[Win7] Why could this be happening to my hard drive space?

Emtiph · 07-17-2012, 04:58 PM

Here is a screenshot of my hard drive: http://images.hermes.lightfused.net/space.PNG

The Screenshot shows that 494~ GB of space is being used on the drive based on what I have selected.

However, in THIS screenshot it shows that 551 GB of space is being used.

Now, if the first screenshot is correct, I should have 437 GB of free space. But if the second screenshot is correct, the first screenshot ought to show my used space with an extra 57~ GB of space.

My hard drive appears to be using about 57 GB of space on nothing. How is this happening and what can I do to correct it or get my space back? Thanks

µR¼ · 07-17-2012, 05:03 PM

windows by default hides files and folders that shouldn't be shown to users. You aren't selecting these files during the file size count.

If you're curious about what files are taking up the space, you can check out storage analysis software like Spacesniffer, windirstat or alternatives. But I do not recommend deleting them without knowledge of it.

You can use disk Cleanup (start menu, accessories, system tools) to clear out safely removable files that may be taking a lot space.

Krevedko012 · 07-17-2012, 05:09 PM

All files in reality are aligned to clusters. A cluster is the smallest containment unit on disk (4 Kb by default). If you have file with a size of 100 bytes, it will take space of 4 Kb, if you have file of 1021 Kb, it will take a disk space of 1024 Kb, etc.

Maybe because of that also.

Also, System Restore points (maybe), files in Recycle Bin, etc. (hidden files)

SirDrexl · 07-17-2012, 05:28 PM

I don't think the protected OS files apply in this case, because that looks to be a separate drive from the OS, only used to store personal media files. I don't know if System Restore will store data to drives other than the one with the OS.

I'm guessing Recycle Bin, since by default there is one on each drive. Try disabling it for F: and see what it says then.

Have you done anything with junctions? Like made a virtual folder on one drive that gets redirected to a different drive? For example, I redirect Chrome's cache to a hard drive to save a little on writes to the SSD.

shado028 · 07-17-2012, 08:05 PM

Run Disk Cleanup on just the F: drive and see what it picks up.

neatfeatguy · 07-17-2012, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shado028

Run Disk Cleanup on just the F: drive and see what it picks up.

Also defrag

XemperiumX · 07-17-2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emtiph

Here is a screenshot of my hard drive: http://images.hermes.lightfused.net/space.PNG

The Screenshot shows that 494~ GB of space is being used on the drive based on what I have selected.

However, in THIS screenshot it shows that 551 GB of space is being used.

Now, if the first screenshot is correct, I should have 437 GB of free space. But if the second screenshot is correct, the first screenshot ought to show my used space with an extra 57~ GB of space.

My hard drive appears to be using about 57 GB of space on nothing. How is this happening and what can I do to correct it or get my space back? Thanks

are you sure you dont have 100's of restore points, they can take up loads of space and also check how much space you have allocated to your recycle bin

Mr SmokesAlot · 07-17-2012, 09:23 PM

You can save a ton of space by turning off
Hibernation (and deleting hiberfil)
System restore
Error reporting

Google for guides.

DieVerboten · 07-18-2012, 10:08 AM

As many other people have already mentioned, numerous hidden and system files may not be taken into account when you manually select files like that.

Beyond that, the free space estimation is just that, an estimation. It's never going to be exact. The larger the drive, the more disparity between actual space use and reported use there can be.

The disk properties is likely to be more accurate. Overall, you have plenty of free space, so I wouldn't worry about it.

A Guy · 07-18-2012, 11:49 AM

Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and try again, although, I doubt it will make much of a difference.

phkuxato · 07-24-2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neatfeatguy

Also defrag

Wrong.

MeStinkBAD · 07-25-2012, 04:34 AM

It's most likely evil gigabyte thieving gnomes that are responsible! That, or you are comparing the combined total of a bunch of selected items (but not selecting several hidden ones that are always hidden) to TOTAL SPACE - FREE SPACE = USED SPACE. The latter is the accurate way to measure.

Go to run, type CMD then..
> F:
> DIR /A

You'll see a complete listing including any hidden items.

Emtiph · 08-07-2012, 06:41 AM

Thanks for the help guys, but I just can't see what is causing this problem. It turns out there was an old Windows Backup file on the drive that I was able to remove, but the problem persists. Last night I had about 340gb~ of free space, now I only have 320: http://images.hermes.lightfused.net/...07-08-2012.jpg all of my other drives show correct used/free space data.

I've also tried unchecking "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and your suggestion, MsStrinkBAD.

What could be the issue here? I mean, this is a pretty big miss-reporting of space.

masterchef341 · 08-07-2012, 06:48 AM

empty the recycle bin

ragan651 · 08-07-2012, 06:54 AM

Most likely, the second screenshot is accurate. Simply selecting all folders and files and going to properties will not always give an accurate measure of disk space usage, due to hidden and system files in the root directory.

What I find interesting is that the actual file size is larger than the used disk space. That's odd.

