Hard disk space

[Robert M. Lincoln]

Under Windows Explorer, I check the used space of Drive C, and it
reports 220 GB.

However, when I check the used disk space of each folder under C, it
only adds up to
about 160 GB.

Where is the extra 60 GB? How do I reclaim it?

Thanks

 

[David Sanders]

Under Windows Explorer, I check the used space of Drive C, and it
reports 220 GB.

However, when I check the used disk space of each folder under C, it
only adds up to
about 160 GB.

Where is the extra 60 GB? How do I reclaim it?

Thanks

Are you including hidden files and directories?

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Robert,

The "missing" 60 GB is not actually missing. Some system files and folders
are actually hidden to prevent accidental deletion, and if you choose to view
these you should find that you are able to account for this figure. These
include the page file (typically upto 3 times RAM), hibernation file (equal
to RAM), recycle bin (upto 10% of total drive capacity) and system restore
(again, upto 15% of disk capacity). Using these figures, if your hard drive
has a capacity of 250 GB and you have 2 GB of RAM installed, this adds up as
follows:

3 x 2 (page file) + 2 (hibernation file) + 250 x 10% (recycle bin) + 250 x
15% (system restore) = 55.5 GB

There are other files and folders which are hidden and which add up to the
other 4.5 GB, but this gives you an idea of the amount of space actually used
by these files and folders. You can easily change the amount of space
required by the page file, eliminate the hibernation file and change the
capacity of the recycle bin, but it is not easy to change the space
requirement of the system restore files except by editing the registry. If
you want, I can provide details to carry out any or all of these changes.
Dwarf

 

[Robert M. Lincoln]

I have selected the option to show hidden files and folders.

The 60 GB discrepancy was calculated with the hidden
files and folders option selected.

I did not have checked the hidden operating system files
and folders. When I check that option, a few more
folders appear, and the count now is only a few GB
more. There still is a substantial amount of space (over
50 GB) unaccounted for.

Is there some utility that checks your disk and reports
errors? I thought Windows Vista had that built in.

Thanks