Lost hard drive space

[Jenn]

I am not sure why but for some reason my c drive is displaying incorrect
information. When I view the total space for C: from "My Computer" it
displays 21.3 GB of 133GB used. However, when I go into my c drive select all
files and folders, right click and select properties, the most space being
used in C is 30GB.

For some reason my system restores have all been lost. I do not have a vista
install disk, but I do have the factory restore that I made upon purchase of
my laptop.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I am not sure why but for some reason my c drive is displaying incorrect
information. When I view the total space for C: from "My Computer" it
displays 21.3 GB of 133GB used. However, when I go into my c drive select
all
files and folders, right click and select properties, the most space being
used in C is 30GB.

For some reason my system restores have all been lost. I do not have a
vista
install disk, but I do have the factory restore that I made upon purchase
of
my laptop.

The restore dvd will wipe out your files and any apps you have installed
since you first got the computer.

I take it you mean Computer rather than My Computer (XP and earlier).

When I replicate your steps on my Vista Ultimate x64 system I get 130GB in
use on C: on the General tab of the C: drive properties page, and 65GB in
Windows Explorer when I open the C: drive, select all files and folders, and
select properties from the context menu of the selected items.

Of course, restore points and NTFS file structures, etc. (overhead) are not
enumerated when selecting all files and folders and then Properties.
Assuming that the rule of thumb that there is 15% overhead used by default,
I think the result looks about right. C: is a 500gb drive and 65GB plus 15%
of 500GB is in the ballpark of the 130GB shown in use on the C: drive
Properties page General tab.

You did not say what size hardrive or partition your C: is but I suspect it
is smaller than 100GB, perhaps in the range of 60GB. If larger, then your
overhead is low indeed.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Also, don't forget about the page file and shadow copies. They will not be
enumerated when you do the select all either.

 

[DL]

Its displaying correct information, its simply that not all files are
visible, even if you select show hidden.

 

[Jenn]

My partition for c is 133GB and I have a partioned d:// drive with 7GB of
space.

Wow. I did not know that shadow copies and such took up so much room.

Perhaps if I link to an image?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

My partition for c is 133GB and I have a partioned d:// drive with 7GB of
space.

Wow. I did not know that shadow copies and such took up so much room.

Perhaps if I link to an image?

A 133GB system partition that only has 8GB or so of overhead in use on it is
very good. Very good. I don't see why you turned off restore point
monitoring on it. You certainly are not pressed for space. What are you
using D: for or is that your recovery partition?

As far as an image, you might be able to see a graphic representation by
using the analyse function of a defragger. If you only have the Vista one
then download a trial copy of Diskeeper and use that. Obviously you only
need it for a one-time look and see. Someone else here no doubt knows how
to break out the info and hopefully they will respond. I haven't seen any
graphic explanations on the net other than from the hardware perspective
(how-drives-work stuff).

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

A 133GB system partition that only has 8GB or so of overhead in use on it
is very good. Very good. I don't see why you turned off restore point
monitoring on it. You certainly are not pressed for space. What are you
using D: for or is that your recovery partition?

As far as an image, you might be able to see a graphic representation by
using the analyse function of a defragger. If you only have the Vista one
then download a trial copy of Diskeeper and use that. Obviously you only
need it for a one-time look and see. Someone else here no doubt knows how
to break out the info and hopefully they will respond. I haven't seen any
graphic explanations on the net other than from the hardware perspective
(how-drives-work stuff).

btw, if you use Diskeeper, after you select Analyze you need to change the
Volume Map View drop down from File Performance to File Structure and then
you will see the graphic I had in mind.