Cannot find/delete hidden files

[bertiebrite]

I received this Dell computer as a gift. It had been refurbished and had
belonged to the NJ school system. My problem is hidden files that are taking
up almost all of my hard drive that were never deleted. I have 9G space but
only 1.75 available and I do not have that much on this computer. I saw the
files once, tried to delete them but was not permitted. Now, I cannot find
them again and don't know what to do to reveal and delete. I have executed
searches, troubleshooting options and everything that I know with no results.
I want to delete these files so I can free the disk space for my own use.
How can I do this? I am using Windows XP.

 

[Big_Al]

bertiebrite said this on 2/16/2009 9:11 AM:

I received this Dell computer as a gift. It had been refurbished and had
belonged to the NJ school system. My problem is hidden files that are taking
up almost all of my hard drive that were never deleted. I have 9G space but
only 1.75 available and I do not have that much on this computer. I saw the
files once, tried to delete them but was not permitted. Now, I cannot find
them again and don't know what to do to reveal and delete. I have executed
searches, troubleshooting options and everything that I know with no results.
I want to delete these files so I can free the disk space for my own use.
How can I do this? I am using Windows XP.

Have you tried CCleaner?
Are you administrator?
Do you have the hidden and system folders set to show?

http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml
This tree size program is free and will show you sizes of folders.
I like it to help me show where the big folders/files are.
I'm not sure if it shows folders that are hidden if you don't have that
setting properly set or not. Would be nice if it would.

 

[bertiebrite]

Yes. I am the administrator. I have tried CCleaner. I have hidden files
set to show. I do not know whether the files are encrypted or not. This is
a real bother since I received the computer as a gift and the refurbisher did
not wipe the hard drive. I don't have any solution and have been trying to
re-find the files. Saw them once months ago.

bertiebrite said this on 2/16/2009 9:11 AM:

Have you tried CCleaner?
Are you administrator?
Do you have the hidden and system folders set to show?

http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml
This tree size program is free and will show you sizes of folders.
I like it to help me show where the big folders/files are.
I'm not sure if it shows folders that are hidden if you don't have that
setting properly set or not. Would be nice if it would.

Thanks, I will try the program and see. If I could discover the files, I
know I can delete them and free up my hard drive. I will contact again if it
does not work. Thanks again.

 

[JS]

Do you have the XP CD.
If so then start fresh, reinstall XP
and get rid of any surprises.

 

[Don Phillipson]

I received this Dell computer as a gift. It had been refurbished and had
belonged to the NJ school system. My problem is hidden files that are taking
up almost all of my hard drive that were never deleted. . . .
I want to delete these files so I can free the disk space for my own use.
How can I do this? I am using Windows XP.

Assuming you need none of these files, your fastest solution would
be to repartition the whole drive (and reformat) and reinstal WinXP.

 

[Malke]

Yes. I am the administrator. I have tried CCleaner. I have hidden files
set to show. I do not know whether the files are encrypted or not. This
is a real bother since I received the computer as a gift and the
refurbisher did
not wipe the hard drive. I don't have any solution and have been trying
to
re-find the files. Saw them once months ago.

With used computers, it is always best practice to wipe and clean-install.
In particular, there will be many settings on computer that was part of a
domain that will be impossible to find and get rid of. Get the drivers from
Dell's website. If the refurbisher didn't give you the installation media,
you can try ordering it from Dell or have a local computer tech do the
clean installation. For instance, I and my colleagues have a large
collection of Dell install CD/DVDs for situations just like yours.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[HeyBub]

I received this Dell computer as a gift. It had been refurbished and
had belonged to the NJ school system. My problem is hidden files
that are taking up almost all of my hard drive that were never
deleted. I have 9G space but only 1.75 available and I do not have
that much on this computer. I saw the files once, tried to delete
them but was not permitted. Now, I cannot find them again and don't
know what to do to reveal and delete. I have executed searches,
troubleshooting options and everything that I know with no results. I
want to delete these files so I can free the disk space for my own
use. How can I do this? I am using Windows XP.

1. You may not be able to find the files because they are, in fact, gone.
Look in the Recycle bin.

2. The size of the folder containing hidden files will reflect the size of
the hidden files.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I received this Dell computer as a gift. It had been refurbished and had
belonged to the NJ school system. My problem is hidden files that are taking
up almost all of my hard drive that were never deleted. I have 9G space but
only 1.75 available and I do not have that much on this computer. I saw the
files once, tried to delete them but was not permitted. Now, I cannot find
them again and don't know what to do to reveal and delete. I have executed
searches, troubleshooting options and everything that I know with no results.
I want to delete these files so I can free the disk space for my own use.
How can I do this? I am using Windows XP.

If I acquired a used computer, no matter who previously owned it, the
first thing I would do with it would be to reinstall the operating
system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer has been maintained,
what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and
spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody
else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddy porn, etc., and I
wouldn't recommend that anyone else do either.

 

[Bill Sharpe]

I received this Dell computer as a gift. It had been refurbished and had
belonged to the NJ school system. My problem is hidden files that are taking
up almost all of my hard drive that were never deleted. I have 9G space but
only 1.75 available and I do not have that much on this computer. I saw the
files once, tried to delete them but was not permitted. Now, I cannot find
them again and don't know what to do to reveal and delete. I have executed
searches, troubleshooting options and everything that I know with no results.
I want to delete these files so I can free the disk space for my own use.
How can I do this? I am using Windows XP.

Assuming you've got an XP installation CD, Google for "clean install
XP." The refurbishment did not go well. No wonder the school system gave
the computer away.

9 gb total space is not very much to start with.

Bill