Out of disk space during installation to another disk drive

[TravisNave]

PROBLEM:  During the installation of your Autodesk product, your attempt to install on another disk drive or partition is met with a warning that you are out of disk space on your system drive (i.e. C:\) even though you are not installing there.

REASON:  The Autodesk installer, though installing the program to another drive as specified by the user, still needs to use the Windows temporary file locations during installation.  This includes your Windows profile %TEMP% location as well as any additional Temporary Internet Files that need to be downloaded (i.e. Content Files) to complete installation.  Additionally, some files will typically need to exist on the system drive, such as Desktop shortcuts, Start Menu icons, and additional Windows Profile settings for individual user preferences in the application. 

WORK-AROUND:  To get around the space limitation on your system drive to complete the Autodesk installation, you need to clear space on that drive.  This can be accomplished by changing multiple system settings and moving the locations of temporary folders. 

I recommend using any or all of the following procedures to assist in freeing space in your system drive. 

Note:  Some of these procedures require you to have local Administrator privileges and/or User Account Control (UAC) settings disabled.  You will also want to ensure you can see all hidden files & folders, as well as menus in Windows Explorer.  Please contact your IT department if you need additional access to make these changes.

RUNNING DISK CLEANUP

Windows has a built-in Disk Cleanup utility that you can use.  However, its automatic results are typically not as effective as manually cleaning files.  You can run the Disk Cleanup tool from Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.

For more information on how to use Windows Disk Cleanup, see the following Microsoft article:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Delete-files-using-Disk-Cleanup

DELETING TEMP FILES

The most effective way to clear space is to delete any and all temporary files not being used by Windows.  Windows does a lousy job of cleaning up after itself.  You may have multiple gigabytes of unnecessary data taking up space in your Windows system and User profile. 

The locations of temporary files varies for each computer.  But typically, you can safely delete all of the files located in the following locations (if they exist):

• %TEMP%  (i.e. C:\Users\username\Appdata\Local\Temp)
• %WINDIR%\TEMP  (i.e.  C:\Windows\Temp)
• %WINDIR%\PREFETCH  (i.e.  C:\Windows\Prefetch)

Note:  Some of these folders may be hidden by default.  You can toggle hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer (Win+e) from Tools > Folder Options > View (Tab)

You can traverse to these folder locations directly from Windows Explorer or by using the environment variables in the Start > Run (Win+r) box. 

In each of these locations, you can safely delete the entire contents of the folders.  The most effective way to delete the entire contects is with a select all (CTRL+a) and a permanent delete (SHIFT+DEL).  This will prevent the files from going into your Recycle Bin. 

Note:  Any files "in-use" by the system or programs will not be able to be deleted and you will be prompted accordingly.

DELETING & CHANGING SIZE OF TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES 

Internet Explorer has a large default setting for temporary Internet files.  It is desirable that you manually change this value to the recommended mimimum value to save space on your system drive.  Typically, this value is 50MB.  Your default value could be taking up multiple gigabytes of space.  You should modify this value and periodically clear the cache.

You can do this in Internet Explorer from Tools > Internet Options.

On the General tab, locate the Browsing History section and click the Settings button.  In this dialog box, you can reduce the amount of space taken up by your Temporary Internet Files. 

Note:  In addition, you can click Move Folder to move the location of this temporary folder from your User Profile on the system drive to another folder you create on a separate hard drive or partition.  This will prevent any temporary Internet files from being kept on your system drive. 

If you use a 3rd party browser such as Chrome or Firefox, you should locate the instructions to duplicate this process for all browsers you actively use. 

MOVING YOUR %TEMP% FOLDER

In addition to moving your Temporary Internet Files, you should also consider moving the location of the %TEMP% folder in your User Profile that you cleared above.  This is an effective way to keep all temporary installation files from using the space on your system drive or taking up unnecessary space altogether. 

Moving your %TEMP% file location requires you to change the User Environment Variable that defines it.  This is done from System Properties. You can access System Properties by right-clicking My Computer and selecting Properties.  This can be done from the Desktop icon or the Start Menu icon.  You can also use the shortcut (Win+Pause/Break) to do the same. 

To locate the User Environment Variables, go to System Properties > Advanced System Settings > Advanced (Tab) and click the Environment Variables... button at the bottom. 

Locate the User Environment Variables in the top section and click the Edit button next to the TEMP variable.  You can change the Variable Value to a folder you create on another hard drive or partition (i.e. D:\TEMP). 

Note:  If you have a TMP user environment variable, you can change it as well. 

MOVING YOUR WINDOWS VIRTUAL MEMORY SWAP FILE

One of the largest blocks of space taken up on your hard drive will be the Windows Virtual Memory swap file.  This is the file that Windows uses to page available RAM.  This file can be 1x - 3x the size of the RAM installed on your system.  For best performance, it is often recommended that this file be placed on a separate hard drive (not partition) from your system drive.  In fact, if you have multiple drives, you should split the file between multiple drives.

