187 GB Unknown File Cannot Delete

xodiak · 03 Jun 2011

Hello forum. I did do a quick search.

I have a 188 GB mystery file on a computer at work. Brand new computer, suddenly we are getting errors about how the 500 GB drive is nearly full. We were storing a lot of images. I back up the non-essential files to an external drive and investigate with windirstat. (see attachment)

Aside from hogging over 50% of the drive space, the only place this 'Unknown' file shows up is in windirstat. And the option to delete from windirstat is greyed out.

We'd really like to use this 50% of the drive and would appreciate any help. This is not my computer, so I'll put the specs below.

OS - Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Version - 6.1.7600 Build 7600
Manufacturer - Lenovo
Model - 415D7U
Type - 64 bit
Processor -Intel Xeon E5507 @ 2.27 Ghz, 2261 Mhz, 4 Cores
Bios - Lenovo 60KT38AUS, 4/15/2010
SMBIOS - 2.6
RAM - 4 GB
HD - 500 GB
Graphics - NVIDIA Quadro 600 / 1 GB RAM

MacGyvr · 03 Jun 2011

If it's brand new...run a factory restore on it.

xodiak · 03 Jun 2011

I thought about that. Honestly, I'm trying to avoid that if at all possible. It just hours to get all the programs installed / configured. I'd love to have the 188 GB back but I'd almost rather put another 500 GB drive or use a USB drive than reinstall everything after a restore.

SIW2 · 03 Jun 2011

Paragon is very good - boot it up, select normal mode - might take a couple of mins to load - select File transfer wizard.

Select an item you don't want and click the red X.

Rescue Kit Free Edition | PARAGON Software Group - free partition software, hard disk partitioning

xodiak · 03 Jun 2011

I'll give that Paragon Resource Kit a shot on Monday. I can't do it remotely. Hopefully it will be able to recognize that stupid file.

profdlp · 03 Jun 2011

187 GB is pretty big, but could it be the recovery data in case you need to use the factory restore option?

James Colbert · 04 Jun 2011

I agree with prof...I'd want to know what the file is before deleting it, even if just for curiosity's sake. Have you looked for it with hidden files and OS system files showing?:

Hidden Files and Folders - Show or Hide

profdlp · 04 Jun 2011

Most of the extension is missing in the picture, but it's labeled "Microsoft Office Access Dat...".

My guess is it's a big .mdb file:

MDB: file extension mdb - Open .mdb files

Got any big database usage?

A Guy · 04 Jun 2011

You might try Space Sniffer. A Guy

xodiak · 06 Jun 2011

Thanks guys.

The recovery is on a separate partition. And I've shown hidden files. I've searched local c:\ for files larger than 100GB and nothing. The only place it shows up is windirstat (as unknown space) And used space on the drive properties.

That's what I thought (about the access database) When I click on thet yellow block on the right in windirstat, all the access databases highlight (but not the 188 GB block). Besides, I don't know if it's possible for an MDB to reach 188 GB in size. I guess if it were corrupt or something.

I just tried the rescue kit free and it did not show anything that size to be deleted.

And I just ran SpaceSniffer and it doesn't recognize that drive space being used.

Well... I'm getting closer to restore... Or a second drive.

187 GB Unknown File Cannot Delete

188 GB Unknown File Cannot Delete