Steam filling up disk space for a game that it couldn't download?

[HamsterStyle]

Long story short, my hard drive couldn't fit TF2. After going to clean up more of my HD to be able to fit the game, I noticed that Steam made it so that my computer is sensing the memory as filled (even though the download wasn't able to start in the first place, as it showed a warning about disk space being too little). I have a small HD, so even after deleting everything else that I could think of, I STILL don't have the original amount of memory that was clear before I attempted the install. Any help would be MUCH appreciated! Thank you!

[HamsterStyle]

I thought it might have something to do with that! My issue now, though, is this:
TF2 started allocating the space and then said I didn't have enough to install it and that I should make more room. So it doesn't have any local files for me to delete. I'm not sure how to make steam/my pc recognize that the space wasn't filled!

Also thanks for the quick reply! :)

[HamsterStyle]

Delete local files was greyed out (and I'm sure nothing actually downloaded), and just in case I deleted anything TF2 related in the Steam folders. I even just re-installed Steam, and the same issue is going on. I know it makes no sense, but it's like the space was just lost for no reason. I had freed up roughly 15gb, TF2 allocated disk space, said the drive was full and to empty it out, looked at my C:\ drive and noticed I only had roughly 150mb clear. Even after deleting everything TF2 related and as many programs as I feel I don't need, I STILL don't have the 15 gb back whereas I should have over 20gb free now! ;-;

[HamsterStyle]

In fact, the game shouldn't have allowed Steam to start allocating space if I didn't have enough. I mean, it won't now! So I'm entirely stumped...

[HamsterStyle]

Yeah, I looked through all of the folders I figured might be relevant - downloading, temp, etc. Now that I've reinstalled there's no downloading folder, but when I checked before, there was nothing there anyways...it's incredibly strange because I know I had enough to fit TF2, but it just up and told me I didn't have the room after allocating space and for the life of me I can't find where the big file is! Is it possible to allocate space without using it? And if so, I'm guessing even if it did, that would be listed within the Steam folder?

[HamsterStyle]

This is actually a laptop my friend gave me, and one thing I've noticed that is odd about it is that even if you purposefully try to make a System Restore point, it will say it's creating it but then in the SysRes window it says there are none. Kinda sucks, cos actually restoring it to an earlier time probably would have fixed the HD right up!

The disk cleanup did free 700mb or so, but still didn't get me back up to what I had cleared up. I've looked at the file sizes of any folder that could even *remotely* be related to Steam, but to no avail. I think about 5gb of my already small HD (this laptop only has a 111gb HD) has decided to retire to the Bermuda Triangle.

[ThatDudeYouKnow]

Look in your steamapps and downloading folder there should be a folder with the files taking up the space

[Erkel Wolf]

thx you @thatdudeyouknow.
with your comment you writed 2 years ago you saved me 40 gig of space

[Onyx]

I had this problem but I just deleted the entire downloads folder and that seemed to do it.

[hamme01]

Hi I downloaded just cause 3 played it next day went to play and said install game put the disc space has already been taken up by the game

[Soda]

Who says old threads are useless lol. I dont have enough space for Dirt 2.0. I installed another cheap hhd from an old comp laying around for just storage and still says I still don't have enough space.Humm............ I uninstalled R Factor and Race Room but still have the same problem and now all I have installed on there now is: Iracing, and my Oculus Quest. It is saying the same thing as above. You do not have enough disc space blah blah blah. Before I get flustered about it I am going to try and do the things posted here but as my lucks history usually dictates, Hopefully I can avoid the only other alternative and have to buy another ssd. I'll keep posting here and hopefully someone will chime in and give a guy a helping hand if it doesn't go well on my end.

[Soda]

Now, I dont know if it is correct to do it this way or not but this is what I did/am doing. (~~~Remember I am a novice at best and have no business playing with things I have no clue what do what~~~) On the new/different drive I installed (drive D AND MAKE DAMN SURE IT IS THE DRIVE YOU INSTALLED for anyone trying this.) I went to storage, found the drive, formatted that drive (new drive D) created a new folder, and installed game to new folder on new drive (D). As it is sitting, Steam is allocating disc space for Dirt 2.0. Like I said before (or it might have been somewhere else) I do not know JACK about computers so it is all Greek to me and I have to read and read and read when I want to do something or something I am trying to do doesn't work, Try it out and sometimes it does work and sometimes I just wasted an entire day trying to do something I couldn't do in the first place. With that being said, I will keep you posted as to weather this worked or I have wasted yet another day trying to win/overcome the data Gods lol. Hope it works this time

[Never Knows Best]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Spawk:

Oprindeligt skrevet af childrensadvil:

I thought it might have something to do with that! My issue now, though, is this:
TF2 started allocating the space and then said I didn't have enough to install it and that I should make more room. So it doesn't have any local files for me to delete. I'm not sure how to make steam/my pc recognize that the space wasn't filled!

Also thanks for the quick reply! :)

Clicking 'delete local files' stops the download and deletes the files that have been downloaded so far, so you should get all the allocated space back. If for some reason you feel the allocated space is still being used, you could always go to Steam\SteamApps\common and delete the TF2 folder manually.

its a bit old post but just in case someone needs it like me if you go to the steam folder and then folder downloading there you can locate the folder with allocated space and deleting it will help