Nothing to delete on disk, but not enough disk space to install updates

[Michaelaleigh3]

I have deleted absolutely everything possible from my internal drive, emptied all trash, moved all non essential programs like games to an external hard drive, and still my disk space is 100% full and can't properly run programs or download updates. There's no non essential programs left to delete or move. Not sure what else I can do to free up space?

[NonSequitur777]

@Michaelaleigh3,

Unfortunately, in my experience, the 100% disk usage you described is almost always a sign of a dying drive -especially if it is an HHD aka a "spinning" drive.

My suggestion is to invest in a new drive (ideally an SSD) and use the freeware Macrium software to clone your drive as soon as possible.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[itsmyname]

@Michaelaleigh3 -- still my disk space is 100% full 

In the input-area to the right of the "Windows" icon at the bottom-left of your screen, type CLEAN -- but do not press ENTER.

One of the items that wlil pop-up along the left edge of the screen is "Disk Cleanup".

Click to run it.

The first time, just press "OK" to delete some files.

Repeat the typing of CLEAN, and this time, click "cleanup system files".

Then, open your web-browser, and find the setting to "delete temporary Internet files", and delete those files.

Also, look into your "Downloads" folder, for files that you may have downloaded multiple times. Delete the duplicates.  Also, look at the "applications" that are in this folder. If there is an "Adobe Reader Installer", delete it. If there is a "Microsoft Edge Updater", delete it.   Then, open your Recycle Bin folder, and click "Empty the folder".

Now, is your disk-drive still close to 100% full ?

If so, then as the Other Person suggested, it is time to upgrade to a disk-drive with a larger capacity.

If you use Microsoft Outlook on your computer, open the "Deleted Messages" folder, and delete all the messages.

Note that the "PST" file that Outlook creates can become very large, and very fragmented, over time, as you add new messages, and delete other messages.  Once you have some available disk-space, use the "compact" option within Outlook to minimize the size of the PST file.

[Prométhée]

Hi

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-pavilion-gaming-desktop-pc-tg01-0000a/37874510/model/3793389...

Whatever you do you have a single 256gb SSD
Although the opposite has been said most of the time, as I have mentioned a number of times here, it is not enough..
You will clean it, and you will come back to the same point, over the updates, installation of programs, etc.
You should consider if possible the installation of a secondary disk, in order to place all that is personal documents there, possibly installation of some programs
And as suggested, if not enough, install a larger capacity SSD
see for example this

Re: So my PC came with a 1TB hard drive, how do I find where... - HP Support Community - 7834985

check this

https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/how-to-delete-the-windows-old-folder-from-windows-10/

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/Does-my-pc-TG01-0030-capable-of...

[erico]

Take a look in the Windows Explorer to see if there is a Windows .old folder.  You can safely delete that one. I happen to have plenty of free storage capacity in this gaming desktop PC, but take a look at my Windows.old folder in the image.

"How to delete the Windows. old folder using Storage sense settings

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.
4. Under the "Storage sense" section, click the Change how we free up space automatically option.
5. Under the "Free up space now" section, check the Delete previous version of Windows option."

[Prométhée]

hi yes @erico 

suggest here

"check this

https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/how-to-delete-the-windows-old-folder-from-windows-10/ "