Question Windows error "Not enough space on C:" ?

[USAFRet]

Disk 1, the E drive, labeled Samsung SSD.

What specific model drive is that?
A Samsung solid state drive?

And what, exactly, is on it?

 

[zpuskas]

Disk 1, the E drive, labeled Samsung SSD.

What specific model drive is that?
A Samsung solid state drive?

And what, exactly, is on it?

Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB [Hard drive] (1000.20 GB) -- drive 1, s/n S59VNMFN906057N, rev RVT04B6Q

 

[USAFRet]

Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB [Hard drive] (1000.20 GB) -- drive 1, s/n S59VNMFN906057N, rev RVT04B6Q

OK then...an actual SSD.
A potential good candidate for a clone operation.

Again ... what, exactly is on this drive?

And also, the D drive, the 1TB HDD.

 

[zpuskas]

There are program and data on this drive. I could possibly move them to another drive.

 

[zpuskas]

OK then...an actual SSD.
A potential good candidate for a clone operation.

Again ... what, exactly is on this drive?

And also, the D drive, the 1TB HDD.

Both drives have program and data, photos, and other files.

 

[USAFRet]

Both drives have program and data, photos, and other files.

OK.
Now we, actually you, have a problem.

If it were only 'data', this would be easy.

But the current OS has references to Programs being on the D and E drives.
This is not easy to simply undo, or clone.

Are you willing and able to reinstall whatever Programs live on the E drive, the Samsung SSD?

 

[zpuskas]

OK.
Now we, actually you, have a problem.

If it were only 'data', this would be easy.

But the current OS has references to Programs being on the D and E drives.
This is not easy to simply undo, or clone.

Are you willing and able to reinstall whatever Programs live on the E drive, the Samsung SSD?

Looking at the programs, yes, I can uninstall on the E: and reinstall on the D: drive. I assume I can install some of those programs on an external too?

 

[USAFRet]

Looking at the programs, yes, I can uninstall on the E: and reinstall on the D: drive. I assume I can install some of those programs on an external too?

Slow down a bit.

Yes, 'unstall'. This will hopefully remove any references int he Registry to those applications.
Do NOT install on the D yet.

What your looking to do is, eventually, fully wipe the E drive.

First, copy ALL of the personal data to the D, or the external.
Not applications, just your files.

Verify at least twice, that you have everything.

Get that done, and then we will look into cleaning off that E drive.

 

[zpuskas]

I'll start that now. Delete all data, leave the apps.

 

[USAFRet]

I'll start that now. Delete all data, leave the apps.

And Uninstall the applications.

This will, hopefully, remove references of those applications from the Registry.

 

[stuff and nonesense]

Your Samsung drive is a SSD. Can you move its data to a different drive?

The reason I ask, Samsung has a program, it’s free, that will clone your current boot drive. It will wipe the Samsung SSD and replace its contents with the boot drive data. This program is reliable, I’ve used it a few times.

How to download Data Migration tool for SSD data back up | Samsung UK

Find out how to download and use the Samsung Data Migration tool from Samsung Magician to back up your SSD data with our easy guide.

www.samsung.com

 

[USAFRet]

Your Samsung drive is a SSD. Can you move its data to a different drive?

That is what we are in the process of doing.

Here, you're asking him to jump to Step 8, ignoring Steps 2-7.

 

[stuff and nonesense]

That is what we are in the process of doing.

Here, you're asking him to jump to Step 8, ignoring Steps 2-7.

Nope, I was providing the link to the software that Samsung provide. Nothing more.

 

[stuff and nonesense]

I hadn’t seen the second page of the thread…

 

[USAFRet]

Nope, I was providing the link to the software that Samsung provide. Nothing more.

With his current config, there are a lot of things that need to be done before we get to the 'what software to use' stage.

The Samsung Data Migration (as part of Samsung Magician) is almost certainly the tool to use.
But he needs to get the system properly configured before doing that.

And SDM is specifically recommended in my clone steps. Which will be presented when the system is in a proper state.

 

[zpuskas]

And Uninstall the applications.

This will, hopefully, remove references of those applications from the Registry.

And Uninstall the applications.

This will, hopefully, remove references of those applications from the Registry.

Moved everything off E: onto external drive. Here's a link to Disk managementDisk mgt One possible issue, my Desktop icon keeps popping up in the E even though I have moved it to External drive .

 

[USAFRet]

Moved everything off E: onto external drive. Here's a link to Disk managementDisk mgt One possible issue, my Desktop icon keeps popping up in the E even though I have moved it to External drive .

What do you mean by the 'Desktop' on the E drive?
Have you, in the past, redirected that Desktop folder to the E drive?

As a test....
Power off
Physically disconnect the E drive.
Power up

Does everything work OK?

 

[zpuskas]

What do you mean by the 'Desktop' on the E drive?
Have you, in the past, redirected that Desktop folder to the E drive?

As a test....
Power off
Physically disconnect the E drive.
Power up

Does everything work OK?

I mean Desktop (holding desktop app icons and other data) folder on the E: drive. I transferred it to the External drive. I don't know how it was directed to the E drive. There is no Desktop on the C drive.
I cannot disconnect the E drive without opening the computer. Is that what you mean?

 

[USAFRet]

I mean Desktop (holding desktop app icons and other data) folder on the E: drive. I transferred it to the External drive. I don't know how it was directed to the E drive. There is no Desktop on the C drive.
I cannot disconnect the E drive without opening the computer. Is that what you mean?

Yes. Physically opening the case and disconnect that drive.

You're going to have to do this anyway, near the end of the clone process.

 

[zpuskas]

OK, will do.

 

[zpuskas]

OK, will do.

Disconnected E. Yes, everything seems to be working fine. No desktop or app icons but I can start programs via Start menu or clicking a file.

 

[USAFRet]

Disconnected E. Yes, everything seems to be working fine. No desktop or app icons but I can start programs via Start menu or clicking a file.

OK....we can proceed.
Not quite sure what is going on with your Desktop, as you state you made no changes to that location.


But...to clone from the current C drive to the 1TB Samsung.

-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Magician (which includes Data Migration), if a Samsung target SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up

Verify the system boots with ONLY the current "C drive" connected.
If not, we have to fix that first.

Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specify the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

(swapping cables is irrelevant with NVMe drives, but DO disconnect the old drive for this next part)
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

 

[zpuskas]

OK....we can proceed.
Not quite sure what is going on with your Desktop, as you state you made no changes to that location.


But...to clone from the current C drive to the 1TB Samsung.

-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Magician (which includes Data Migration), if a Samsung target SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up

Verify the system boots with ONLY the current "C drive" connected.
If not, we have to fix that first.

Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specify the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

(swapping cables is irrelevant with NVMe drives, but DO disconnect the old drive for this next part)
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

OK, thanks. I'll read this a few times and plan it out in advance. Will advise soon. Probably a few questions too.

 

[USAFRet]

OK, thanks. I'll read this a few times and plan it out in advance. Will advise soon. Probably a few questions too.

OK

 

[zpuskas]

OK

Questions:
Partitioning scheme, MBR or GPT, how to tell which I have?
SATA or PCIe/NVMe, how to tell which I have

I plan to use Samsung Magician since it seems easier.
If I have SATA drives, it appears I need to swap cables. So I swap the C cables to the E? Powr up. Verify Boot order. If it all looks good, then connect C drive and wipe partitions.
Thank you.