Windows 7 I need help with a proplem in windows cipher command line

[Joejoe]

I rana the windows clean up cipher command cipher /w:c and a few minutes into the run time my system went off. When I powered up my PC later my memory was hard disk memory was clogged up. Up to 85% full I I've tryed to free up the memory but nothing is happening pls I need help

 

[Neemobeer]

Could you maybe elaborate a bit more. I have no idea what

my memory was hard disk memory was clogged up

is, or provide a screenshot.

 

[BIGBEARJEDI]

I've never run this command before, so I also don't know how well it works or if it works.
Here's a link on it though: Link Removed

Do you have a laptop or tablet that you are worried about getting stolen and that's why you are trying to hide your data? Just curious.

<<<BIGBEARJEDI>>>

 

[Neemobeer]

It's very common with encryption utilities to mark disk space as allocated during the encryption process. For example during a full disk encryption with bitlocker your drive will appear to be almost full during this process until it finishes. There may be a system hidden "file" which is really the cipher programs way of "clearing" the unused space. I would look for a very large file and my guess is that is what cipher produced. You should be able to delete it.

 

[Joejoe]

Thanks but or suggestions hvnt helped. Okay it goes like this( I ran the command line cipher /w:c and as it was running, my PC's battery ran out. And the PC switched off , later that same day I powered my PC on and discovered that my hard disk memory was about 90 % full compared to 40% it was before I ran the command line again but yet my memory remain the same. still 90% full. What do I do to free up my disk memory

 

[Neemobeer]

I ran cipher on a test VM with the same parameters and it runs like I stated. It creates a very large file which is how it "erases" unused space. If you open explorer you should see a folder in the root of C called EFSTMPWP. Delete that folder and you should get all your hard drive space back.