To move the Windows swap file, you need go to System Properties > Advanced System Settings > Advanced (Tab) again and choose the Settings... button under the Performance section at top.

On the Performance Options dialog window, you need to click the Advanced (Tab) and then click the Change... button. 

On the Virtual Memory dialog window you will want to uncheck the box to Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.  

Then select the C: drive and choose the last radio button for No paging file and click the Set button.  If Windows warns you, click OK. 

Choose another available hard drive (i.e. D:\) and then choose the first radio button for Custom size: and input the Recommended paging size in both the Initial size (MB): and Maximum size (MB): boxes and then click the Set button. 

If you wish to split the page file among multiple drives as in the image above, then do so following the same steps.

Click OK to all windows. 

Note:  It is best practice to keep both the minimum and maximum boxes the same value to prevent the fragmentation of your page file.  You should not put less than the recommended value, nor less than the amount of physical RAM (in Megabytes) on your computer.  It is recommended that you have at least 1.5x the physical RAM, up to 3x.  If your computer is 32-bit Windows, then your maximum virtual memory page file is capped at 4096MB. 

For more information on changing Virtual Memory settings, see the following Microsoft article:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-the-size-of-virtual-memory

DISABLE HIBERNATION

Hibernation is a feature most often used by mobile workstations, however it takes up considerable space of your hard drive.  This is especially discouraging if you do not use hibernation because it is enabled by default.  Hibernation can take up as much space on your hard disk as the amount of RAM you have installed. 

Note:  To disable hibernation, you need to have administrative access to the command prompt. 

Click Start > All Programs > Accessories

Locate the icon for Command Promt and Right-click it.  On the resulting contect menu, chose Run as Administrator.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command exactly:

powercfg -h off

 

This will take effect immediately and remove the hibernation file, freeing up multiple Gigabytes of space. 

Note:  Depending on your version of Windows, you might have to use the following command at the prompt:

powercfg.exe /hibernate off

For more information about this process, you can see the Microsoft KB article here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920730

CONCLUSION:  After running all or some of these steps, you may be required to reboot to put them into effect.  After reboot, attempt your Autodesk installation again. 

Note:  Some Autodesk suites (i.e. Revit) require additional downloads during installation for added content.  Please be sure that you have enough space for additional downloads, including service packs.

It is always recommended that you install your Autodesk applications with local Administrator privileges, UAC turned off, and anti-virus temporarily disabled. 

For more information about disabling User Account Control (UAC) please see this Microsoft article:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/How-do-I-change-the-behavior-of-User-Account-Control-by-...

Don't forget to empty your Recycle Bin!  Good Luck!

 

[Anonymous]

OK, how about this one.  My install says there is not enough space and then highlights a non existant drive. 

[TravisNave]

Almost seems like you have a system partition that is showing up for the
install. That's an odd one.

[Anonymous]

all I saw on the internet I've done to try to install the inventor, but it's message with a ghost driver always appears and no matter what I choose not going forward. I have a hd ssd c: and d :, raid with the rest.

[Anonymous]

Yes I read your answer. It takes too long to figure out. Agaion it was cheaper moneywise to do what we did. If we had lots of time to play with the computer we would but we are running a business with deadlines. I need a solution that is quick and cst effective and I think we found it and implimented it. Howevere I appreciate you help in this matter

[Anonymous]

How can I solve this problem. I can not access in Browse and install

[TravisNave]

It appears that your product is already installed.

If it is not, to Diagnose and Fix installation problems automatically, please see the new Microsoft tool for this here:

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall

For more information on the Autodesk KB Support article concerning the clean uninstall of Autodesk products, see this link:

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/customer-service/installation-activation-licensing/get-ready/remove-pr...

[dagontuVWRLM]

Why does the software require 7.7 gigs on my C drive to install less than 3 gigs to my D drive.
I carefully partition my hard drives, and there is not 7 gigs able to be freed on m y C drive. I leave about 5 gigs on that drive after windows, and keep everything on separate hard drives to enable easy reformatting.

This is the only application I have tried to install that could not make use of the terabyte of space on the rest of my physical hard drives.

It feels silly that I would need to re partition my hard drives, to put more wasted space on C drive, in order to install your software on my D drive.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@dagontuVWRLM

Welcome to the community..

There is a certain amount of files that must reside on the "C" partition to support user's profile and operating system information.

However its not 7.7GB of info.   To correct this issue, when you get to the installation screen where its asking for which application to install..  Simple expand (click on black arrow) each application that is getting installed and redirect all paths in that section to the partition that you want.

[TravisNave]

Mark is right.  Installation space will generally be 2x the application space because it needs to expand the installation and log files into your %TEMP% folder during installation.  Moving those locations to another drive will also help with space issues.  All of those instructions and more are at the beginning of this thread. 

It makes sense when you think about it logically.  You download a 1.5GB file onto your C:\ downloads folder from Autodesk.  Then you install it and it expands that file out to about a 3GB installation.  That 3GB installation then gets installed to your C:\Program Files.  Total working size would be about 7.5 GB, which then cleans back up to about 3GB + your original download.  You can move your download and temp locations to another drive and install on another drive and basically use a very minimal amount of space on C:\ drive.  Those would be basic profile settings, common files, etc. 

