Missing alot of HDD

[not so gray matter]

This could be the shadowstorage. Open an elevated Command Prompt (run as admin) and paste this command in:

vssadmin list shadowstorage

Then look for your drive and the 3 numbers (used, allocated, maximum). It would be the allocated that is the current size of the reserved shadowstorage (the area where restore points go).

If that is it, post back and I tell you how to resize/delete it.

Under the drive I:\
Used Shadow Copy Storage Space: 95.864 GB <20%>
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage Space: 98.786 GB <21%>
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage Space: 139.728 GB <30%>

There you go - there are your 98 GBs that are missing. And it will continue to grab space all the way to 140GBs. If you want to reduce it, do the following:

1. right click on "Computer" in the right pane of Start
2. go to Properties
3. go to "Advanced System settings" on the top left
4. go to the "system protection" button
5. click "configure"
6. there you can adjust the slider to any value you like - it should be sitting at appr. 140GB right now.
7. don't forget "Apply" and OK

That should work, but if it doesn't, you can always backup all data and completely reformat the hard drive via Partition Wizard.

 

[whs]

Note: I had omitted one step in my previous post. I added it as step 4a.

 

[devildog93]

This could be the shadowstorage. Open an elevated Command Prompt (run as admin) and paste this command in:

vssadmin list shadowstorage

Then look for your drive and the 3 numbers (used, allocated, maximum). It would be the allocated that is the current size of the reserved shadowstorage (the area where restore points go).

If that is it, post back and I tell you how to resize/delete it.

Under the drive I:\
Used Shadow Copy Storage Space: 95.864 GB <20%>
Allocated Shadow Copy Storage Space: 98.786 GB <21%>
Maximum Shadow Copy Storage Space: 139.728 GB <30%>

There you go - there are your 98 GBs that are missing. And it will continue to grab space all the way to 140GBs. If you want to reduce it, do the following:

1. right click on "Computer" in the right pane of Start
2. go to Properties
3. go to "Advanced System settings" on the top left
4. go to the "system protection" button
5. click "configure"
6. there you can adjust the slider to any value you like - it should be sitting at appr. 140GB right now.
7. don't forget "Apply" and OK

BLAM-O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am curious as to why it was set so high, as I don't remember setting it on that drive, I have been in there before, but I only adjusted the C:\ drive, and never messed with any of the peripheral HDD's, or other partitions.

But I am not complaining either way. I appreciate any and all suggestions given, regardless of their outcome.

Thank you nogreymatter, whs, and everyone else. It is safe to say this is solved, and also safe to say this forum is outstanding, and I learned alot more cool stuff to do with partitioning that I had no clue about before.

 

[CarlTR6]

vssadmin list shadowstorage

I was not aware of this command. Thank you.

 

[devildog93]

Yes, thanks. Good one WHS! That'll free me up more on other HDD's if I want. SA-WEET!

 

[whs]

You are all very welcome. There are more useful vssadmin command parameters. See here: Vssadmin

 

[CarlTR6]

You are all very welcome. There are more useful vssadmin command parameters. See here: Vssadmin

Good link. Thanks for the information. I surely do learn a lot here!

 

[devildog93]

I checked all other drives and made sure only C:\ has system protection allocation.

On the drive that was in question, I:\ it is still showing 1% (4.66GB) Max usage
O bytes under current usage though. It won't go to 0% on Max Usage.

NO BIG DEAL at all, you saved my 94 or so GB, but just curious to why...

A: Windows would put this on this drive and no other externals
B: And this is only drive that won't go to 0% other than C\


Just curious. Thanks otherwise though

 

[devildog93]

Thanks but that's not it.

The Verbatim HDD is an external. Should have no windows features or folders on it, but it does....why, don't know.
I went and downloaded WinDirStat. Basically it has no idea either.

You have bounceback express on that drive... That is some pretty potent imaging software that backs up your system to external drives. The scrabblefragus numbers you see in the root directory are actually backups of your system... which explains where all your space is going.

Windows 7 Backup Software | BounceBack Ultimate | Hard Drive Backup

DUH on my part

Good call Common Tater.

Wow, I learned alot today. Very cool stuff. And the BounceBack is prob not gonna let me get rid of that last little 4.66 GB......which is A-OK


Awesome job guys all of you.

 

[CommonTater]

I checked all other drives and made sure only C:\ has system protection allocation.

On the drive that was in question, I:\ it is still showing 1% (4.66GB) Max usage
O bytes under current usage though. It won't go to 0% on Max Usage.

NO BIG DEAL at all, you saved my 94 or so GB, but just curious to why...

A: Windows would put this on this drive and no other externals
B: And this is only drive that won't go to 0% other than C\


Just curious. Thanks otherwise though

Was this drive new when you bought it?

I'm thinking you may have inherrited somone else's headache.

 

[CommonTater]

Thanks but that's not it.

The Verbatim HDD is an external. Should have no windows features or folders on it, but it does....why, don't know.
I went and downloaded WinDirStat. Basically it has no idea either.

You have bounceback express on that drive... That is some pretty potent imaging software that backs up your system to external drives. The scrabblefragus numbers you see in the root directory are actually backups of your system... which explains where all your space is going.

