My drive is hiding 20 GB

[Michelle]

I have a 120 GB drive. The formatted capacity is 112 GB. Windows shows that 62 GB is used. When I right-click each of the folders and select Properties and add up all the file sizes it adds up to about 40 GB. The only thing in the root folder is the pagefile which takes up about 1 GB. I can't figure out where the other 20 GB is being used.

[Craig Tucker]

Recycle bin ?

[Michelle]

The Recycler folder (I assume that's for the recycle bin) on that partition takes up 16K. The recycle bin only contains 36MB.

[sitlet]

maybe hidden files?

[Michelle]

Explorer is configured to show hidden files and folders.

[Faustus]

Remember there is the size on disk as well as the actual size of the file. Could that perhaps explain it? Are there alot of smaller files on this computer? Thats my only guess, windows is just... uh... odd that way.

[Michelle]

This partition is only used for audio and video - large files. According to Partition Magic only 16MB of space is being wasted with the current cluster size.

[Michelle]

I discovered that Norton SystemWorks was saving data in it's own recycle bin. This accounts for the missing space. I don't understand why it didn't show up in any folders though.

[Craig Tucker]

I was just about to suggest this, as I have just read another thread discussing the exact same problem.

[Faustus]

And THAT is why I do not use Norton products. Never needed them and I've seen them cause so very many problems with others computers.

[tgpo]

Norton hosed my computer when I was still under OS 9. It changed one of my Hard Drive's header information and when I restarted my computer no longer could see my HD. Never again will Norton be used on my computer.

[808smokey]

Norton System works is a great program if you use it correctly. That space that Norton used was protected storage so you can recover data that you deleted. All you have to do is turn that function of and it will no longer do that. