HardDisk Problem

[SonicBrewtality]

I have a 210GB Hard drive and apparently i only have 16GB of space left. This didn't look right to me so i went into my Cdrive and checked the size of each folder and added them up on a calculator. Not counting folders that were a few MB or KB the calculator told me i have only used approximately 146GB of space. I ran a defrag and cleanup only a few days ago. So what's going on?

Here are the folders in my C drive:

Program Files = 2GB
Program Files (x86) = 70GB
Windows Folder = 23GB
Users = 44.6GB
SwSetup = 6GB
Temp = 0 bytes
PerfLogs = 0 bytes
Intel = 604KB
inetpub = 188KB
IExp1.tmp = 0 bytes
IExp0.tmp = 0 bytes
Games = 126MB
col1832 = 2.16MB
ATI = 248MB
AMD = 3.87

 

[roban]

Are you counting hidden and system files?

 

[SonicBrewtality]

No, how do i unhide them?

 

[Sardonicus]

Organize > Folder and search options > View > Show hidden files, folders, and drives

 

[seavixen32]

1GB is actually 1024MB, not 1000MB so if we divide 210GB by 1024MB the true size of your drive is 205GB and not 210GB so that takes care of 5GB straightaway.

As far as I'm aware, Windows allocates 15% of your hard drive space for shadow storage, which in your case would be around 30GB so now we've taken care of 35GB.

A ruthless disk cleanup can regain a big chunk of drive space as can any backup folders or anything in the Windows.old folder depending on how your system was installed.

And then of course there is any space taken up if you've chosen to unhide hidden and system files.

You can, if you wish, reduce the shadow storage space for restore points to a minimal amount by use of this command prompt: Vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=1GB Just press Enter to run the command.

To open the command prompt window it's Start>Type cmd in the search field>right-click cmd under Programs and choose Run as Administrator>accept the UAC prompt then type the command and press Enter to run it.

 

[SonicBrewtality]

You can, if you wish, reduce the shadow storage space for restore points to a minimal amount by use of this command prompt: Vssadmin Resize ShadowStorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=1GB Just press Enter to run the command.

To open the command prompt window it's Start>Type cmd in the search field>right-click cmd under Programs and choose Run as Administrator>accept the UAC prompt then type the command and press Enter to run it.

What are the disadvantages of doing that?

 

[seavixen32]

The main and only disadvantage is that you reduce the number of restore points available to you.

System restore is allocated an amount of disc space to take snapshots (restore points) of your system at such times as you install updates, drivers and suchlike.

When this drive space is filled up the oldest restore points are deleted so if you reduce the drive space, restore points are deleted quicker, which can hamper efforts to restore your system to an earlier time.

So the payback for regaining disc space is that repair by system restore is diminished.

 

[SonicBrewtality]

How many restore points would 1 GB give me?

 

[seavixen32]

It really is difficult to say as it varies by user depending on how a system is used, how many programs are installed, and how much data is stored on the system.

Suffice to say it wouldn't give you many compared to the default 15% of say a 500GB drive, which would equate to 75GB.

If you're really concerned about the loss of restore points, then perhaps you should consider buying a bigger hard drive and not reducing the shadow storage space. Only you can decide that one.

 

[gregrocker]

You want more System Restore points to bail yourself out of problems which may not surface until later. I set all installs to 20% which is variable according to HD space used. System Protection - Change Disk Space Usage

Best to get another HD or external to move some files off, run CCleaner regularly.