How can I retrieve Hard Drive Space back from Allocation?

My son decided while I was at a convention this weekend to make a bunch of uncompressed gameplay videos. So my 250g HD was down to about 7gb when I came home.

So this game I've been waiting to play finally gets Open Beta and now I can't play it. I looked everywhere for system reqs or maximum HD space but couldn't find anything. I was able to get my available HD space to about 15gb and figured that should be enough space, thinking that when I started the install I'd be told how much space it would take up (most installers do) and if I don't have enough, I simply won't install.

Instead it went to allocating resources and I check the forums, and most of what I see says its only about 5.5gb so I figured I'd be okay. I let it go all the way down to 8gb left and realized that this game may be a lot bigger than I thought and I will have to wait until I can backup my sons videos before I play.

So I cancel the resource allocation, uninstall the program, delete all remaining files and folders pertaining to the game and restart.

Now I only have 5gb left.

So I started with 15gb, canceled at 8gb and after uninstalling I now only have 5gb left on my HD. Is there anyway to get that missing 10gb space back for use? I don't like the idea of permanently losing HD space to a game that I may not even be playing after a couple months. (I'm picky)

I'm using Windows Vista.

Seems like you did everything I would of done if I were to cancel the installation. However to lose 10gb of space in thin air seems pretty ridiculous.

Have you checked and made sure the folders and files you deleted were removed from your HD? If so did you delete them from your Recycle Bin, I know... sounds ridiculous but you never know.

If its stored in the recycling bin and never gets empty it just takes up space.

Yeah, after I uninstalled I deleted the installer from Downloads, I deleted the extras that always get left behind in Program Files, I deleted the folder from Documents/Games. Then I did a search for that big content file that everyone was talking about (can't remember the name at the moment) and a search for anything "Path of Exile". Then I emptied the Recycle Bin and did a restart.

The only thing left I haven't checked is the registry, and I'm uncomfortable messing with that on a Vista (if you even can).

I can't think of anywhere else PoE files might have hidden themselves during the allocation process. Unless it's in the temp files and that place confuses the heck outta me. Nothing is ever named what it is, just a bunch of numbers so I don't know if there's anything PoE in there or not.

Hmmm...I don't know if I can post external links in regards to downloading software programs but I'll just assume that I'm not allowed to do that, but recommend you search for it on Google.

A software program called TreeSize it should be freeware. I used to use this when I had Windows Vista. It pretty much tells you what your folders sizes are and whats allocated to them, with that you might be able to pinpoint the exact location of where your missing HD space might of went.

Check for irregularity in sizes on folders you frequently use first then just go down the line of process and elimination from there.

Hope that helps and GL!

I'll give that a try later tonight or tomorrow. (That can probably also help me make sure I've tracked down all of my sons video files!)

I'm just about done messing with the thing today and I still need to cook dinner. Thanks for all the help!

^_^

Disk Cleanup was able to free 20gb+ from the temp files, so I'm willing to bet that thats where the hidden data was. Since the allocation wasn't finished, it probably didn't properly clear itself out of temp.

I have 20GB free but the game did still says I don't have enough disk space.

I think this is because PoE is one of many games now that download a zip to the system drive, and then unzips into the folder you want on the partition you want.

This means you could 200GB from where you want to install, but if you are 1MB short on your System Drive,the game says you don't have enough!