mysql optimize process on nearly full HDD

[benja]

I have a big table in an 80 GB Hard Disc,

This is the mySQL information

Space usage :
Type Usage
Data 72,753 MB
Index 21,038 KB
Overhead 968 MB
Effective 71,805 MB
Total 72,773 MB

Can i run an optimize process on the table, to get back the Overhead space, if i only have 5 GB free of disk space on the Hard Disc?
How much time will it take if i could ?

Thanks

[Sxooter]

Next time, you might want to include versions. Not that I'd know by version number, but someone else might.

Anyway, MySQL is pretty famous for copying the whole table everytime you do something interesting to it (like add an index) so I'm guessing you need to go buy a new hard drive...

Whatever you do, backup first.

[benja]

Its MySQL 4.0.18 running on a Windows Machine.

i was hopping it didnt copy itself 🙁
This info should be included in the manual.

[Sxooter]

It probably is, but just not where you were looking. The way the MySQL manual tends to be written in a linear fashion rather than as a reference manual can make it hard to look up these types of things some times.

I know the fact that index creation requires a table copy is in there. Somewhere...