Missing Gigs After Installation?

ignatzatsonic · 16 Feb 2011

No.

Not in the command box.

Shut the command box.

Go back to "command prompt", whereever you found it. I think it is usually under the accessories menu. Right click there and look for "run as adminstrator". When a new command box opens, type that EXACT command there. Or paste it in.

You should be able to get a good estimate of the hiber file size by comparing the size of C before you issue the power off command to the size of C after you issue it. I think it is equal to the size of installed RAM??

whs · 16 Feb 2011

Best is to set cmd permanently to elevated mode. Go to All Programs > Accessories > Right click on Command Prompt > Properties > Advanced > Check the box " Run as Administrator" > OK > Apply (don't forget Apply). Now cmd will always run in elevated mode. It is also useful to pin it to the taskbar. And maybe you want to make the window a bit more readable: cmd window setup on Vimeo

PS: the size of the hiberfile is equal to the size of your RAM.

rpurcell · 16 Feb 2011

OK, got that set to elevated mode. Thank you for that info. Hib is off, and I see the Hibernation option is gone from the shut down menu. So after I turned the hib off, I don't see any difference on the space on the harddrive, according to my computer at least. In My Computer it still shows that 83 GB are used, but in the WinDirStat, it shows 43 GB for the same C: drive. (That seems correct, if I regained the 40) I don't understand it. Even in WinDirStat, it only shows the C drive and the CD drive. Could I have a hidden partition somewhere? Why would my computer read different than the WinDirStat?

whs · 16 Feb 2011

You never looked into the shadowstorage as I suggested earlier. Now that your cmd works, run this command: vssadmin list shadowstorage - look for the Allocated number.

rpurcell · 16 Feb 2011

OK, I see. Used shadow storage 41GB. Allocated 42GB. Maximum 43GB.

So what does that mean? I can never use those those allocated GBs anyway?

Thanks

ignatzatsonic · 16 Feb 2011

You can reduce the amount of space that system restore can use if you want to. Right now, the maximum it will use is 43 gb and you are now using 41 of the 43. Drill into your system restore setting if you want to reduce that amount. I only allow about 10 gigs to be used. It's a personal choice. The more space you give it, the farther back in time you can go when you choose a restore point.

whs · 16 Feb 2011

I would not reduce it. This is your lifeline if you ever have to set your system back to an earlier restore point.You can also recover lost data from there - with Shadow Explorer. Unless you desperately need that space, I would leave it alone.

BTW: If you reduce the shadowstorage space, you lose all restore points - except the last one.

rpurcell · 16 Feb 2011

I see. Yes, that makes sense. Thanks. Can you tell me how to get to those system restore settings in Win7 in case I choose to do it?

whs, thanks. I will keep that in mind before I reduce it. So you think that anything under 40 GB in the restore system is dangerous? All advice and opinions are appreciated.

ignatzatsonic · 16 Feb 2011

control panel/system/system protection/configure

move the slider wherever you want it.

ignatzatsonic · 16 Feb 2011

I'd guess if you polled everyone on this forum that you would find less than 10% that had at least 40 gb devoted to restore points.

My entire C drive occupies less than 30 GB.

Many on this forum split their primary drive into 2 partitions: C for Windows and D for data, with C typically between 40 and 100 gb. I use 60, with 29 occupied.

If you have 41 gb worth of restore points, you must have at least 50 different restore points, dating back a month or more.

I normally have about a dozen, dating back a week or two.

It's entirely personal choice. I can't restore to a point from last November and could not care less.

You might be able to do that but you need to ask yourself if last November is preferable to last week.

If November is preferable, don't change from 40 gb. You might even want to increase it to 80 gb so you can restore to last July.

You'd have to examine your own personal restore points to fully see what is going on.