07-17-2012, 04:58 PM	#1
Emtiph Join Date: Oct 2005 Reputation: 0 Posts: 303	[Win7] Why could this be happening to my hard drive space? Here is a screenshot of my hard drive: http://images.hermes.lightfused.net/space.PNG The Screenshot shows that 494~ GB of space is being used on the drive based on what I have selected. However, in THIS screenshot it shows that 551 GB of space is being used. Now, if the first screenshot is correct, I should have 437 GB of free space. But if the second screenshot is correct, the first screenshot ought to show my used space with an extra 57~ GB of space. My hard drive appears to be using about 57 GB of space on nothing. How is this happening and what can I do to correct it or get my space back? Thanks

07-17-2012, 05:03 PM	#2
µR¼ Join Date: Sep 2005 Reputation: 624 Posts: 6,574	windows by default hides files and folders that shouldn't be shown to users. You aren't selecting these files during the file size count. If you're curious about what files are taking up the space, you can check out storage analysis software like Spacesniffer, windirstat or alternatives. But I do not recommend deleting them without knowledge of it. You can use disk Cleanup (start menu, accessories, system tools) to clear out safely removable files that may be taking a lot space. Last edited by µR¼: 07-17-2012 at 05:06 PM.

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07-17-2012, 05:09 PM	#3
Krevedko012 Join Date: Mar 2012 Reputation: 83 Posts: 275	All files in reality are aligned to clusters. A cluster is the smallest containment unit on disk (4 Kb by default). If you have file with a size of 100 bytes, it will take space of 4 Kb, if you have file of 1021 Kb, it will take a disk space of 1024 Kb, etc. Maybe because of that also. Also, System Restore points (maybe), files in Recycle Bin, etc. (hidden files)

07-17-2012, 05:28 PM	#4
SirDrexl Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 277 Posts: 955	I don't think the protected OS files apply in this case, because that looks to be a separate drive from the OS, only used to store personal media files. I don't know if System Restore will store data to drives other than the one with the OS. I'm guessing Recycle Bin, since by default there is one on each drive. Try disabling it for F: and see what it says then. Have you done anything with junctions? Like made a virtual folder on one drive that gets redirected to a different drive? For example, I redirect Chrome's cache to a hard drive to save a little on writes to the SSD.

07-17-2012, 08:05 PM	#5
shado028 Join Date: May 2011 Reputation: 60 Posts: 264	Run Disk Cleanup on just the F: drive and see what it picks up.

07-17-2012, 09:23 PM	#8
Mr SmokesAlot Banned Join Date: Apr 2012 Reputation: 209 Posts: 1,167	You can save a ton of space by turning off Hibernation (and deleting hiberfil) System restore Error reporting Google for guides.

07-18-2012, 10:08 AM	#9
DieVerboten Banned Join Date: Apr 2012 Reputation: 141 Posts: 251	As many other people have already mentioned, numerous hidden and system files may not be taken into account when you manually select files like that. Beyond that, the free space estimation is just that, an estimation. It's never going to be exact. The larger the drive, the more disparity between actual space use and reported use there can be. The disk properties is likely to be more accurate. Overall, you have plenty of free space, so I wouldn't worry about it.

07-18-2012, 11:49 AM	#10
A Guy Join Date: Dec 2008 Reputation: 700 Posts: 755	Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and try again, although, I doubt it will make much of a difference.

07-25-2012, 04:34 AM	#12
MeStinkBAD Join Date: Jul 2006 Reputation: 151 Posts: 339	It's most likely evil gigabyte thieving gnomes that are responsible! That, or you are comparing the combined total of a bunch of selected items (but not selecting several hidden ones that are always hidden) to TOTAL SPACE - FREE SPACE = USED SPACE. The latter is the accurate way to measure. Go to run, type CMD then.. > F: > DIR /A You'll see a complete listing including any hidden items.

08-07-2012, 06:41 AM	#13
Emtiph Join Date: Oct 2005 Reputation: 0 Posts: 303	Thanks for the help guys, but I just can't see what is causing this problem. It turns out there was an old Windows Backup file on the drive that I was able to remove, but the problem persists. Last night I had about 340gb~ of free space, now I only have 320: http://images.hermes.lightfused.net/...07-08-2012.jpg all of my other drives show correct used/free space data. I've also tried unchecking "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and your suggestion, MsStrinkBAD. What could be the issue here? I mean, this is a pretty big miss-reporting of space.

08-07-2012, 06:48 AM	#14
masterchef341 Join Date: Dec 2008 Reputation: 713 Posts: 1,200	empty the recycle bin

08-07-2012, 06:54 AM	#15
ragan651 Join Date: May 2012 Reputation: 1700 Posts: 808	Most likely, the second screenshot is accurate. Simply selecting all folders and files and going to properties will not always give an accurate measure of disk space usage, due to hidden and system files in the root directory. What I find interesting is that the actual file size is larger than the used disk space. That's odd.