Two HDD Questions

[torre]

Sony laptop, Win7, HPrem, 32bit, 250GB HDD (according to specs)

Computer states 194GB free of avail 223GB. Is this the norm ? After custom install, I have no factory bloatware, no documents, have only added Chrome, CC Cleaner, Real Player, Adobe Flash, Reader. Is something hiding on my HDD ? Win 7 should only take about 16GB, right ?

- Also, during first custom install I deleted Vista. Can it be recovered ? The second time I did custom install, Win 7 upgrade did not recognize previous Windows and I had to call Microsoft for activiation key. Would like to avoid calling in the future.

In summary, how do you evaluate what is on your HDD other than the listed programs under Windows, etc.

 

[Ztruker]

Post a snapshot of Disk Management using the Snipping Tool:

To open Disk Management, click Start, type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter or click GO. Expand so all partitions are shown.

How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista - Vista Forums (says it's for Vista but also works with Win 7).

UPLOAD IMAGE - How to upload into your thread, Windows Made Easy

 

[lffoar]

If you google and download "SIW", ( system information for windows) it will list everything on your comp, hardware, software etc

 

[torre]

Is this OK ?

 

[Zomby88]

Every update you add to the system makes a backup. If you want, delete those and you`ll get some space back.

 

[fjawodfc]

You can also install FileMenu Tools (FileMenu Tools), right-click a folder, and choose FileMenu Tools > Size of Folders. It will give you a sorted listing of all folders with sizes, and you can drill into the biggest ones to get more granular views of what's taking up so much space.

If it makes you feel any better, my OS is using 70 - 75 GB. 7 uses a lot more space than XP. One hog is the winsxs folder (Google).

 

[torre]

Thanks for the above replies. Any other ideas ?

Also, as mentioned, I completely deleted Vista during clean install. Anyway to recover ? Thanks !

 

[Zomby88]

What`s the 8.96 GBs all about ?

 

[seavixen32]

What`s the 8.96 GBs all about ?

It's the active partition so it'll contain the boot record and is probably the recovery partition too.

 

[Zomby88]

I was asking the poster. Silly

 

[Zomby88]

What`s the 8.96 GBs all about ?

It's the active partition so it'll contain the boot record and is probably the recovery partition too.

8.96 for a recovery ? Way to small, and who puts a recovery partition in front of C:

 

[theog]

The 8.96 partition is the old OEM manufacturer's Vista Recovery partition.

You only have one HD Drive.

 

[torre]

I am not certain. How could I verify what is actually on the 8GB ? When I initially upgraded to Win 7, there were 2 partitions as listed. Also, should be noted, after the clean install, I had 203G of free space which has reduced now to 194.

Seavixen's explanation sounds most plausible.


Edit: I just checked prior to posting, and I now have 200GB of free space ?

 

[Ztruker]

Looks like there is about 30GB being used on C:. To see what is actually using space on your hard drive, install Treesize Free.

Things that take up space:

pagefile.sys
hiberfile.sys
System Restore and Recycle Bin
Shadow Copy

Treesize will show you.

 

[Zomby88]

If you right click on the 8G space will it let you explore it ?

Personally I would reinstall and delete everything.
Should look more like this.

 

[torre]

No, it will not let me explore.

I deleted Vista when I reinstalled before. Can Vista be recovered for Win 7 upgrade recognition purposes. ? I hate to call Microsoft again for activation. Also, can that 8GB partition be eliminated ?

 

[Ztruker]

Why are you telling torre to delete his recovery partition? That is probably his only way of reinstalling XP if needed. Not a good idea, at least until Windows 7 is running correctly.

Torre, you can do a clean install with an upgrade disc:
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[torre]

Thanks, Ztruker !