Windows 7 Backup Software | BounceBack Ultimate | Hard Drive Backup

DUH on my part

Good call Common Tater.

Wow, I learned alot today. Very cool stuff. And the BounceBack is prob not gonna let me get rid of that last little 4.66 GB......which is A-OK


Awesome job guys all of you.

Actually I deleted that message because in afterthought, it seemed that having backup on an external drive was probably a *good* thing.... I have several external drives that are used for no other purpose... However, new drive or not, the very first thing I always do is get them into Disk Management, delete any and all partitions and redo them from scratch... I'm a real advocate about "starting fresh" with this stuff.

I knew a guy some time ago who bought a used hard disk... 320gb, which was HUGE for the time he bought it... 3 days later the police where at his door asking him what he did with the hard disk. As it turned out he'd not installed it yet and the thing was full of Kiddie Porn .... the police needed it for evidence!

Since then... brand new or not... wipe, partition, format.... every drive.

 

[devildog93]

I checked all other drives and made sure only C:\ has system protection allocation.

On the drive that was in question, I:\ it is still showing 1% (4.66GB) Max usage
O bytes under current usage though. It won't go to 0% on Max Usage.

NO BIG DEAL at all, you saved my 94 or so GB, but just curious to why...

A: Windows would put this on this drive and no other externals
B: And this is only drive that won't go to 0% other than C\


Just curious. Thanks otherwise though

Was this drive new when you bought it?

I'm thinking you may have inherrited somone else's headache.

According to the store, The Source by Circuit City, it was new.
Possibly though. Very basic packaging box that could easily be able to be put together to look original.
Still happy though.

 

[devildog93]

You have bounceback express on that drive... That is some pretty potent imaging software that backs up your system to external drives. The scrabblefragus numbers you see in the root directory are actually backups of your system... which explains where all your space is going.

Windows 7 Backup Software | BounceBack Ultimate | Hard Drive Backup

DUH on my part

Good call Common Tater.

Wow, I learned alot today. Very cool stuff. And the BounceBack is prob not gonna let me get rid of that last little 4.66 GB......which is A-OK


Awesome job guys all of you.

Actually I deleted that message because in afterthought, it seemed that having backup on an external drive was probably a *good* thing.... I have several external drives that are used for no other purpose... However, new drive or not, the very first thing I always do is get them into Disk Management, delete any and all partitions and redo them from scratch... I'm a real advocate about "starting fresh" with this stuff.

I knew a guy some time ago who bought a used hard disk... 320gb, which was HUGE for the time he bought it... 3 days later the police where at his door asking him what he did with the hard disk. As it turned out he'd not installed it yet and the thing was full of Kiddie Porn .... the police needed it for evidence!

Since then... brand new or not... wipe, partition, format.... every drive.

NOW THERE IS SOME OTHER GOOD ADVICE.

Careful what you buy, WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who did he buy it from................................ the :devil:?

 

[whs]

Try this command to get rid of the 4+GBs. Note that 300MBs is the minimum you must have.

vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=I: /On=I: /MaxSize=300MB

 

[devildog93]

Try this command to get rid of the 4+GBs. Note that 300MBs is the minimum you must have.

vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=I: /On=I: /MaxSize=300MB

OK, I ran that in elevated command prompt, but when I go into computer properties, under sytem protection it still only allows it to go down to 1% or 4.66 GB.

I will try re-boot to see if that changes will post.


EDIT: The I:\ dirve is still unwilling to release that last 4.66 GB, down to 300MB as your command attempted. Maybe because of the the BounceBack Express program on it?

Like I said, not too worried about it.

 

[not so gray matter]

If you really want that last 5GB just completely format the hard drive. That'll kill anything on the drive. However, you have to do it from a third party program, Windows may skip those partitions.

 

[devildog93]

If you really want that last 5GB just completely format the hard drive. That'll kill anything on the drive. However, you have to do it from a third party program, Windows may skip those partitions.

Oh, OK. I think I will just leave that last 4.66 GB alone. I can live with losing that little bit, and formatting, moving the current files etc. etc. might be more than it is worth, as I did get most of my space back.

Thank you for your suggestion and help though, I appreciate it.

 

[whs]

You could investigate a little more about the BounceBack - I am just too lazy right now to read all that stuff ( Windows 7 Backup Software | BounceBack Ultimate | Hard Drive Backup ). It looks like a useful program, but if you are not using it, you might as well get rid of it.

 

[devildog93]

You could investigate a little more about the BounceBack - I am just too lazy right now to read all that stuff ( Windows 7 Backup Software | BounceBack Ultimate | Hard Drive Backup ). It looks like a useful program, but if you are not using it, you might as well get rid of it.

OK, will do that. And if I do deem it unnecessary, and it is causing the loss of the 4.66GB, I will probably get rid of it if safe to do so. Thanks again WHS!

PS. I can't figure out where to give people REP. How do you do that? I have alot to dish out to many different people on this site, all of whom deserve it.

This site is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jonathan_King]

To give out rep, click this button in the upper-right of their post.