SQL Server & Disk Space

Question

I created a database on a local SQL server that we use for development. I created the log and data files on a second hard drive (E:\MSSQL\DATA). I am using this database to do some speed tests so I created a lot of data (7 Million rows). I started running some pretty intensive queries and to get some test data I ran an update statement that updated all 7 million rows and now it has taken up all of the space on my C:\, which I don't understand since I put the data files on the E:\.

Is there some files on the C:\ that would be growing based on me running queries on this other database, if so how do I stop it? I am doing with this database but I need to get my C:\ back in order.

The database file group was PRIMARY, is this relevant?

Answer 1

It is probably the TEMPDB that is growing. Look here for some reference http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190768.aspx

You should really read the following article

Capacity Planning for tempdb

Answer 2

Sounds like you may have a system database located on C: drive, most likely to be the tempdb database as the space consuming culprit.

Use the following query to validate where your data and log files currently reside:

SELECT DB_NAME([database_id])AS [Database Name], 
       [file_id], name, physical_name, type_desc, state_desc, size
FROM sys.master_files

Further reading:

• How To Shrink The tempdb database