Hard Drive Filling Up

[rocker68]

Hello all,

I have a Maxtor 60gb hard drive, running windows 2000, and noticed today the computer running very slow. I checked out the drive space, and noticed I had no free space. So I deleted some programs, and un-needed files. Next thing I know, within a few minutes, the hard drive has filled up again! So I deleted some more programs so I would have space to install a virus checker, and the hard drive got full before the install could finish. After deleting more programs, and quickly hitting install, I was finally able to get Norton virus program installed. It found a virus called W32.welchia worm.

I followed the instructions on how to remove the virus, rebooted, and ran the virus check again. Everything checked out virus free, and I also ran the avast virus program. But my hard drive keeps filling up, the problem is still here. Also, when I click on the drive letter of my 2nd hard drive, I get a message saying it's corrupted.

It seems that something is being created in the WINNT folder. The folder is 42.6 gb in size! I went though and right clicked / properties on each folder, and I cannot for the life of me find out what is going on. The folders located within the main WINNT folder all seem pretty small in size. Nothing near the 42.6 gb.

I am getting to the point where there is not much else to delete to free up space, just useful programs and applications that I don't want to lose.

Anyone have any suggestions on how I can find out where exactly all the storage is going, and how I can further troubleshoot this problem?

Thanks a ton in advance for any suggestions.

[in silico]

is there a way you can format and reinstall the OS?.
might sound like a newB way to fix it, but its what id do at this point.

[rocker68]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Yea, I could. But if there is anyone that has experienced something similar and has some sort of solution, I would much rather try to repair it. I just re-installed a few months ago, and hate to go through the hassle again!

[in silico]

i got the same thing once and it was a worm virus.
i did a scan, found it,and erased it, but my PC still ran slower then normal after that so i formatted and reinstalled the OS.

worked good as new after that but i know its kinda a hassle to reinstall the OS.

[HeddaLora]

I'd also try using AdAware because I've actually had it find and clean off various trojans that both Norton AV and ZoneAlarm missed.

Make sure you clean off all your temp files and temp internet files, too. You can clean out the temp internet files through Internet Explorer (Tools, Internet Options, Delete Files & make sure you check "delete all off-line content" too). You can clean temp files off manually (c:\windows\temp or its equivalent in other operating systems), and you can also use Disk Cleanup (Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools).

[rocker68]

Thanks guys. But how do I find out exactly where all the gb is going in the WINNT folder? My wife has 1.27 gb in the WINNT folder on her machine (that I am currently typing on because mine is so damn slow at the moment), and that is so much less than the 42.6 gb in the WINNT folder on my computer.

If I can find out where this very large file is being created in the WINNT folder, or maybe it's many smaller files that add up to a lot of GB, couldn't I just delete those files?

Thanks again,

[Ace McGirk]

Not sure on Win2k, but look at the "performance log settings"

I had this happen on XP, somehow I set the thing to write alog and it just kept fillin the drive up.

[jerrygarcia]

Try TrendMicro's free online 'House Call' virus scanner. I doesn't hurt to use more than one virus checker and this one is free.

[rocker68]

Thanks Jerry. Yea, I used that online scanner. Very nice! In fact, that is how I initially found out I had that damn virus. I ran it again, after removing the virus, and it said the system was virus free. I guess I will prepare for a system reinstall.

[Beemer]

The Pirate virus does exactly what you have described. What it does is adds file size to your existing .exe files. This is what fills your HDD. It's running rampant in the warez croud.

Cheers!