Clean SQL Server C Drive: 3 Effective Methods

When the C drive of SQL Server runs out of space, the following measures can be taken to clean up:

1. Clean up temporary files: Delete unused temporary files in the “TEMPDB” folder located in the SQL Server installation directory.
2. Shrink log file: Use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or execute T-SQL statements to shrink the database log file and free up space.
3. Move the database data and log files to another drive in order to free up space on the C drive. This action can be performed using SSMS or the ALTER DATABASE statement.
4. Cleaning up logs: free up space by backing up and truncating transaction logs. Regular transaction log backups and log truncation can prevent log files from continuously growing.
5. Remove old backup files: Delete outdated database backup files to free up space.
6. Adjust the auto-growth settings: You can adjust the auto-growth settings for the database’s data and log files to minimize frequent file growth and free up space on the C drive.
7. Clean up error logs: Delete old error log files in the “MSSQL\Log” folder located in the SQL Server installation directory.

Please remember to back up the database and related files before carrying out any cleaning operations to prevent data loss. It is also recommended to perform cleaning operations during off-peak hours to minimize the impact on database performance.