C: drive usage doesn't add up

random.stranger

Hi,
I've done a fresh install of windows xp this week. The used space on my c: drive is showing up as 17.2GB, but when I add up the contents of all the folders on the drive I get 8.4GB (I have set folder options to show hidden files and folders).

I have ran the disk check utility from the hard drive manufacturer & it passed.

Also tried running error checking from tools tab of disk properties, which passed. But wouldn't allow option to "Automatically fix file system errors", scheduled it to run on restart but it didn't run- might be something to do with the partition being ntfs.

Any ideas?

Some probably irrelevent information:
Partitions were set using Gparted program.
Installation was run from a slipstreamed XP CD with AHCI drivers

Hijpo

Is it possible you created a new partition to install windows instead of overwriting the old install?

random.stranger

Hijpo wrote: »

Is it possible you created a new partition to install windows instead of overwriting the old install?

Yes, I formatted the partition using Gparted before the install. Would that be a problem?

Hijpo

Dont think it would be a problem no. Try reinstall and let windows do the formatting.

random.stranger

Hijpo wrote: »

Dont think it would be a problem no. Try reinstall and let windows do the formatting.

Thanks, I'll give that a go now.

Capt'n Midnight

what size are
swap file ?
hibernate file ?
system volume information ? - even if you have admin rights this isn't turned on by default


reinstalling won't fix a partition unless you wipe it


check volume size - drive properties
check in MyComputer Manage the size of partitions , if the partition is bigger than the the volume size then go into gparted and resize the partition to 1MB smaller (cancel if it says move) this will force an ntfsresize in case it hasn't been done already

Fysh

At a guess I'd say hiberfil.sys and pagefile.sys are the culprits, they usually eat up a good bit of space.

subway

try this http://windirstat.info/

Overheal

subway wrote: »

try this http://windirstat.info/

Beat me to it. Basically this unelashes pacman on your system, and he will count all of your cherries and all of your pips.

random.stranger

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

what size are
swap file ?
hibernate file ?
system volume information ? - even if you have admin rights this isn't turned on by default


reinstalling won't fix a partition unless you wipe it


check volume size - drive properties
check in MyComputer Manage the size of partitions , if the partition is bigger than the the volume size then go into gparted and resize the partition to 1MB smaller (cancel if it says move) this will force an ntfsresize in case it hasn't been done already

That was close, thanks for your reply. I just checked out those file sizes using a linux boot cd & they get me much closer to the disk usage.

I got the volume size in drive properties, but you lost me at manage the size of partitions. Did you mean to open the Computer Management Console from the control panel?

Hijpo

That was close, thanks for your reply. I just checked out those file sizes using a linux boot cd & they get me much closer to the disk usage.

I got the volume size in drive properties, but you lost me at manage the size of partitions. Did you mean to open the Computer Management Console from the control panel?

Sorry for steerin you wrong

Capt'n Midnight

if the sizes matched no need to worry


right click on the drive tells you what the partition is formatted to


run compmgmt.msc etc. to see disk management , which says how much space the partition takes on the drive.




you can use cacls with /E to grant yourself rights to see system volume information, but not much use really.

random.stranger

Hijpo wrote: »

Sorry for steerin you wrong

No worries mate, you were only trying to help.
Thanks anyways.

random.stranger

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

if the sizes matched no need to worry


right click on the drive tells you what the partition is formatted to


run compmgmt.msc etc. to see disk management , which says how much space the partition takes on the drive.




you can use cacls with /E to grant yourself rights to see system volume information, but not much use really.

Thanks for your reply. They are coming up pretty much the same Volume C: 35832 MB, in Disk Management 34.99 GB. I assume that's close enough?

Capt'n Midnight

yeah it's 1000 vs. 1024 (2.4% for each step K Mega Gig T)

it should also give you a number in bytes that is different again

random.stranger

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

yeah it's 1000 vs. 1024 (2.4% for each step K Mega Gig T)

it should also give you a number in bytes that is different again

Great, thanks.

random.stranger

subway wrote: »

try this http://windirstat.info/

Overheal wrote: »

Beat me to it. Basically this unelashes pacman on your system, and he will count all of your cherries and all of your pips.

Thanks, that's a nifty little program, will definately use it on clogged up hard drives that need spring cleaning. Hou weren't joking about pacman either!

vibe666

Overheal wrote: »

subway wrote: »

try this http://windirstat.info/

Beat me to it. Basically this unelashes pacman on your system, and he will count all of your cherries and all of your pips.

ditto, great little yoke, been using it for a while now instead of treesize.