Single 2008r2 server c drive very low on space - What can I delete or move

[edutech4schools]

Just noticed our 2008r2 server is below 3gb on the c drive. This is a primary school and this server runs everything from DC DHCP DNS SQL Printers + all work. All work is on the D drive which does have plenty of space.

 

I don't want to do anything to radical as they are due a new server next May.

 

What can I do to get some space back on the C drive, remove old updates? remove log files?

 

Also will take a look at moving the SQL database over to the D drive but not done this before so any step by steps would be very handy. BTW it is SQL express 2012 but does have management interface

[3s-gtech]

I've found that compressing the contents of C:\Windows\Installer can help. This is usually pretty chunky (13GB here on my W7 install) and doesn't damage the OS if compressed. It's also worth installing the desktop experience onto the server which gives you access to the Disk Cleanup wizard.

[edutech4schools]

just running Disk Cleanup wizard - thanks

[edutech4schools]

Got it up to 6gb on C which although not great takes the heat off me a bit.

[bossman]

@edutech4schools

 

Do you have any other drives in the server?

 

If so you could try moving the swap file over to a different drive this could be worth a few Gigs!

[edutech4schools]

Do you have any other drives in the server?

 

If so you could try moving the swap file over to a different drive this could be worth a few Gigs!

 

Did that just now but server needs to reboot. I will need to reboot tonight at some point.

[Firefox]

Run an elevated cmd prompt and type Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase this should clear any superceeded updates

[jslate1980]

What about installing clean up tools see http://www.thewindowsclub.com/clean-winsxs-directory-windows-server-2008-r2-new-update

[win]

adjust the pagefile to a small fixed size on C, and the large one on D

[Sagima]

If you;re running radius auth on it there can be a whole load of log files generated by it (c:\windows\system32\logfiles) - mine start with the letters IN

[edutech4schools]

adjust the pagefile to a small fixed size on C, and the large one on D

 

What sort of small pagefile size would you recommend for c?

[win]

i think the lowest it allows is 512 on C drive

 

then put the D to something like 6144 or 8192 depending on your spec

[edutech4schools]

@win I have 2 settings, initial size and max size for both HDDs, any suggestions what I should put for these for both drives. Thanks

 

[edutech4schools]

Its OK found a website that says to set both to the same.

 

Any reason for not setting the D drive to system managed?

[edutech4schools]

Incase anyone else does this, I thought I had killed the server - Rebooted the server, rdp to it from another server and it said 'Please wait for the Windows Modules Installer' it was stuck on this for about 20mins. Reading online lots of people rebooted the server and had issues, I just left it and it eventually logged in.

[edutech4schools]

Just wanted to say thanks to you all - I now have 16gb free on my servers c drive and can relax. Edited September 25, 2015 by edutech4schools

[DMcCoy]

That slow login was the cleanup of the winsxs folder of unused windows update files/versions (you ran cleanup and 2008 R2 is now patched to cleanup old updates like Win 7). This happens during reboot of 2008R2/7 unlike 2012/8 and later that run the cleanup without needing the reboot.

[win]

Both the same is right, saves system resources from reallocating space all the time.

 

System managed is ok but i prefer manual because system managed is dynamic (min and max) so it keeps changing. Wastes resources and fragments the drive. Glad you got it sorted - 16gb is plenty (for now)!

[Ausy]

There is some help with that winsxs folder as it will probably grow again.

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-server-2008-r2/134798-winsxs-folder-clogging-c.html