My computer memory steadily increases while playing Fortnite.

Hi Ike. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP here to help you.

You can try resetting the game in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features > Fortnight > Advanced Settings > Reset.

If that doesn't fix the fluctuations (which may be bugs or corruption in game or Windows) then you can try uninstalling the game and reinstalling it from the Store Settings under Your Library.

I will give you steps to both manage smaller drive storage and perform version Updates on them manually by the most stable method that requires much less space than Windows Update.

First here are tips for managing smaller drives:

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3040404/windows...

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/maximize-stora...

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/...

As more space becomes needed, you can move your Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders into OneDrive and then set them to On Demand so they reside in the cloud and only have download links on the PC:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/116029-turn...

https://www.pcworld.com/article/3233488/windows...


You can also offload User folders (Documents, Music, Pictures, etc) to another drive you can install on the same PC (even in the DVD drive bay) as shown in this tutorial, which will not affect speed if C is on an SSD and the other drive is not: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1964-move-u.... I would not move program files or speed will be affected. You could also install a larger SSD/HDD.


This should make enough space to install Windows Updates. But for now I'd focus on the latest Version update since successfully installing it will bring along all Windows Updates and also resolves almost all other problems since it reinstalls Windows keeping your files and programs in place.

Install the Media Creation Tool on another PC to create bootable media or download the ISO to stick or disk, transfer it back to the target PC to open the media or click to mount the ISO, right click Setup file to Run as Administrator. This avoids needing the space to download the Upgrade and it's staging files. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

Another option is to do the the best possible Clean Install in this link which will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given, has zero reported problems, and is better than any amount of money could buy: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki....

This will give you back all but 15gb of the drive.

There is also an automated Fresh Start that reinstalls WIndows while shedding corrupting factory bloatware, saves your files, but doesn't clear the drive to get it cleanest: https://www.howtogeek.com/265054/how-to-easily-...

You can also turn off or block Updates if they are bothering you.

There are ways to block Updates here: https://www.howtogeek.com/223864/how-to-uninsta...

If you want you can set a Metered Connection per the above tutorial, then when ready turn it off to install Updates. You can even wait until the twice-yearly Version Updates to run manually from Media Creation Tool which is a more stable method than Windows Update and includes all previous updates rolled into it. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved


________________________________________________________
Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

I typed settings into the search bar, clicked on apps and features and scrolled through the apps. I could only find Epic Games launcher in the apps- which is weird because Fortnite is an app, right? I also couldn't find Advanced Settings when I clicked on any of the apps.

Looks like you have to Uninstall the Launcher according to the best resource I found on how to uninstall Fortnite to fix issues:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REhWpGahxmI

Ok I feel really bad saying this because you have given me lots of useful information but...

I have already uninstalled and reinstalled the game three times over the past two days and each time I reinstall it seems to lose a little bit of memory. (like each time I install it, it creates some file that doesn't uninstall) and the game still takes up memory when I use it. I am wondering if maybe there is some sort of backup file that the game keeps on making over and over again, or maybe there is some sort of log broken in the computer that keeps on spamming an error message every time I play. 

This video seems to match my problem (Skip to 2:00 in the video then go to like 3:01 and that explains all of my problem)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1WocOVkqCM

but I already did what this guy told me to do in his video and that seemed to fix it for a little while but now it has started making memory again

thanks for your time by the way I know you don't have to help me and I appreciate it.

Thanks for adding that you have already Reset and reinstalled the game. So we can move onto checking the Windows install now, since everything depends upon it in Windows 10 and it is MUCH more volatile than Windows 7 ever was - and I have been helping in forums for both every day.

Go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Start with Step 4 to turn off Startup freeloaders which can conflict and cause issues, then Step 7 to check for infection the most thorough way, then step 10 to check for damaged System Files, and also Step 16 to test a new Local Admin account. Then continue with the other steps to go over your install most thoroughly.

Update your drivers from the PC or motherboard maker's Support Downloads web page, using the full model number, Serial Number or Dell Service Tag on sticker. Compare the latest drivers available for download with the ones presently installed in Device Manager reached by right clicking the Start Menu. Make sure you have the latest BIOS or UEFI firmware, Chipset, Display (Video), Sound, USB3, Bluetooth, Network and all other drivers, or else download and install the latest now.

Updating drivers from the Device Manager or Windows Update is rarely enough. The most basic thing we need to learn to maintain a PC is keep the latest manufacturer's drivers installed from the PC maker's Support Downloads web page. This is especially important for gaming.

