Reformatted portable HD has large used space


  1. Posts : 1,002
    XP Pro (x86) | 7 HP (x86) & (x64) | 7 Pro (x64)
       #1

    Reformatted portable HD has large used space


    Just reformatted a (nominal) 250GB pocket HDD (NTFS) to wipe all data.
    After formatting the used space is 97MB (without any intentional data on the drive)
    Hidden "$RECYCLE.BIN" = 4KB
    Hidden "System Volume Information":= 0 bytes

    Why is there so much used space?

    Is "$RECYCLE.BIN" auto resized during use.

    Thank you :)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #2

    GrayGhost2 said:
    Just reformatted a (nominal) 250GB pocket HDD (NTFS) to wipe all data.
    After formatting the used space is 97MB (without any intentional data on the drive)
    Hidden "$RECYCLE.BIN" = 4KB
    Hidden "System Volume Information":= 0 bytes

    Why is there so much used space?

    Is "$RECYCLE.BIN" auto resized during use.

    Thank you :)
    97 mb is about 1/25 of 1% of 250 GB. Maybe we have different standards, but I wouldn't call that "so much".

    I'm not aware of recycle bin being auto-resized. I think of it as another folder for which you can set a maximum size.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,487
    Win 7 Pro x64/Win 10 Pro x64 dual boot
       #3

    I think that used space is partly the partition table and other housekeeping things that the disk uses for regular operation. It's my best guess anyway.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,002
    XP Pro (x86) | 7 HP (x86) & (x64) | 7 Pro (x64)
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Consider it as SOLVED


    Thanks ignatzatsonic and Mellon Head for your responses :)

    I thought a reformatted disc would be empty. As in zero. ?

    But I just recalled NTFS requires its own "controller" (correct me if I am wrong) and maybe that is what the 97 mb is for !
      My Computer


 

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