C: Drive Frequently Full Issue

It seems you are experiencing an issue with the C: drive reporting full despite minimal actual data usage. This can be caused by several factors, including hidden files, system restore points, or issues with the file system itself.

Here are some suggestions to help diagnose and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Disk Cleanup: Although you've mentioned performing disk cleanup, ensure that you are checking all options, including system files. Sometimes, temporary files or previous Windows installations can take up significant space.
2. Check for Hidden Files: Use the command prompt to check for hidden files that may not be visible in the file explorer. You can use the command dir /a in the command prompt to see all files, including hidden ones.
3. Check for System Restore Points: System restore points can take up significant space. You can manage these by going to System Properties > System Protection and checking the settings for the C: drive.
4. Cluster Size Issues: If the cluster size is too large for the average file size being stored, it may lead to wasted space. You can check the size on disk versus the actual file size to see if this is the case. If necessary, you may need to reformat the drive with a smaller cluster size, but this requires backing up your data first.
5. Disk Space Monitoring Tools: Consider using tools like TreeSize or WinDirStat to visualize disk usage and identify any unexpected large files or folders that may be consuming space.
6. File System Corruption: Run a check disk operation to ensure there are no file system errors. You can do this by running chkdsk C: /f in the command prompt. This can help fix any underlying issues that might be causing the misreporting of disk space.

If the problem persists after trying these steps, it may be worth investigating further into system configurations or considering a more in-depth analysis of the system's storage management settings.

References:

• The Disk Space status is Unhealthy
• Creating a Disk Cleanup Handler

Hmm.. this does not appear to be a general Windows issue but rather something specific to the system configuration or storage layer. I suggest you to consider a few points here:

Windows Search .edb growth: The large .edb file can consume significant space if indexing is not optimized. Disabling or rebuilding the Windows Search index may help prevent recurring growth.

Hidden allocations: Even when visible files are small, disk space can be consumed by system‑reserved areas (e.g., hibernation file, page file, or reserved storage). Please check if these are enabled and consuming space.

Storage driver/firmware: Misreporting of disk usage can occur if the storage controller drivers or firmware are outdated. Updating chipset/storage drivers and BIOS/firmware is recommended.

Third‑party tools: Use tools like WinDirStat or TreeSize to visualize hidden allocations and confirm where space is being consumed.

Hardware health: In rare cases, SSD firmware bugs or failing drives can misreport capacity. Running the manufacturer’s diagnostic utility can rule this out.

This is not a known widespread Windows defect, but rather a configuration or hardware‑specific issue. Addressing indexing, reserved storage, and ensuring firmware/drivers are current should provide a permanent fix.

I hope these steps help you move forward. If you find this answer helpful, please click “Accept Answer” so we know your question has been addressed 🙂.