Free disk space does not increase after deleting files

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  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 64bit
       #1

    Free disk space does not increase after deleting files


    Recently I made a few videos with fraps that took up around 110 gigs of space, so I decided to compress all that and upload to youtube, the amount of space the videos are taking up are now down to 70, but my free disk space hasn't increased, in fact it's decreasing as if I never deleted the videos, it isn't decreasing on it's own only if I make files, so basically it'll take up space and it just stays that way for some reason.

    I've looked around the internet for a solution, I have tried:
    • Disabling automatic backup, that didn't do anything.
    • Scanned my computer with malwarebytes to make sure it isn't some worm, nothing found.
    • Used disk cleanup, cleared up 900 MB but the free space still didn't change.
    • Used CCleaner, cleared up 500 MB but the free space still didn't change.
    • Used disk check, nothing bad was found.
    • Used WinDirStat, everything seems fine as it should be, but theres 100 gigs of <unknown>, and I have no freaking clue what it is.
    • Used SpaceSniffer, found absolutely nothing that would take up that much space


    I would use defraggler, but it will take WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too long so I'd use it when I have no other option, there's gotta be another way other than literally waiting over a day for defraggler to finish, and chances are that it wouldn't change anything as well meaning I would have wasted a bunch of time, if defraggler doesn't help I'll just reformat the whole thing.

    Any suggestions?

    Additional information:

    Specs:
    298 GB HDD
    4 GB RAM
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,167
    Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit
       #2

    Welcome to the Seven Forums Jack101.

    I suggest that instead of using Defraggler you use Puran Defrag and carry out a boot-time defrag.

    Now about free disk space. Sometimes the correct free disk space shows up after a reboot. However from your message it would appear that you have already tried that but without success. Another way to find out how much free space exists is to open the Command Prompt and use the "dir/p" command. Please try that and check if the free space shown is identical with what you see with your method and report back with the command prompt screen shot after dir/p has been executed.

    Good luck.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,371
    W10 Pro desktop, W11 laptop, W11 Pro tablet (all 64-bit)
       #3

    Did you empty the Recycle Bin?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    strollin said:
    Did you empty the Recycle Bin?
    Yes, numerous times, disk cleanup did that as well.

    wanchoo said:
    Another way to find out how much free space exists is to open the Command Prompt and use the "dir/p" command. Please try that and check if the free space shown is identical with what you see with your method and report back with the command prompt screen shot after dir/p has been executed.

    Good luck.


    I'll get to boot-time defrag, I'll come back with the results. :)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,167
    Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit
       #5

    It appears that you get the same amount of disk space by both methods. Please confirm.

    You may be having a large number of System Restore Points that may be hogging too much space. Please turn off System Restore and check if that shows an increase in the free space. Please be warned that if you turn off the System Restore you shall not be able to restore your computer to any previous state.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    wanchoo said:
    You may be having a large number of System Restore Points that may be hogging too much space. Please turn off System Restore and check if that shows an increase in the free space. Please be warned that if you turn off the System Restore you shall not be able to restore your computer to any previous state.
    It is disabled, it never was enabled. There is approximately 0 bytes of space being taken up by it.

    Anyways, I did the boot-time defrag and nothing has changed
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #7

    Sounds like "previous versions" may be the culprit. That's also stored in "System Volume Information", where it would typically report as 0 bytes even though data is stored there. You should see the WinDirStat "unknown" category has grown to reflect what is really stored in "System Volume Information".
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    What should I do? I'm pretty much stumped up to this point
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,965
    win 7 X64 Ultimate SP1
       #9

    Tuts To Read


    This command will clean out your logs and will yield some space. This came from Win7 Forums and is safe. But you will no longer have old logs to refer to. If you are not having any problems the logs are probably not needed. You will begin to accumulate some new ones.

    1. Run PowerShell as administrator
    2. Paste (or type-in) this line:
    Get-WinEvent -ListLog * -Force |% { $_.logname;Wevtutil.exe cl $_.logname };Wevtutil.exe cl system
    3. hit Enter

    Another ploy is in an elevated command prompt type "vssadmin /?" and look at the options You can delete your shadow copies if you want.

    Shadow Copies - Delete

    System Protection Restore Points - Delete
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Tried the shadow copies one, that didn't do anything

    Did the system protection restore points deletion, nothing
      My Computer


 
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