files

Windows XP in parallels is just really windows
nothing macisch on it
Basically, windows on bootcamp is the same windows on parallels.... i think

This post has been edited by X-RaY: 17 May 2010 - 07:51 AM

[Mod ObScUrE]

I would recommand this here WinDirStat

This post has been edited by ObScUrE: 17 May 2010 - 02:22 PM

[uJ|Driller]

[offtopic, but he is my friend!]

LOL Xray : I mean... seriously?? that thing just ate 9 gigs from my hard drive

Pictures please

EDIT: but i think its mac related. normal windows xp doesnt get bigger and bigger. Maybe because its virtual it has to be that big, and if u install it normally as a dual-boot u just get the normal size?? idk, sry....
And Ccleaner (piriform) is good for clean-beginners. Cant get wrong with the default settings, the program exist a long time.
How much HD is reserved for your virtual memory (aka swap file or so) on xp?

This post has been edited by Driller: 17 May 2010 - 10:30 PM

[X-RaY]

@ Obscure: tnx, i'll try that tomorrow

@ Driller, hehe:

Dunno how much space is reserved for HD, but i think just as much as i got on my Mac ;)
Can't find the option anywhere, where i can choose max space for virtual windows... (i'de like it on...4 or 5 gigs)