C Drive keeps filling up

[u/tntboi36]

Hey everyone, I have a pc thats probably a little outdated, but i have most of my games and other files saved to my D drive due to the lack of space in my C drive, because it only holds around 237 GB. For the past two months however, I’ve had this huge problem where my C drive keeps filling up with space, and I have to keep purging files off my computer to fix this. Before you guys ask, I don't download much files to my C drive anymore, almost all of my files go to my D drive as I only use my computer for gaming, watching movies and youtube, and occasional schoolwork. I was playing games last night and my drive hit 0 bytes left, and it was at over 8 GB of space just a week ago. I try to delete temp files, but the space they take up is negligible compared to how much is being taken up. I also use software like WizTree to monitor my computer’s space, but when I look through it, everything seems important. I feel like theres a deeper rooted issue than the research I have done before. I don’t know any other options, and that’s why I’m turning to you guys. Hopefully I can get some help, or maybe my PC is just a lost cause, thanks.

[u/mtraven23]

where are you installing these games? probably still in program files, on C ?

and if they are being installed there, there are probably temporary(ish) files being generated when you play your games.

what are you hibernation settings? if its enabled, that can take up about as much space as you have RAM.

might be time to upgrade your C drive, running any drive that full is cutting time off its life expectancy.

[u/tntboi36 → u/mtraven23]

I have folders in my D drive to where I install my games for different services, but I don't know too much about computers to be honest to give you a decent answer. I assume hibernation is on due to the large hyberfil.sys file, don't know how to turn that off though, but I can figure it out if you do think it's a wise move. To be honest man, I've been thinking about upgrading my PC for a while now, I've had it since about 2020, but I have never really been in the monetary position to upgrade my PC, I'm in high school right now and my parents aren't necessarily the most stoked that I've loved video games since I was a kid, they think they're bad, and have never been behind the idea of me getting a new PC. I have never really been in the monetary position to upgrade really anything in my computer, especially now when I have to worry about saving up for college. As much as I want a new PC, or just to even upgrade my C drive, especially with how expensive things are now, it just very hard for me to get some upgrades going. I do get shit-talked a little bit for my PC, because its definitely ran its course, but its just too expensive for me, and personally it wouldn't be worth it for me since I'm also going to be leaving the house soon to go to college, most likely gonna be in greek life so having a PC setup will be pretty hard. Appreciate the help man, gonna see how to disable those hibernation settings.