Solved SSD space is disappearing. Troublshooted almost everything already.

[pooch]

Edit: Out of curiosity, is TRIM something that should already be enabled by default for SSD's or would users always need to enable this manually? I'm just asking because if the former, no way I would have known how to disable it, even if by mistake!

Yes Windows normally enables it, but mistakes happen
I think I notice that you are running tree size in normal mode, could you confirm this and run it as admin? maybe paste a snip of both? and then do the same again tomorrow if this is still not solved.

A general notation:

If this was a system file, hidden file, or folder related issue, we would see this from all the disk storage readers we've been using. Instead, what these programs are showing is that my files and folders are remaining static in size while my free space is magically disappearing into the abyss.

Yeah I am still not convinced that it is not a reporting error. I have read on the net that others have also experienced this same problem, but have also found no answers

 

[SNsCPU]

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is a solution to the problem, but perhaps it can help you monitor what is going on:

Download, install and try this FREE version of SSDLife. Screenshots on the wepage suggest it can monitor the read/write daily, so perhaps this might help you track down the issue.

Regards,
Golden

I've installed it, however I'm not getting the read/write numbers at the bottom like in their screenshot. It appears it's an option that only comes with the full version. It is reading the drive and shows the health status of being at 100% though.

Edit: Out of curiosity, is TRIM something that should already be enabled by default for SSD's or would users always need to enable this manually? I'm just asking because if the former, no way I would have known how to disable it, even if by mistake!

Yes Windows normally enables it, but mistakes happen
I think I notice that you are running tree size in normal mode, could you confirm this and run it as admin? maybe paste a snip of both? and then do the same again tomorrow if this is still not solved.

A general notation:

If this was a system file, hidden file, or folder related issue, we would see this from all the disk storage readers we've been using. Instead, what these programs are showing is that my files and folders are remaining static in size while my free space is magically disappearing into the abyss.

Yeah I am still not convinced that it is not a reporting error. I have read on the net that others have also experienced this same problem, but have also found no answers

I have actually been running Treesize File as administrator each and every time I use it.

I hope there is an answer for this. This is really frustrating and it completely sucks! I'll give this as long as my drive can go until it withers down to dangerous levels and then I'll have no choice but to format. If that doesn't work, definitely chucking/replacing this drive.

 

[essenbe]

I might suggest that you check and make sure your SSD is aligned. Windows will normally create the proper alignment, but as has been stated before, mistakes do happen. SSD alignment.

 

[profdlp]

I've installed it, however I'm not getting the read/write numbers at the bottom like in their screenshot. It appears it's an option that only comes with the full version. It is reading the drive and shows the health status of being at 100% though...

It takes a few days for that information to appear since the program has to see what usage the drive gets over a longer period of time. I upgraded my SSD over the weekend and it hasn't shown up for me yet.

 

[SNsCPU]

I might suggest that you check and make sure your SSD is aligned. Windows will normally create the proper alignment, but as has been stated before, mistakes do happen. SSD alignment.

I ran the alignment verification steps and all is well on that end. This sounded like it could have been the culprit and got a little excited, but alas, it wasn't .

Appreciate the help!

I've installed it, however I'm not getting the read/write numbers at the bottom like in their screenshot. It appears it's an option that only comes with the full version. It is reading the drive and shows the health status of being at 100% though...

It takes a few days for that information to appear since the program has to see what usage the drive gets over a longer period of time. I upgraded my SSD over the weekend and it hasn't shown up for me yet.

Ahhh, gotcha, I'll keep an eye on it after a few days.... if my drive is still alive by then.

I reckon there's about a week of life left on this drive before it gets dangerously low.

Pleaseeeeee if there is some guru out there that knows what's goin on I'm all ears .

 

[pooch]

I have actually been running Treesize File as administrator each and every time I use it.

Curious left is mine and right is yours I wonder what is causing the difference?



I know you said you have been here but bear with me and go through it.

I have borrowed this from here; Reclaiming disk space from “system volume information” « Thoughts On The Spot

1. To see the space allocated and used for System Volume Information:
- Open Command Prompt with “Run as Administrator” option
- Type in: vssadmin list shadowstorage
- You will see Used Space, Allocated Space and Maximum Space for SVI
2. To see the restore information stored therein:
- Use in the same console command: vssadmin list shadows
3. To resize the maximum allocated space:
- Type in command: vssadmin resize shadowstorage /on=[here add the drive letter]: /For=[here add the drive letter]: /Maxsize=[here add the maximum size]
- E.g., vssadmin resize shadowstorage /on=C: /For=C: /Maxsize=4GB
- You will see a prompt confirming resize done
- You can check the status again using the command discussed in point 1 above
4. Just to get rid of the space already consumed, but sticking to the same size of max-size as before:
- Do actions as per point 3 to set the max-size t, say, 1GB
- If you check now, most likely you’ll see that used space is now 0KB
- Do the resize again and set it back to what it was before
- Check your disk space availability in Windows Explorer, you should see the reclaim is done!

