Space used on hard drive is twice what I can account for.

by flyingman6046 May 4, 2015 2:04AM PDT

Long story short my hard drive says that 858GB of storage is being used. However the folders one level within the hard drive only amount to just under 400GB of storage used. (including hidden folders). How can I find out what is filling up my hard drive?

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request

Let's start with a single question.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 4, 2015 2:23AM PDT

Did you look at the "System Volume Information" folder? I can't tell if you did. Windows hides a lot there and "Where is my disk space used?" questions are on the web by the millions.

Also, did you try a tool like http://lifehacker.com/5915921/the-best-disk-space-analyzer-for-windows
Bob

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Further Clarfication

by flyingman6046 May 4, 2015 4:53AM PDT

Didnt even know System Volume Information folder existed before you mentioned it. When I found the folder I got access denied error message. I did it by the medieval method, checking the properties of elder one level within the hard drive. Using the program you suggested I get just over 400gb, which is still well under half of what my hard drive has registered as used space.

The reason I have made a new post instead of looking up one of the millions of previous questions is the apparent large size that has "vanished". Apologise for a new post if there's already plenty of similar problems around.

As I forgot to initially mention it, though most likely of little use, my pc is http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/JF3H7P which is homebuilt. (windows 7)

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That folder

by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 4, 2015 5:12AM PDT

And what it is, is well done.

I'll keep it short. Turn System Restore off and back on.
Bob

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Still unexplained data

by flyingman6046 May 4, 2015 5:40AM PDT

Firstly thankyou, I should of though of that initially and I feel like an idiot for it having to be explained to me where some of the storage should go. Secondly theres still about 150-200 GB of unexplained data

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That's often

by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 4, 2015 5:43AM PDT

Some rollback/restore data for undoing Windows updates. I forget to mention you may want to curb system restore's appetite. I have no qualms about letting it use 50% of HDD space since I want to give it as much chance of working. Try 10%, remember there are so many prior discussions on that.

As to 150GB more to find, you need to find the folder that has it first before I can give any reason why.
Bob

Space used on hard drive is twice what I can account for.

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