Windows 10: AppData/Roaming, folder too large to transfer but it's a must do...

I see. So what are you going to do now? I need to mention to you, it is highly unusual for someone to want to copy a 138GB file (whatever it's contents) into a hidden system folder. Very unusual. I really do not have any interest whatsoever in what it is or why, but, obviously, you cannot copy 136GB into 57GB. What you say now about it being 0% free is worrisome, and I believe it may be the result of your attempt to copy and it ran out of space. If you can you should try to find the folder you were trying to copy in the Appdata /roaming folder and delete the folder. 0% free is a serious condition and can prevent you from booting.

Again, what are you going to do now? Is this thread now of no use? I will keep watching it, but there's nothing I can do for you if you have the wrong machine.

TC

 

I deleted it, and emptied recycle bin. Am now wondering if it might be possible to run appdata off an external hard drive...

Oh my poor eyesight let me down there I'm afraid...I was looking at a 2TB just before I changed my mind and bought that one.

 

I've never heard of that being done. Maybe someone else can answer that. Appdata local/local low/roaming are system folders assigned to your user ID and contain both system required data and app required data. Moving them to an external.....I really don't know if that would work.

Someone else may have an answer. Sorry.

 

I would guess the question now is why put it into a System Folder at all? As far as I can tell the AppData Folder is only for data an application/program would put there, not for the User.

 

Still unanswered:
What are these files that total 140 GB?
... and ...
Why do you want to move them to the Roaming folder?

 

Some programs store data in AppData\Roaming. I've installed one that put nearly 10GB there - 2,729 files, 306 folders. (Not where I would have put the data, but the vendor forgot to ask me. *Smile) You don't always have control over such things. 140GB seems a bit excessive, but so does 10GB.

 

You may not have noticed, but he's trying to intentionally copy that 140GB into appdata/roaming. You're correct in what you're saying, but the OP is doing this himself, not the system or an app. Just wanted to clarify if needed. *Smile

 

Just out of curiosity I just check the size of my AppData/Roaming and it's only using 591MB.

 

One thing the OP should keep in mind is that the next Version Upgrade may clean up/wipe out some things and wouldn't want to have that happen to the data when it would better reside elsewhere.

 

Well, the OP has done a good job of not mentioning what the data is, but giving him the benefit of the doubt, ...

When I do a clean reinstall of Windows I make sure backup and restore Firefox and Thunderbird profiles - both in AppData\Roaming. Thunderbird puts the email source in the user's profile, and that includs stuff moved to the Thunderbird "Local Folders". That's where I used to save important emails. I don't remember how big it was before I cleared it out but now it's down to a "mere" 2GB.

Just an example, but there are valid reasons for copying large amounts of data into AppData\Roaming.

 

Granted, there may be reasons but based upon the problem it appears that Windows is limiting the size the Folder can be for its own reason/s.

 

I admit I haven't followed everything here, but at one point I thought he said his C drive was "57.13 GB and 0% free". If I read that correctly, Windows isn't directly limiting the size of AppData. It's just limiting the amount of data you can write to a drive with 0% free space. Inconsiderate of it, perhaps, but somewhat understandable.

 

After a bit of thought I wonder if this page What Is the AppData Folder in Windows? has a bearing on the issue, particularly this paragraph:

 

I'm a little confused after reading this so maybe this suggestion is completely irrelevant, but why not move the entire users folder to a new drive? Kari has a nice tutorial on how this is done found here: Move Users Folder Location

Not sure if that would work off an external drive or not, however. Maybe buy a large capacity flash drive and leave it plugged in at all times?

 

Does any of this matter?
You just don't put your own stuff into the Roaming folder. (Except when you're recovering a backup.)

So once again, mindboggled: What are you trying to put into the Roaming folder? And why?