How To Disable Low Disk Space Checks In Windows Vista

When your hard drive is nearly out of free space, Windows Vista will warn you with a little pop-up box. This can be handy the first time but that's usually where the usefulness stops.

Aside from being annoying, Vista's constant check for low drive space uses system resources which can slow Windows down.

Follow the easy steps to turn off the low disk space checks in Windows Vista.

Note: Changes to the Windows Registry are made in these steps. Take great care in making only the registry key changes described below. I recommend backing up the registry keys you're modifying in these steps as an extra precaution.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: Disabling low disk space checks in Windows Vista usually takes less than a few minutes

Here's How:

1. Click on Start, type the following command in the search box, and then hit the Enter key.

   regedit

   This command will load the Registry Editor program.

   Note: Changes to the registry are made in these steps. Take great care in making only the changes described below.

2. Locate the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder under Computer and click on the (+) sign next the folder name to expand the folder.

3. Continue to expand folders until you reach the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion registry key.

4. Select the Policies key under CurrentVersion.

5. From the Registry Editor menu, choose Edit, followed by New, followed finally by Key.

6. After the key is created beneath Policies, it will initially be named New Key #1.

   Change the name of the key to Explorer by typing it exactly as shown and then hitting the Enter key.

7. With the new key, Explorer, still selected, choose Edit, followed by New, followed finally by DWORD (32-bit) Value.

8. After the DWORD is created beneath Explorer, it will initially be named New Value #1.

   Change the name of the DWORD to NoLowDiskSpaceChecks by typing it exactly as shown and then hitting the Enter key.

9. Right-click on the new NoLowDiskSpaceChecks DWORD you just created and choose Modify.

10. In the Value data: field, replace the zero with the number 1.

11. Click OK and close Registry Editor.

    Windows Vista will no longer warn you about low disk space on any of your hard drives.