I have a 250GB SATA HD, partitioned 25gb (c:\) for windows & apps, the rest for storage etc. (d:\) It was formatted and repartitioned yesterday, and a clean install of windows and all my apps. Windows Explorer is reporting that I have used 20.8GB, and have 4.2 free space left. When I "select all" under the root of c:\ and click properties, it reports only 12 GB of apps, which is pretty much exactly like my old install and way more accurate...there is NO way I have installed 20 GB of apps.

D:\ is being reported properly. Anyone tell me why this is happening, and how I can fix it?

BTW, Partiton magic and Paragon Partiton Manager are both saying that 20.8GB is used as well.

Jason

Hello mocaso, welcome to PCHF.

I am willing to bet your right eye that you are actually using the whole 20.8gb of space. A 25gb partition for c: is nothing these days, with Windows XP alone, normally taking up a few gb after a clean installation, and before any applications are installed, service packs, and before Windows starts creating things like system restore points.

The reason why your only showing 12gb when selecting all your folders, is most likely because you have your important system and operating system files hidden. To unhide them:
- Go to Tools followed by Folder Options.
- Click on View, and select "Show hidden files and folders",
- Untick "Hide protected operating system files", and then try again.

Madmonkey, thanks for the reply. I tried unhiding the sys files like you said, and sure enough the amount of disk space that was being reported as used went up to the 20.8GB after highlighting all and clicking properties...however, when I did that, I noticed that I had an 8 GB file named hiberfil.sys. After looking on the net for info, it turns out that this file is used for the hibernation feature , which I never use and completely forgot to disable when I reinstalled XP so I deleted it, and everything is back to normal now, with a reported 12.8 GB used, just the way it was before.

Thanks for the help.


PS: my windows directory reports as being only 4.17 GB everything unhidden.

hehe, nice one. Marked as Resolved.