Good Luck!

[dagontuVWRLM]

I downloaded the installer to my D drive where I have 150 gigs free.

I started the installer from there. 
I unchecked the sdk and other software options.

It tried to install to c drive without asking me, then popped up and said I did not have enough room.

So then I changed the installation path of the only thing selectable, which was the main application(3dsmax 2017) to d:\programfiles\autodesk

There were greyed out checkboxes for the material library, which I have zero interest in installing.

I could not uncheck them, and also could not change the path for them.

So then it said 7.7 gigs to c drive, and 2.59 or something to D drive.

I would really prefer to save and install everything to a selected drive letter from start of installation.

Most other large program files I install expand  to temp folders on the same drive, and some even let me specify which folder I want to use as a temp folder.

Options to have local preferences would also be great, in case I didn't want to use the appdata folder, which I have always hated navigating to in order to fix ini issues and other problems.

I have to go fix these for our artists all the time too, and their app data folders are hidden, ect... ect...

Sorry for my tone earlier, I had just spent a very frustrating time with the website trying to get something that apparently you have no way to get.

I have a standalone liscence for at home use from work with a serial key, and there was no way to get that added.

So I figured I might be able to put in the key, in the trial version. Then I had to sign up for a subscription, wait for it to get approved, try to install, and then find out I cannot install it.

[Anonymous]

This is so bananas. Why don't you fix your software, but instead you are wasting hours of your paying clients!

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous

This is a user based forum..  We have no control over what Autodesk does with their software.  We may make suggestions but doesn't mean they will accept them.

[Anonymous]

This is is Dagontu from previously.

One would assume that when posting on forums.autodesk.com, that one would be able to get into contact with the developers to report and get certain issues fixed.

If that is not the case why would I bother using the forums?
I know in some cases other people have figured out some issues, but I was mostly trying to fix my issue when I ran across this guys issue, and wanted to add my report.

Forcing me to install several gigs of reference material library images that I dont want/ and have no use for seems silly.
Greyed out checkboxes are even more frustrating.

[Anonymous]

.

[Anonymous]

---

@aaposwrote:

If you're cursed with an absolutely tiny SSD boot drive, like me, where you phyically can't clear out enough space to complete the installation, you can try my completely unsupported workaround, that worked for me.

1. Let the webinstaller complete downloading the installation packages.
2. Exit installation.
3. Move C:\Autodesk to your larger hard drive
4. Create a filesystem link (either a junction or more preferrably a symbolic link) to C:\Autodesk.
5. Restart the webinstaller, which will in turn launch the installer.
6. Continue as normally

The installer will notify you that you've moved the isntallation data, and that this is unsupported, but dismissing the window allows you to continue with the installation and complete it succesfully.

This allowed me to succesfully install the Entertainment Creation Suite Ultimate even though I have a teensy 40GB boot drive.

---

Worked for me! Here's what I did since I am a newbie and it might help others to give detailed steps.

1. Download the web installer and let it initilalize

2. Exit web installer

3. Cut the Autodesk directory from the smaller drive (C:\Autodesk) and paste to the larger drive (D:\Autodesk)

4. Open command prompt as adminsitrator

5. Ran the following command: (keep in mind your version may be different)

mklink /J "C:\Autodesk\Inventor_2019_English_Win_64bit_wi_en-us" "D:\Programs\Autodesk\Inventor_2019_English_Win_64bit_wi_en-us"

6. In file explorer, open C:\Autodesk\Inventor_2019_English_Win_64bit_wi_en-us\ Setup.exe
7. Point install files to D:\ drive

8. Install as normally

[Anonymous]

Looks like still not solved.

"Solved" is when installer can install software without stupid limitations.

But if installer wants 15Gb on disk C to install 2Gb to another disk it means Q/A don't do their job.

[Anonymous]

it's 2018, and still.... sorry, but it's a joke. - autodesk SHOULD let me decide which partition of my storage I would like to use for their softwares.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous

You can...  However "X" number of files must go to the C partition for user's profile and Windows related files.

Have you expanded all the individual programs that are getting installed along with the main one and review/change the paths accordingly?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I recently installed AutoCAD on a non default Drive (G:/) because like others I have a small C:/ Drive just for my OS.
Now I want to install Inventor 2019. So I followed all the steps.
I changed the %TEMP% file to a Dir. in G:/,
I changed during the installation the paths for the libaries to G:/

I even created in C:/ a filesystem link to G:/

Everything didn't work out.
So i follwed the link posted somewhere above where it's mentioned to change in the setup.ini the DISKCOST Values to something like 50.
But... I still can't install it. It still says I need 12,5 GB of space in C:/ although I did everything to change the Dir. from C:/ to G:/.
Please, I can't be that hard. Really.

[TravisNave]

Did you reboot after your changes?