Solved What is taking up 89GB on my 2nd int. hard drive?

[RealGem]

Hi,

I have a 250gb main C drive and a 2nd 1TB internal harddrive, which I store all my multimedia stuff on, and back-up stuff onto.

Looking at Properties I have used 677gb on the whole "Hitachi-1TB" hard drive, but each of the Back-up folders only add up to 588gb.

So there's an 89gb difference, which I can't account for.

There's a system folder also included on the hard drive, which I did not create, and which won't allow me access (even though I am an admin).
All the files inside the system folder claim not to have any amount of data. The whole folder (with a long name ending "...7903b") says it only contains 10mb of data, but that still leaves nearly 89gb.

What is this weird folder for?
Is it this folder that is hiding 89gb of stuff?

If not, where is it please?

Thanks a lot

 

[Sir George]

Hi,

I have a 250gb main C drive and a 2nd 1TB internal harddrive, which I store all my multimedia stuff on, and back-up stuff onto.

Looking at Properties I have used 677gb on the whole "Hitachi-1TB" hard drive, but each of the Back-up folders only add up to 588gb.

So there's an 89gb difference, which I can't account for.

There's a system folder also included on the hard drive, which I did not create, and which won't allow me access (even though I am an admin).
All the files inside the system folder claim not to have any amount of data. The whole folder (with a long name ending "...7903b") says it only contains 10mb of data, but that still leaves nearly 89gb.

What is this weird folder for?
Is it this folder that is hiding 89gb of stuff?

If not, where is it please?

Thanks a lot

I use "Folder Size" to determine the usage of a hard drive, it's free and can be downloaded from;

Folder Size - Freeware file size analysis. Check the directory sizes, folder sizes and file sizes on your computer with this freeware tree size analysis tool.

 

[RealGem]

I use "Folder Size" to determine the usage of a hard drive, it's free and can be downloaded from;

Folder Size - Freeware file size analysis. Check the directory sizes, folder sizes and file sizes on your computer with this freeware tree size analysis tool.

Thanks - I read the page, but will it definitely tell me where the 89gb is?

I would rather nknow for certain before installing something new.

thanks

 

[Sir George]

I use "Folder Size" to determine the usage of a hard drive, it's free and can be downloaded from;

Folder Size - Freeware file size analysis. Check the directory sizes, folder sizes and file sizes on your computer with this freeware tree size analysis tool.

Thanks - I read the page, but will it definitely tell me where the 89gb is?

I would rather nknow for certain before installing something new.

thanks

There is no certainty when it comes to a computer. With that said, I have used the suggested program on 4 of my computers and several of my family and friends systems with excellent results. I see no reason why it wouldn't provide the same for you. There is a portable version, which doesn't need to be installed, but it is in the experimental stage. It can be downloaded from the same site.

HTH

 

[Anak]

I would believe that no matter what Folder/File analysis tool you use, you would still have to search for an anonymous 89GB folder/file. Don't forget to include Hidden Folders and Files.

Here's two more:
TreeSize Free
WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics

btw, did you set the option to un-hide Folders and Files in your initial search?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/394-hidden-files-folders-show-hide.html

 

[RealGem]

Thanks Anak, I have Hidden Files displayed too.

Thanks guys I will try one of them.

 

[Anak]

You're welcome,

I got to thinking about this, this morning....

I looked up search tips and tried a few search parameters on my machine. If I used these terms in the Start Orb Search box;
Size:>89GB Nothing
Size:>50GB Nothing
Size:>25GB Nothing
Size:>10GB Nothing

So I approached from the other direction:
Size:>1GB up to Size:>3GB found 6 files that were 3.09GB in size.
Anything from Size:>4GB to Size:>10GB Nothing.

Now, add a comma to that Size:>1GB so it looks like this - Size:>1GB, - and search found 231 programs and 33 files. Comma or not, there wasn't anything above 4GB.

Doing a search in Explorer with the terms that work, well, it starts off pretty fast, but after 40" the green bar stopped half way through the red X, and its still running as I post this.

One more way, in the Start Orb Search box, type in >128mb when its done populating click on the See more results at the bottom, an Explorer window will open, click on the column header "Size" to reverse the results and get the largest Folders/Files to the top.

You can try a search from 89 to 3 or 4GB, but I believe you'll see the same results until you drop below 4GB. The problem is, that 89GB is made up of various size Folders and Files that total 89GB and finding only one that is 89GB would be rare. It would have to be a program to be that big although, I have heard of the winsxs (C:\Windows\winsxs) folder getting that big and maybe, pagefile.sys (C:\pagefile.sys) and hiberfil.sys (C:\hiberfil.sys). Starting with winsxs mine are 6GB, 6GB, and 4GB respectively.

Make sure you un-hide protected folders/files and Windows Explorer always lists file size in KB unless you hover over the Folder/File so if you're looking for an 89GB file, look for 93,320,000KB. :shock:

Tips for finding files
Advanced tips for searching in Windows
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3952-file-folder-arrangement-group-sort-arrange.html
Find the Largest Files on Your Computer
Find Files And Folders Consuming Large Disk Space On Windows - Disk Report
Use Windows Advanced Search Filter To Find Large Files And Folders

People seem to like the Treesize program.

 

[RealGem]

Thanks Anak,

I think it might be music software that has some stray files in many different places that could be responsible.

Thanks for your help

 

[Anak]

You're welcome RG.

I got the feeling that you didn't want to use another program unless it would pinpoint that 89GB so I tried to offer suggestions and examples using the on-board tools built-in to Windows.

Never gave it a thought till you mentioned duplicate files, but if you have CCleaner go to Tools >File finder, set up the parameters and it'll try to find them. You have to watch though deleting duplicate system files because the system will need duplicates every now and then instead of working through a Dynamically Linked Library .dll File.

Thank you for the rep!

Steve

 

[RealGem]

Thanks Steve

(it won't let me give you more rep!)

 

[Anak]

You're welcome, don't worry about the rep,

The rule is you need to rep, I believe its 16 other members before you could rep me again.

Tell you what, I'll rep you, the majority of new members jump right in and don't read the rules or faqs but I noticed you're satisfied with the answers and have marked your thread solved. You wouldn't believe how often that doesn't happen.
You'll see your total at the bottom of your Profile page. I know I thanked you in my last post but the coutesy is to thank members that have repped you in their visitor message page/tab.
All you have to do is click on the name of the member and it will take you to their profile page.

Take care, see ya around

Steve...aka.....Anak