More unused HD space than I am told?

[pearldrum944]

Hi, I think that my computer is telling my I have used more of my hard drive than I actually have. You can access everything on the HD from C:\ right? How come then when I highlight all of the folders I only get "13.4 gigs" when if I click on properties of "Local Disk" it says I have used 22.9 gigs? I am using a Compaq Presario notebook. I am running XP and have a 40 gig HD. I keep my computer clean almost to the point of being obsessed.

 

[m3trj]

You might have hidden files.

 

[SHAWN]

or unallocated space. Right click my computer>>manage>>disk drives and take a snapshot and post it here.

 

[pearldrum944]

Yes, but even if I have hidden files shown shouldn't it count everything in the file? I have tried this on a couple computers and their numbers are alot closer together. For instance: 51.4 gigs used told by windows, and 50 gigs of files in the folders.

Is disk management what I wanted?

 

[Panther5060]

god damn hard drive gremlins... GET THE 12 GAUGE!

 

[Samm]

If you are using XP with system restore enabled, it uses a portion of the disk space for the restore files. This is kept in a hidden folder in the root of each drive or partition that is actively monitored. (Just the C drive in your case by the sound of it).

If you don't have 'show hidden/system' files enabled, when you look at the contents of the drive in explorer, you will not see this folder & so can't click on it to select it. Therefore, selecting all folders & checking their size in properties, will not include the hidden restore one.

 

[pearldrum944]

I set the options to show everything but even then the folders only gained 600 mbs. Should I just give up trying to search for my 8 gigs that are unaccounted for?

 

[M@$t3r_N30]

Have you defraged recently?

 

[pearldrum944]

Have you defraged recently?

Yes I have.

 

[NickBrown7804]

If its not a big deal reformat and then try again. Might have had a bad setup. 8 gigs is a lot of space when you only have like 36 true gigs.