I hope there is an answer for this. This is really frustrating and it completely sucks! I'll give this as long as my drive can go until it withers down to dangerous levels and then I'll have no choice but to format. If that doesn't work, definitely chucking/replacing this drive.

I believe you that it is frustrating but I am hoping we can sort this before you feel the need to use extreme measures.

 

[pooch]

I would appreciate it if you could post snips of your findings from the above post.

 

[SNsCPU]

I would appreciate it if you could post snips of your findings from the above post.

Here we go, I just followed each point step by step, so sorry if I keyed something in wrong.

 

[pooch]

Ok Shadow storage has allocated 448mb space so this is not the problem, if you want to reclaim this you will probably have to set it under 448mb, when you did it you used the example 4GB which is now the maximum size. I recommend setting it back to 610mb.

 

[SNsCPU]

Ok Shadow storage has allocated 448mb space so this is not the problem, if you want to reclaim this you will probably have to set it under 448mb, when you did it you used the example 4GB which is now the maximum size. I recommend setting it back to 610mb.

Got it, thanks.

 

[pooch]

Ok I am officially stumped on this one, the only things I can think of is to make an image and transfer it to a HDD to see if the shrinkage continues, if it does you will know it is not the SSD and I personally do not believe it is. You could then factory reset the SSD and then try again with a new install.
I have toyed with the idea of doing a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R as this appears to be a windows problem but if that does not work you are just wasting time I will leave that decision to you. added to this if the problem does turn out to be a virus you are just keeping it on the drive.

 

[SNsCPU]

Ok I am officially stumped on this one, the only things I can think of is to make an image and transfer it to a HDD to see if the shrinkage continues, if it does you will know it is not the SSD and I personally do not believe it is. You could then factory reset the SSD and then try again with a new install.
I have toyed with the idea of doing a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R as this appears to be a windows problem but if that does not work you are just wasting time I will leave that decision to you. added to this if the problem does turn out to be a virus you are just keeping it on the drive.

I'll give this a few more days and then I'm throwing in the towel. I'll format and start over from square one.

I really appreciate all the help everyone!

 

[A Guy]

I haven't abandoned you by the way. I am watching. I thought pooch had it with trim/garbage collecting. I am stumped as well, it is completely odd to say the least. A Guy

 

[SNsCPU]

I haven't abandoned you by the way. I am watching. I thought pooch had it with trim/garbage collecting. I am stumped as well, it is completely odd to say the least. A Guy

Thanks for the help!

 

[essenbe]

A Guy, do you think it could help if he made an image of his drive with a program like Macrium, then mounted the backup image, he could go through it and see if he can find or change something that will solve the problem?

 

[SNsCPU]

This is probably something better to be asked for later, but what do you guys think the chances are that this is something hardware related? If I format it and see the same thing happening, then what? Warranty? RMA will take forever and I sure as heck don't want to be without an ssd for a month! Then again, if that's the last resort, I suppose there's no choice eh?

 

[A Guy]

If he made an image, or even started to, and left the compression off, it should show him what the size of the backup will be. If it is the same as the used space he has. I'd say make an image, then restore it to the boot drive. That "should" leave him with all his free space back.

If however the imaging program tells him the size of backup will be everything but his current free space!!! I believe this is a good idea. He would need a 2nd hard drive to back up to, but by restoring that image to his SSD, it should then just be the correct used space. Then monitor to see if it starts growing again :shock:

A Guy

 

[essenbe]

I'll leave that part up to you and Pooch. I was just thinking about the image. I;m almost convinced it is not a hardware problem. If it were, he should see the total size of the SSD shrink. That is not happening. I happen to have 2 of the same SSDs he has. And have seen no issues with mine. Some imaging programs or anti virus programs do things like build files in different locations. I had an issue once with Acronis that did some things simiar. Some AV programs do also. I am also not totally convinced that it is not a virus. You and Pooch know more about this stuff than me, but i have tried to go over all the things that can cause this. The SSD out of alignment would, trim not enabled would, A software program would, or a virus would. I have never seen Windows do anything similar to this. i have installed Windows 7 at least 100 times, and never seen this issue. But a hardware issue I do not believe would do this. The typical hardware issue on an SSD is you lose total size of the disk space, not free space. Something is taking over that disk. If you reinstall, I would recommend a secure erase and a clean install. those are just my thoughts.

 

[essenbe]

Here is a program you may find useful in our situation. WinDir Stat if you have not used it already.

 

[SNsCPU]

Here is a program you may find useful in our situation. WinDir Stat if you have not used it already.

Been using it since page 1 .