Incorrect Disk Space on Windows XP?

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ajobbins

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#32022 8-Apr-2009 18:38

I recently noticed the Diskspace on my laptop had dropped quite dramatically (Around 20GB). I ran the Disk Clean Up to see if that improved things, however it only freed a couple of Gigs.

Keen to see what was eating space I installed TreeSize Professional.

TreeSize Professional shows that my C: drive is using 81.0GB - Which seems about right, however windows reports I am using 106GB - a 25GB difference.

Is anyone able to provide an explanation?

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#206060 8-Apr-2009 19:19

I have an HP laptop which has about 15GB missing space. This is after a fresh recovery too (for this reason). Waiting for replacement recovery disks, so I can do a full wipe of the drive and see how I go.

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#206070 8-Apr-2009 20:10

Run Scandisk - Windows occasionally (or use to) show incorrect disk usage/free space at random times - a scan disk usually fixed it.

XPD / Gavin

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garvani

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#206102 8-Apr-2009 22:14

xpd: Run Scandisk - Windows occasionally (or use to) show incorrect disk usage/free space at random times - a scan disk usually fixed it.

+1 Most likely a file allocation table error, easy fix with a scandisk

ajobbins

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#206107 8-Apr-2009 22:38

I gave it the full error checking works, which took a good couple of hours...but no change.

honem

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#206126 9-Apr-2009 03:45

I'ld try a master - slave drive thing myself.

What does the Dos shell report the usage as ?

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ajobbins

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#206169 9-Apr-2009 12:14

Not sure what you mean master/slave thing. This is a Laptop.

As it is XP there is no 'DOS', only a command prompt which shows the same space free as windows.

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#206171 9-Apr-2009 12:29

Find out what brand drive it is, and go find the support utils for it - ie: Seatools for Seagate drives.

Even try running UltimateBootDisk and use the tools there to check the drive.

XPD / Gavin

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mjb

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#206174 9-Apr-2009 12:47

Before you go overboard, check with another disk usage tool first, such as windirstat: http://windirstat.info/.

It's possible that TreeSize Professional is not accounting for hidden or system files, such as the horrible windows installer cache.

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#206175 9-Apr-2009 12:51

Even better, right-click the disk, Properties and click the Disk Cleanup button.

Some things to note: clean the hibernation file if you don't use it - this will remove the hibernation file and disable the feature (you can enable it in Control Panel if needed).

Also in disk Cleanup look for the button to delete old System Restore points - this will free up a lot depending on how many installs and updates you ran on your box.

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ajobbins

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#206182 9-Apr-2009 13:46

freitasm: Even better, right-click the disk, Properties and click the Disk Cleanup button.

Some things to note: clean the hibernation file if you don't use it - this will remove the hibernation file and disable the feature (you can enable it in Control Panel if needed).

Also in disk Cleanup look for the button to delete old System Restore points - this will free up a lot depending on how many installs and updates you ran on your box.

That was actually the first thing i tried.

richgamer

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#206187 9-Apr-2009 14:31

quick, windows xp support ends on april 14th. email windows xp support here:

http://support.microsoft.com/ph/1173

click on "windows xp support center" then click on contacts, then click on contact a support professional by e-mail, online, or phone.

tell them everything that happens and everything you have done to try fix it.

adamj: I recently noticed the Diskspace on my laptop had dropped quite dramatically (Around 20GB). I ran the Disk Clean Up to see if that improved things, however it only freed a couple of Gigs.

Keen to see what was eating space I installed TreeSize Professional.

TreeSize Professional shows that my C: drive is using 81.0GB - Which seems about right, however windows reports I am using 106GB - a 25GB difference.

Is anyone able to provide an explanation?

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honem

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#206210 9-Apr-2009 16:41

richgamer: quick, windows xp support ends on april 14th. email windows xp support here:
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/1173

Not exactly helpfull richgamer.

Support for Windows XP is I feel . irrelevant to this conversation. This is Geezone. We draw on the collective minds and powers of many geeks in NZ. An O/s that is or is not being supported doesn't matter. What matters is that we help each other to solve problems.

I feel the link you posted was sort of like you saying "i don't know how to answer this question but I bet an answer could found somewhere in this haystack here <link to haystack"

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honem

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#206214 9-Apr-2009 16:49

adamj: Not sure what you mean master/slave thing. This is a Laptop.

As it is XP there is no 'DOS', only a command prompt which shows the same space free as windows.

O_O Thought I edited that reply.

What I meant was to use someone else's windows installation to confirm the disk space. You can do this by either taking the drive out of the comouter and setting up as slave to another disk in a different computer or by connecting it up to a different computer back to back via a special network cable (can't remember the name crossover cable ?). Personally I think the crossover cable method might work best. In either case it's all taking your windows installation completely out of the equation.

The command prompt in XP is MSDOS isn't it :D .. Yeah I well remember my batch file tinkering days we called it DOS back then

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tkr001

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#206229 9-Apr-2009 17:59

honem:
adamj: Not sure what you mean master/slave thing. This is a Laptop.

As it is XP there is no 'DOS', only a command prompt which shows the same space free as windows.

The command prompt in XP is MSDOS isn't it :D .. Yeah I well remember my batch file tinkering days we called it DOS back then

No it isn't. IIRC Win98 was the last DOS based MS OS. ME was a sort of halfway house and XP no DOS at all.

honem

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#206232 9-Apr-2009 18:30

tkr001:
honem:
adamj: Not sure what you mean master/slave thing. This is a Laptop.

As it is XP there is no 'DOS', only a command prompt which shows the same space free as windows.

The command prompt in XP is MSDOS isn't it :D .. Yeah I well remember my batch file tinkering days we called it DOS back then

No it isn't. IIRC Win98 was the last DOS based MS OS. ME was a sort of halfway house and XP no DOS at all.

Um.....

What comes up when you go Start->Run "command.com". That's DOS IMHO . It may not be a complete operating system but its still a CLI tool you can use.

OP : Whats the Bios say about that drive ?

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