Windows 7 missing hard drive space after re-installing


  1. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 64bit
       #1

    Windows 7 missing hard drive space after re-installing


    Hi,

    I've been struggling for days trying to find out where my missing hard drive space went. I would really appreciate any help.:)

    I re-installed Windows 7 using the rescue and recovery function from Lenovo. After installing I realized that my hard drive space was now using 166GB. I knew something was setup wrong.

    When I use a program called ShowSize it says my C drive is 87.65gb. When I go to my computer it shows 121gb free of 287gb. Somewhere there must be about 78gb of duplicate files.

    I read that my old files might be in a folder called windows.old but I have searched for windows.old all over my computer but I can't find it. I also botted in safe mode to see if I could file the windows.old file but didn't have any luck doing that.

    I also had Carbonite installed before I did the re-install so I knew I would be able to get all my files back. After I re-installed Windows 7 I then restored all my files using Carbonite. Could this have caused duplicate files somewhere?

    **I originally re-installed Windows because my wireless mouse would jump/jerk across the screen occasionally. I installed new batteries and uninstalled the drivers and reinstalled them but I still had the same problem. I figured re-installing Windows would fix my problem but my mouse still behaves this way.

    I attached a screen-shot of my Disc Management in case that might be helpful for someone to help me figure my missing hard drive space problem.

    Computer info:
    Lenovo T410
    Windows 7 64bit
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows 7 missing hard drive space after re-installing-2012-02-23_1151.png  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Here is a screen-shot of my shadow storage. Not sure if this will help at all.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows 7 missing hard drive space after re-installing-2012-02-23_1342.png  
      My Computer


  3. Arc
    Posts : 35,373
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview 64-bit
       #3

    Welcome aboard, Briano :)
    First of all, a 320 GB HDD will show as 298 GB in windows ( ref Where Are All My Gigs? ).

    Dont quite aware of lenovos rescue function, but the size seems to be windows.old..... you should have a look there

    Windows.old Folder - Delete

    Moreover, to ensure the maximus disk space, follow the link Hard Disk Space - Free Up and Recover
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hi Arc,

    I attached an image of my C drive folder. There doesn't seem to be a windows.old folder there.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows 7 missing hard drive space after re-installing-2012-02-23_1422.png  
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #5

    I've never used ShowSize. If it's worth a damn, it should show you which folders are using the space.

    If it won't do that, download and run WinDirStat instead. Post a screen shot of what it shows.

    Have you done a disk cleanup as recommended by Arc?

    You have about 15 GB devoted to System Restore. That can be reduced in its configuration optons.
      My Computer


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

    Disc cleanup will only save me 13.6MB.

    I attached a screen shot from the program Arc recommended.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Windows 7 missing hard drive space after re-installing-2012-02-23_1545.jpg  
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #7

    Do you have Explorer set to show hidden and system files?
      My Computer


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

    ignatzatsonic said:
    Do you have Explorer set to show hidden and system files?
    Yes
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    *This doesn't have to do with the major problem (my missing hard drive space) but I did figure out why my wireless mouse would occasionally be jerky. I had the Logitech unifying receiver in a port that was right under my displayport cable and it must have been causing interference.
      My Computer


 

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