Used space on disk does not match the with files on disk

[Thomas Jespersen]

Hi



On my new Dell laptop the C-drive reports 20GB used space on my primary 24GB
partition. However... if I select properties on all files and folders in the
root of my C-drive, including hidden and system files, it only sums up to
15GB used (both in size and size on disk). Yes... that is including the
hidden Recycle Bin, 2GB page file, 2GB hibernate file, 4GB in Program Files
and 6GB in the Windows folder.



My question is.... where did that 5GB go? I really don't get it, because I
didn't install that many programs. Only the usual: Office, Visual Studio,
SQL Server. I've done that 20 times, and I feel confident that the 15GB is
the right number.



Also... I am running Antivirus, and I didn't install any suspicious
programs. And I'm confident that the disk is not marked with bad sectors.



What am I missing?



Thomas



PS: I did install Windows Vista Beta 2 on a secondary partition. That the
only thing extraordinary on this machine.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi



On my new Dell laptop the C-drive reports 20GB used space on my primary 24GB
partition. However... if I select properties on all files and folders in the
root of my C-drive, including hidden and system files, it only sums up to
15GB used (both in size and size on disk). Yes... that is including the
hidden Recycle Bin, 2GB page file, 2GB hibernate file, 4GB in Program Files
and 6GB in the Windows folder.



My question is.... where did that 5GB go? I really don't get it, because I
didn't install that many programs. Only the usual: Office, Visual Studio,
SQL Server. I've done that 20 times, and I feel confident that the 15GB is
the right number.



Also... I am running Antivirus, and I didn't install any suspicious
programs. And I'm confident that the disk is not marked with bad sectors.



What am I missing?



Thomas



PS: I did install Windows Vista Beta 2 on a secondary partition. That the
only thing extraordinary on this machine.

One of these will tell you what's eating up your disk space:
DriveUse:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nulifetv/freezip/freeware/index.html
Bullet Proof Folder sizes: http://www.foldersizes.com/

 

[Thomas Jespersen]

Hi Pegasus

Thanks for the links.

Using the FolderSize evaluation, I discovered that the protected "System
Volume Information" contained quite a few Restore Points. Deleting those
using the "Clean Up System Restore" (found under properties on C drive -
Disk Clean up -> More Options) I've got my 5GB back

Using FolderSize I also discovered that I had 1.3GB in C:\WINDOWS\Downloaded
Installations which I deleted.

I also have more than one 1GB in C:\WINDOWS\Installer, which I'm not sure I
can delete. What is your take on that?

But at least I've got around 9GB free now.

Thomas