[compucv621]

Hello,

I'm getting ready to replace my hard drive, and I'm trying to clean things up. Windows says that I am using exactly 250GB of space. However, I've run WinDirStat and it tells me I am only using 185GB of space. Using Windows Explorer, I highlighted everything and choose properties to see which was right, and, WinDirStat appears to have the correct number. So, how do I fix this, or why is this happening? I'm under Vista x64 Ultimate.

Thanks,

[mphenterprises]

compucv621, on 08 October 2009 - 11:07 AM, said:

Hello,

I'm getting ready to replace my hard drive, and I'm trying to clean things up. Windows says that I am using exactly 250GB of space. However, I've run WinDirStat and it tells me I am only using 185GB of space. Using Windows Explorer, I highlighted everything and choose properties to see which was right, and, WinDirStat appears to have the correct number. So, how do I fix this, or why is this happening? I'm under Vista x64 Ultimate.

Thanks,

Hi compucv. Something doesn't seem quite right to me with this situation. By, "Windows says that I am using exactly 250GB of space," are you referring to this image:



If so, exactly what information within this image are you using to base your determination?

That being said, I am not even sure there is an issue here. If you are getting ready to replace your hard drive, I presume you are going to get a hard drive that is of equal or greater space capacity as the hard drive you have now. Maybe I am missing something but I am not sure where there may be a problem. Can you please elaborate?

[smax013]

compucv621, on 08 October 2009 - 11:07 AM, said:

Hello,

I'm getting ready to replace my hard drive, and I'm trying to clean things up. Windows says that I am using exactly 250GB of space. However, I've run WinDirStat and it tells me I am only using 185GB of space. Using Windows Explorer, I highlighted everything and choose properties to see which was right, and, WinDirStat appears to have the correct number. So, how do I fix this, or why is this happening? I'm under Vista x64 Ultimate.

Thanks,

It could be another instance of ShadowCopy in Vista confusing things. Depending on how WinDirStat gets its results (it appears it nominally does the same thing you did...highlight everything and choose properties), it could be "missing" some "hidden" stuff. ShadowCopy backups will NOT show up in tallies of files in Windows Explorer, but will still "steal" drive space when you look at capacity indications of the drive. Thus, it would appear that you have "missing drive space".