Category Archives: Microsoft Windows XP

Clear Temporary Internet Files for All Users

I came across this utility from the folks over at Ctrl-Alt-Del Consulting which is great for reclaiming space taken by users temporary internet files stacking up over time. I’ve found it especially helpful on terminal servers with hundreds of users. Download their free tool ICSweep here:

http://www.ctrl-alt-del.com.au/CAD_Utils.htm

Once downloaded, extract it to the root of C:\. Open an administrative command prompt and cd to the “C:\ICSweep” directory and reference the following switches:

Usage:
ICSweep [/ALL|/TIF|/TMP] [/?]

  /ALL   -   Delete both Temporary Internet Files and Temp files
  /TIF   -   Delete Temporary Internet Files only (Default)
  /TMP   -   Delete Temp files only
  /SIZE  -   Report the size of both Temporary Internet Files
             and Temp files in each profile NOT in use. This
             switch will also report the total size of
             both Temporary Internet Files and Temp files NOT
             in use. It DOES NOT DELETE any files.
  /?     -   show this help file

Empty Recycling Bins For All Users

Many times on a Windows Server or PC you will have had multiple users log in at some point in time, and each user account has it’s own Recycling Bin. When getting cramped for free space, it can be handy to empty all Recycling Bin’s at one time, so you do have to, or can’t log into the other accounts:

Windows7, Server2008/R2, Server2012/R2

rd /s c:\$Recycle.Bin


WindowsXP, Vista, Server2003/R2

rd /s c:\recycler

Resize or Extend a Windows Disk

For Windows XP, Server 2003, and Vista, this will only work for data (Non C:\) partitions. It will work for all disks on Windows 7, 8, 2008/R2, 2012/R2 disks (including C:\).

NOTE: Be cautious, you can grow disks as many times as you want (up to 2TB) but not shrink them (in Vista, 7/8, 2008/R2, 2012/R2 you can shrink the partition but cannot shrink the underlying disk).

1. Allocate additional free disk space on the Disk

  • For VMs, you first must increase the VMs disk size using VMware vSphere client or Hyper-V Host server. Find the VM that you want to expand, edit the properties of its virtual disk to increase it. (see Adding/Editing VMware Virtual Disk)
  • For physical servers, move/remove partitions as needed

2. Confirm New Space

  • Back to the computer, right-click My Computer > Manage. Go to Disk Management, right-click and Re-Scan Disks if it hasn’t already shown the new extent. Confirm the new space is available on the same disk as the partition you want to extend.

3. Use DiskPart to Extend

Open command prompt as Administrator and perform the following:

  • >diskpart
  • >list volume
  • >select volume VOLUME_#_TO_BE_EXTENDED

To extend using all available space:

        • >extend

To use a portion of the available space

        • >extend size=SIZE_IN_MB_THE_PARTITION_SHOULD_BE_EXTENDED

If the partition still shows the same amount of free space it had prior to being extended, go back to >diskpart, select the volume and try:

    • >extend file system

4. Grab a beer.