Wretched Microsoft!

[Liveonce]

Windows 10 has eaten all the hard disk space on my laptop 28gb gone I am living with only around 100mb to do work with, yet have uninstalled every program I ever put on. Used all the windows tools to clean the disk but it never recovers much. Hate windows 10.

 

[NoIDeer]

Even if the OS is toast, the data should be fully accessible and recoverable. Do not rush to format.

Data recovery pretty easy stuff even if computers are not your thing: take the hard drive out and plug it into a second [working] PC which will then treat the non-booting hard drive as a storage device.

There are a myriad harnesses to turn an internal drive into an external, pluggable, option. The example below has a good review. There are others...

View attachment 223404

^^^ This to get your important and cherished files back.

 

[zambezi]

Windows 10 has eaten all the hard disk space on my laptop 28gb gone I am living with only around 100mb to do work with, yet have uninstalled every program I ever put on. Used all the windows tools to clean the disk but it never recovers much. Hate windows 10.

You could kill two birds with one stone:

Buy a quality external hard drive, must have USB3 speed, preferably solid state drive and use that for all your data.

Simultaneously you have a back up data drive which is independent of OS update snafus, and you have scalable storage. It really is a cheapish way to extend the life of a limited-storage platform. Example below. Others available...

 

[Liveonce]

You could kill two birds with one stone:

Buy a quality external hard drive, must have USB3 speed, preferably solid state drive and use that for all your data.

Simultaneously you have a back up data drive which is independent of OS update snafus, and you have scalable storage. It really is a cheapish way to extend the life of a limited-storage platform. Example below. Others available...

View attachment 223639

Thanks for the idea, been using a usb stick, have removed all my data from the hard disk and applications, just use it yet windows 10 has eaten the disk. Cleared out the browser temp files etc, just use it for emails.

Why windows wants 28gb is beyond me bring back DOS.

 

[zambezi]

Why windows wants 28gb is beyond me bring back DOS.

Even better, switch to linux.

The modern linux distros are as easy to use as Windows. In fact, they are easier for simple stuff like pics, text documents and pdfs.

Best bit? linux distros are FAST and take up very small disk footprints. [absence of bloatware]

Try one. Linuxmint do a version for each of three categories of user. I have run with Linuxmint for some years. It is a turnkey windows-like experience.

Download Linux Mint 20.2 - Linux Mint




But there are others:

Distrochooser

The Distrochooser helps you to find the suitable Linux distribution based on your needs!

distrochooser.de

Best Linux distro of 2025

Find the best Linux operating system for your needs

www.techradar.com

 

[nicowilson]

What would you recommend to replace the common or garden desktop, & can you link to a scanner / printer?

I have an iMac and I connect to a scanner via USB and to a printer via the network.

 

[finnbear270]

, Probably going to check these things out in New Year, when new workshop is up.

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Go Mac/iMac and you won’t look back….bought one in 2007 and it never let me down, upgraded it to a new 24” M1 chipped one this year and carried on where I left off….

Wouldnt be seen dead with anything Microsoft etc now…pita and v.expensive by the time you’ve paid out on anti-virus etc year in, year out.

The only thing that bugged me was that the Mac’s Pages word-processing wasn’t quite as good as MS Word…. But if I was really keen I could get that on the Mac. (‘cept I’m not )

 

[Kalahari]

As I understand it, Mac uses a clone of UNIX and guess what to a large extent LINUX is a reverse engineered UNIX. A massive amount of the clever CGI from Hollywood blockbusters is done using LINUX kit.

David.

 

[Sinistral]

What would you recommend to replace the common or garden desktop, & can you link to a scanner / printer?

The only option that's not been mentioned yet is a Chromebook. No need for a lot of storage, or any virus software when running Google Chrome. Everything is designed to connect up.
I've bought 3 chromebooks since giving up Windows-based laptops in 2017 - HP11, Acer-14, Acer-16. All three for the price of a Macbook.
There is a lot of useful advice online, but just check this is current as the tech is changing so fast.

Chromebook vs Laptop - Which Should You Buy?

Choosing between a Chromebook, MacBook or other laptop? Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons of each, so you can make the right choice.

tech.co

 

[NullMac]

Thanks for the idea, been using a usb stick, have removed all my data from the hard disk and applications, just use it yet windows 10 has eaten the disk. Cleared out the browser temp files etc, just use it for emails.

Why windows wants 28gb is beyond me bring back DOS.

Don't use a usb stick you don't know where it has been or who has been ****ing with it. Particularly the freebies. Sorry if its sucking eggs....