Does Google Drive eat hard disk space?


  1. Posts : 85
    Windows 7
       #1

    Does Google Drive eat hard disk space?


    I use a few cloud storages (Dropbox, box, and skydrive )
    Today, I installed Google Drive. When it was installed it created two folders in C-drive:

    c:\Users\user name\Documents\My Google Docs\
    c:\Users\user name\Google Drive\


    Dropbox also creates a folder on hard drive but Google drive creates two folders as above.
    Box and Skydrive do not create any folder on hard drive.

    My question is whether Google's two folders take space in C-drive. I feel that it is not worth to install Google Drive if these folders eat precious hard disk space.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,476
       #2

    They're just there if you want to have any of your stuff on your hard drive instead of Google's servers.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #3

    You may have set it up that way - in fact that looks like the default setup when you install the Google Drive application. I've been using Google Drive for a while now, and only have a single folder (which is located at E:\Google Drive) used to sync to Google Drive.

    If you don't add anything to those folders, then of course, it doesn't use any disk space.

    Regards,
    Golden
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #4

    Of course not. Google Drive is stored completely on the cloud, so it's like having a flash drive. The folders you see with the files inside are basically just links to the files stored online. It's okay to delete it, but each documents is only like 2KB anyways, so it doesn't really matter.

    EDIT: I forgot to mention that you can add pretty much any type of file to your Google Drive folder (the one on your hard drive) as well. It will simply sync the file with the cloud and you will be able to access file from the https://drive.google.com after it is done.
    Last edited by Intellogist; 18 Apr 2013 at 15:19. Reason: Grammar error
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,476
       #5

    Intellogist said:
    Of course not. Google Drive is stored completely on the cloud, so it's like having a flash drive. The folders you see with the files inside are basically just links to the files stored online. It's okay to delete it, but each documents is only like 2KB anyways, so it doesn't really matter.

    EDIT: I forgot to mention that you can add pretty much any type of file to your Google Drive folder (the one on your hard drive) as well. It will simply sync the file with the cloud and you will be able to access file from the https://drive.google.com after it is done.
    Oh, so anything you put into that folder is automatically uploaded to the Google Drive! That is, a copy is uploaded! Nice.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #6

    TwoCables said:
    Intellogist said:
    Of course not. Google Drive is stored completely on the cloud, so it's like having a flash drive. The folders you see with the files inside are basically just links to the files stored online. It's okay to delete it, but each documents is only like 2KB anyways, so it doesn't really matter.

    EDIT: I forgot to mention that you can add pretty much any type of file to your Google Drive folder (the one on your hard drive) as well. It will simply sync the file with the cloud and you will be able to access file from the https://drive.google.com after it is done.
    Oh, so anything you put into that folder is automatically uploaded to the Google Drive! That is, a copy is uploaded! Nice.
    Yes, its essentially a folder/cloud sync : have a look at this

    Google Drive - Add to "Send To" Context Menu
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 85
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Intellogist said:
    Of course not. Google Drive is stored completely on the cloud, so it's like having a flash drive. The folders you see with the files inside are basically just links to the files stored online. It's okay to delete it, but each documents is only like 2KB anyways, so it doesn't really matter.
    Thanks for the info. As described in the original post, there are two folders on C- drive;
    c:\Users\user name\Documents\My Google Docs\
    c:\Users\user name\Google Drive\
    What are they. I don't think I need to folders to store files in cloud. Which one I should place files to store in cloud. I am now thinking about re-installing Google drive.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #8

    Agree - reinstall Google Drive, read the instructions carefully. Follow the tutorial if you wish to.
      My Computer


 

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