Odd free space inconsistency between drives

[Xirix]

I've just noticed this so I thought I'd ask, I just completed a backup of my files I do monthly, I have a 2TB external HDD which holds backup copies from an internal 2TB, so they are both the same max size.

I highlighted and checked the size and size on disc of the files I backed up, they came back as exactly the same on both drives as you might expect, but in My Computer it says my internal 2TB has 161gb free, and my 2TB external has 147gb free, but they both have the same files, where is this 14 gigs of space on the external?

I have hidden files set to show, there's none. So I'm a little confused.

 

[andrew129260]

How was the backup done?

Backup and restore in windows or another 3rd part program? Or did you just drag and drop your files over?

 

[Xirix]

Just by copying them over, no programs involved. The files say they're the same size so I'm not concerned for my files, just weirded out by the remaining free space difference...

 

[andrew129260]

Is the internal formatted as ntfs and the external fat32?

You could try formatting the external drive and recopying the data back over.

 

[derekimo]

Just a random thought, is system protection enabled on the external?

 

[Xirix]

It's NTFS, I don't think it's system protected.. how do I check?

I did a chkdsk out of curiousity, just to read the discs. it says my external has some 2000 odd files more than the drive I was backing up.

I had some small issues getting my drive running because the USB cable was faulty, I used a different one and it was fine, but when I was trying to get it working with the faulty cable it kept disconnecting, and it disconnected while I was deleting some old files, could that have put them in some kind of limbo I can't get to?

 

[andrew129260]

I doubt it is system protected as it is an external hard drive. If it was it would be listed under system protection in system properties.

The drive being disconnected like that could cause some weirdness. Like I said, I would format the drive and recopy your data over with a known good cable.

 

[derekimo]

I don't think it's system protected.. how do I check?

It was just a random thought, if you didn't turn it on, Like andrew, I doubt it is on.

Here's a tutorial though for reference,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/330-system-protection-turn-off.html

 

[andrew129260]

@derekimo

I actually do have it on and I also use windows backup as well. What I meant was I do not think you can turn on system protection for external hard drives. At least, I cannot get it to work.

 

[derekimo]

Works for me, there is this warning though,

 

[andrew129260]

Huh, interesting. Thanks.

I found out the reason. My external drive is fat 32. I think it has to be ntfs

 

[Xirix]

Okay I reformatted and backed up the files again, chkdsk is coming back with the correct amount of files now, but instead of having less free space than my internal, I now have 11 gigs or so MORE free space on the external, again.. I checked the files by selecting them all and going to properties, exact same size.

Perhaps there's for some reason 11 gigs of files I don't see on my internal, but my internal is pretty new, it shouldn't have years of random crap on it. (Also it;s not the OS drive)

I'm happy I somehow now have more free space on my external, but I am still very confused.

From what I can tell the file allocation size is the same for both drives (if that's relevant).

It's not security protected... very confused.