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December 26th, 2017 10:00

Dell Inspiron 15 OS (C): Space used 98%

Total Size 450 GB, Local Disk Free Space 9.10 GB, File System NTFS

This is a lap top I am very happy with, although it's 4 years old. I'd like to fix or upgrade it, if needed/possible. It does a ton of word processing, Redditing, stores documents and photos and music galore. Just added some music from Christmas when I noticed the disk space thingy. 

It has been starting up very slow, but going mostly fine once it's awake. The Space Used 98% thing seems to have gone up dramatically lately, so I'm trying out a WebRoot scan on it (trialware). Otherwise:

What's usually wrong here?

Do I need to add memory? Can I add memory? How do I tell if that's even possible?

And then, how do I tell what I need? I am comfortable doing some work on it (don't think I've ever opened this particular laptop up, except to remove fuzz from fan).

I probably need some assistance understanding the difference between different types of memory, etc. and how they work, and what it means when they are overloaded. 

Thank you!

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87.5K Posts

December 26th, 2017 12:00

You can use a free  utility to examine what is taking up the disc space.  If it's just files, move little-used files to your external/backup drive - though you can also install a larger capacity hard drive or solid state drive, depending on your budget and the exact system model you have (most 15" systems will take only one internal drive -- we'd need to know the exact model - Inspiron N5110, 5321, etc. to tell you for sure).

One useful/free utility:

https://windirstat.net/

December 26th, 2017 16:00

Thank you ejn63!

Dell's site says I have a Dell Inspiron 15R 5521 laptop. Does that help?

How do I tell if I can install a larger drive?

I have installed winirstat and I'm deleting unneeded stuff.

72 Posts

December 26th, 2017 17:00

While I do not have many files like music, games or pictures, I keep (laptop) all those types of files on an external hdd. On my desktops the ssd is only 120gig and other files on an internal hdd. Of course getting a larger hdd is not that hard. You have to research what you want and can do with your computer.

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