BleepingComputer.com: What Programs To Keep And How To Partition Hd?

Hi All,

I got new Sony Vaio with Windows Vista Home Premium, 32 bit OS,140 GB HD and 1 GB RAM. N it has come with hell lot of junk software...I had uninstalled few of them already but before I proceed on cleanup mission (as 20GB space is already consumed 'coz of these s/w which I dont know or I might never even use) want to know what all I need to keep so that I can remove the junk?? Help is really apprciated!!

Also I have not got any CDs ..I mean drivers cd or OS cd ...do I need to ask them ?? Or is it that they just dont come these days??
I want to partion only drive that I have, how do I do that without OS cd? Plese guide me through the process.

Thanks a lot!!

Only you can tell what's needed and what's not. Just list the things that you're unsure of and we can make suggestions.

As for the CD's - they're not provided any longer (it's a cost saving measure). But you can make recovery CD's by going into Help and Support and clicking on the Sony Backup icon there (can't recall the exact name tho - but it's the icon on the lower right of the initial Help and Support window).

Thanks for reply..Yeah /i have been doing it... AS I guess most of the softwares are junk s/w only!! But weird thing is as i am uninstalling s/w HD instead of increasing free space, its decreasing!!!! I mean it was 121 GB free space intially and after uninstalling lots of s/w iots 115GB free space I simply dont know why this is happening?? Even I had defragmented drive yesterday but no use...Can anyone tell me what should I check or do? Or where the hell the space is getting used???

Have you emptied your Recycle Bin and temporary files? Have you checked your System Restore settings?

Yes i did empty recycle bin but still no clue what is eating up the HD space which should have been emptied!!!! And what exactly should I check in system restore setting,please elaborate that will be helpful!

Also I tried to partion my HD using Shrink partition option which allowed max space of 10 GB and i want to partition for at least 40 GB or fo more partitions but it does not allow to do more partition showing available space as 0 ...What should I do, please please help.

Any chance your computer is making automatic backups, possibly to your D drive? I've heard that some OEMs are set to default to that, which is really annoying, given that Vista Home Premium uses D for its restore files. Also, you mentioned having emptied your recycle bin but didn't say whether you had cleared the temp files.

its your system restore creating a new restor point everytime you uninstall something,,,, vista uses way too much hard drive for system restore, on some machines as much as 40gig like mine, to get some back and reset how much restore uses take a look at this link
http://www.watchingthenet.com/how-to-reduc...em-restore.html
good luck

Hi Figgis,

Great link! Thanks.

Thanks ...the link is really good...

Yeah I did clear all temp files, along with emptying recycle bin..I had done defrag too so that to free up the space....N honestly I had partioned drive after uninstalling unnecessary programs...n before that it was single 141 GB drive ...n mysteriously every time I uninstalled s/w the space insted of being free , was getting used up....sp as per link I am guessing its same problem of space being used up for system restore...

I will try the solution discussed and see if I get lucky to get rid of untrackable space eater!!!

Thanks a ton you all