# Show HN: DiskTriage – A simple CLI tool to reclaim space on your Win C drive

> Source: <https://github.com/ricardoborges/DiskTriage>
> Published: 2026-09-12 23:31:57+00:00

A simple CLI tool to reclaim space on your Windows `C:` drive safely.

It checks SSD health, tracks down bloat (dev tools, AI models, package caches, game stores), and helps you either delete it or move it to another drive — with an interactive terminal menu and built-in safety checks.

Built after a full boot SSD (2.7% free space) caused 1.5-second disk read freezes and triggered a Windows `0x1E_C0000006` (`nt!HvpGetCellPaged`) blue screen.

```
git clone https://github.com/ricardoborges/DiskTriage.git
cd DiskTriage

# Install dependencies and the `disktriage` CLI
pip install -e .
```

Run it:

```
disktriage
```

**Tip:** Run PowerShell as Administrator to see physical SSD read/write latency counters via `Get-StorageReliabilityCounter`.

1. **System Health** : Checks free space across drives, SSD latency, pagefile location, and recent Windows BSOD bugchecks (last 90 days).
2. **Cache Catalog** : Scans 50+ known dev and gaming caches (`pip` ,`npm` ,`cargo` ,`docker` ,`huggingface` ,`pyenv` ,`gradle` ,`steam` , etc.).
3. **Smart Discovery** : Finds large unexpected folders in your user profile and`AppData` .
4. **Actionable Fixes** :
  - **Delete** : Safely wipe disposable, rebuildable caches.
  - **Move + Env Var** : Move folder to another drive (e.g.`D:` ) and update user environment variable in registry (`HKCU\Environment` ).
  - **Move + NTFS Junction** : Move folder and create an NTFS directory junction (`mklink /J` ), keeping full tracking and 1-click rollback.
  - **Scan Persistence** : Remembers scan results so you don't have to wait for rescans every time you launch.

Tip

**Relocate Package Caches & Auto-Update Environment Variables:**

You can easily move bulky package caches (such as `pip`, `npm`, `cargo`, or `huggingface`) from your system drive to a secondary drive (like `D:`) to free up gigabytes on `C:`. When using the **Move + Env Var** option, DiskTriage safely transfers the directory and automatically updates the corresponding Windows user environment variable (`HKCU\Environment`) with the new path—ensuring your development tools keep working seamlessly without manual configuration.

```
disktriage                  # Interactive menu (arrow keys + Enter)
disktriage --health         # Health check only (space, latency, BSODs)
disktriage --scan --drive D # Auto-scan and suggest D: as target drive
disktriage --min-gb 1.0     # Only show items larger than 1 GB
disktriage --lang pt-BR     # Force Portuguese (Brasil)
disktriage --lang en-US     # Force English (US)
```

DiskTriage supports **Português (Brasil)** (default) and **English (US)**.

- On your first run, DiskTriage will prompt you to choose your preferred language and remember it for subsequent runs.
- You can switch languages at any time from the Main Menu (`Option 9` ) or by passing the`--lang <codecode>` CLI parameter.

- **Explicit confirmation** : You must type the item name to delete; no accidental single-key deletes.
- **Protected paths** :`WinSxS` ,`System32` ,`Windows\Installer` , and`Program Files` are strictly blocked.
- **Safe file moves** : Multi-threaded`robocopy` with pre-flight destination free space checks. Source files are only removed after the copy verifies successfully.
- **No symlink loops** : Never recursively follows junctions or symlinks.

GPL-3.0