I'm trying to clear at least 15 GB of space on my laptop so I can reset it. I've heard that resetting the computer requires some free space. I used WizTree to find out why it showed 27 GB was being used by apps, and managed to free up 17 GB. But when I went to reset, it said I needed 900 MB to clear it. I checked WizTree again and it now shows I only have 12.6 GB free, and it keeps decreasing as I type—now down to 11.2 GB! I really don't know what to do. This laptop used to belong to my sister, and I want to reset it so I can use it, but it seems impossible when the space keeps vanishing. Should I just give up?
5 Answers
Keep in mind that Windows is always downloading updates and patches. This can cause your storage to fill up over time, which might explain the constant decrease.
Before you do anything drastic, I recommend copying any important files to an external drive. Then, perform a clean installation of the operating system. This way, you'll have a fresh start without all the unnecessary clutter.
If I were you, I'd skip the hassle of a reset and just create a Windows installation USB from another computer. Booting this laptop from it will allow you to wipe everything and reinstall Windows without needing to free up space on the hard drive first. Plus, the built-in reset often has issues that this method avoids. Here's a link to get you started: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d#id0ejd=windows_11
Check out the official guide for installing Windows, especially if you're not familiar with the installation process: https://rtech.support/installations/install-11/.
If you're looking to reclaim some space, you can also uninstall Windows update files from this folder: C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDownload.
Try using this command in an Administrator Command Prompt: `Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /startcomponentcleanup /resetbase`. It should help clean up some of the Windows files taking up space. Also, don't forget to run a disk cleanup and remove any temp files.
Honestly, you might want to consider using Ubuntu instead. It's a lightweight option and can breathe new life into older laptops.