Seeing over double free disk space after moving files around...

[hikerguy]

I decided to move all of my data files under a primary folder to make backing up my personal data files easier. I did a check before and after of my free space and surprisingly, my free disk space has more than doubled after doing this (and I did not delete any files, nor did I empty my Trash after moving the files).

This happened on the primary disk AND a backup drive I have at the house. The first time I did it I thought I was losing it, but after taking before and after snapshots again with my backup drive, I'm convinced I'm not

Is there any explanation as to why Win7 is reporting more than double the free disk space when all I've done is moved all of my personal data files under a main folder???? It just makes no sense.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hmmm.......

Does the amount of free space you NOW see at least roughly correspond to what you'd expect to see?

Do other hard drive tools also report much more free space?

Do you seem to be missing anything? All apps work and all personal files appear to be there and OK?

Offhand--maybe you had 2 instances of each file and now have only 1?

Do you or did you keep this data somewhere under C:\users?

Libraries are foreign to me and for that reason I don't use them, but they may have caused you some confusion.

I keep my data OUTSIDE of C:\users on D, with no connection to the library.

 

[hikerguy]

Thanks for your reply. Below are my replies to your questions:

Does the amount of free space you NOW see at least roughly correspond to what you'd expect to see?

I can only go on what I captured earlier (by right-clicking the drive and choosing Properties). The free space shown AFTER the file moves is over double what I had seen before.

Do other hard drive tools also report much more free space?

What other harddrive tools would you recommned I use to check?

Do you seem to be missing anything? All apps work and all personal files appear to be there and OK?

From the checking I did, everything appears to be there, but I don't see how it could if I have more than twice the free space now.

Offhand--maybe you had 2 instances of each file and now have only 1?

I don't see that as a possiblitly. I just drug each of my folders (e.g. PHOTOS, MUSIC, etc.), under a primary folder I name ANDY.

Do you or did you keep this data somewhere under C:\users?

This drive only had one partition, so everything was under c:\

Libraries are foreign to me and for that reason I don't use them, but they may have caused you some confusion.

I'm not familiar with libraries either, so I think we can rule that out.

 

[GokAy]

You are using Avast and "maybe" hit with its System Restore set to 50% "feature" I guess the feature is either fixed by now or at beta stage.

See my old copy paste about it:

Please read https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=162041.0
Also check https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=166697.0

You can try:
- go to control panel-> programs and features -> Avast -> change
- remove the component NG (may also be called-Secure Virtual Machines or Sandbox).
- change % back to 10% (windows default) or whatever you like it
- restart
- check if % is what you set
- check restore points (seems this NG delete old restore points when run out of space)
- manually create a restore point if there are none
- open command prompt ->vssadmin list shadowstorage
- see how much space it takes.
You can also try uninstalling Grimefighter.

In short go check System Restore settings, and see if they are set to 50%.

 

[DavidE]

The 50% bug should be fixed in the latest version of Avast.
I was just reading a thread on the Avast forum where someone reported now Avast deleted all restore points

@hikerguy
Do you have a system backup image such as Macrium, from before the change.
If you do, you could mount the image and compare it to your current space usage.

 

[hikerguy]

I have never heard of this problem with Avast. When I checked how much was being used for my restore point, it only showed 3% (see attachment). So, can this still be the problem in my case? I did go ahead and unchecked "Secure Virtual Machines" and rebooted.

Do you think it's safe for me to assume the extra free space was due to Avast????

Thanks,

Andy

 

[GokAy]

No, if it was 3% it was not your problem.

I am with David here regarding:

Do you have a system backup image such as Macrium, from before the change.
If you do, you could mount the image and compare it to your current space usage.

 

[hikerguy]

Didn't think so, but what was being said would have explained my "problem" lol

No, I don't have a system backup image. I've always cloned my entire drive using Clonezilla.

Any thoughts on what else could have caused the free space to more than double after I moved files around?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Download something like TreeSize Free to see if it agrees with Windows Explorer as to how much free space you have.

Or any other drive tool that comes to your mind.

I've seen cases where Explorer isn't highly accurate. I'm assuming that's what you are relying on now.

 

[GokAy]

How much free space are we talking about by the way?

I am not sure if this would help since whatever may be causing is gone but run WizTree portable and see if you can spot anything unusual - https://antibody-software.com/web/s...using-the-most-disk-space-on-your-hard-drive/

Edit: I have been beaten

 

[hikerguy]

I was going by the Properties window on the c: drive (see attachment). I also remembered I had WinDirStat installed. It's showing 173.9 GB free, it matches what Windows is reporting as well. I'm not understanding what happened. Just makes no sense.

 

[DavidE]

What version of Avast are you using now, and did you recently do a program update ?
Secure Virtual Machines is the tool that causes the 50% bug.
It's possible your max storage was at 50% and changed to 3%.
If you don't know what it was at before, i don't think anyone can answer definitely if that is the problem.
In the Avast thread the OP reported Avast set System Restore space to 3%.
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=174508.0

Do you have a recent cloned HD you could compare to ?

 

[hikerguy]

I'm running Avast 2015, and have been for several months. No program updates to Avast (if that's what you're asking). No new software installs of any kind for about three weeks).

I DO have one more drive that I keep in our safe deposit back at our bank that's about a month old, but I'd like to find out what is going on before I start messing aroud with that drive.

I went from about 77Gb to 173Gb after moving all the files around (but NOT deleting ANYTHING in the process).

 

[DavidE]

Maybe you have an older Avast 2015 version ?

Version 2015.10.3.2223 is the release that should have fixed the 50% bug, apx. 2 weeks ago.
http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/497-latest-version-avast-antivirus-79.html#post3107835

With the 50% bug, from what i have read, max space could get set up to 50%, and then later Avast might delete all restore points, and start over again ...

Version 2015.10.3.2225 was just released a couple of days ago.

It's possible Avast changed your free space, but i don't know how you can definitely say for sure with the info you have.

 

[hikerguy]

It shows I'm running that exact version now, but I also noticed I had it set to auto update (which I just changed to "Ask when an update is available".

I guess all I can really do is assume this was because of the Avast bug. It's the only thing that makes sense, since it happened on two drives (and one is a clone of the other, only a couple of months older).

Thanks for everyone's help!

Andy