If nothing else helps you can run a Repair Install by installing the Media Creation Tool and choosing from it to Upgrade Now. This reinstalls Windows in about an hour while saving your files, apps and most settings, solves many problems while also bringing it up to the latest version 1809 which you need anyway and by the most stable method. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

When was the last Clean Install? The reason I ask is because no one who has followed the illustrated steps in this link which compile the best possible Clean Install has ever come back (that I've seen) to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki.... It is a better install than any amount of money could buy and a great learning experience that will make you permanently the master of your PC because you will know what works best and have applied it with your own hands.

Short of that there is an automated Refresh that reinstalls WIndows while shedding corrupting factory bloatware, saves only your files, but doesn't clear the drive to get it cleanest: https://www.howtogeek.com/265054/how-to-easily-...

There is also a Repair Install by installing the Media Creation Tool from this link choosing Download Tool Now, install the tool, open it and choose Upgrade this PC Now. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... This reinstalls WIndows while saving your files and apps in place; takes about an hour, resolves most problems.

If I "Reinstall without the bloatware" will I need to reinstall Fortnite and Adobe Connect and Flash Player and Word and Office and will I lose all of my recorded videos?

(I did the re-image scan and it said it didn't detect any viruses, my CPU speed was good, but my memory was very low, which I already know)

I kept refreshing my system memory and when I was doing one of the system updates the memory went from 9 GB to 8 GB then to 7 GB then to 6 GB then it spiked up to 10 GB and is now at 11 GB. this is preeeetty weird. BUT your idea of updating the computer did get me 2 GB back so im gonna restart my computer and get in a few other updates. talk to you soon and thanks again for the help!

You'd need to reinstall your personal programs/apps but this is made easy by the vendors or they wouldn't stay in business since people want to regularly reinstall Windows to have a better install. At the very least one good base install should be done using everything that works best in the tutorial.

Your files should always be backed up because a hard drive can die at any time without notice. Some suggestions to help ease into this habit:

You can sync your Desktop, Documents and Pictures folder in Onedrive using Folder protection, or just drag valuable files into OneDrive folder, offering 5gb free with additional space for cheap: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/116029-turn...

Google Drive has a new Backup that allows you to choose User folders (Documents, Pictures, etc.) to sync up to 15g for free to their cloud in real time so it always has the latest version. https://www.google.com/intl/en-GB_ALL/drive/dow...

Or you can manually drag or copy them to another hard drive, USB external or flash drive. Here's how to drag, copy or move large groups of files: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2086566/the-man...

Besides your files you should back up a System Image to use in place of reinstall in 20 minutes. The best free alternative is Macrium: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/7363/macrium-ref... You can even use the Macrium program to mount and extract files from this image so it can serve as both image and file backup too.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________
Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Ok tomorrow after school I will ask my parents about what you have told me and probably try the reinstallation of Windows. Thanks again for all of your help and I will get back to your tomorrow. I don't know if this is any help, but I think it might help you understand what is causing the memory problem: I have kept a log of all my storage memory for the past few days (by the way I did not install anything during this time period, the only stuff I installed was the stuff that you showed me just in the past hour)

15.8 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/11/2019. No big downloaded files since.

11.2 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/12/2019. 8:00. Nothing downloaded and only things used Fortnite, Word, Youtube, Schoology, and Yahoo.

14.9 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/12/2019, 9:00.

16.4 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/13/2019, 9:00.

14.6 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/13/2019, 2:00.

14.5 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/13/2019, 2:02

71.8 GB Apps,Games.

26.4 GB System,Reserved.

13.4 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/13/2019, 4:08

71.9 GB Apps,Games.

27.4 System,Reserved.

13.2 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/13/2019, 1:57

72.2 GB Apps, Games.

27.3 GB Sustem,Reserved/

13.0 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/13/2019, 2:09

72.2 Apps, Games.

27.4 GB System, Reserved.

16.1 GB FREE SPACE as of 4/13/2019, 10:03.

73.9 GB Apps, Games.

22.1 GB System, Reserved.

 

^^ looks like those updates got rid of a lot of System, Reserved memory

You can further analyze what's eating space and where using a tool like one of these: https://www.howtogeek.com/113012/10-best-free-t...

It's probably some corruption or bug. Doing the install intergrity checklist or reinstalling should clear it up. If not it could mean it's a program conflict.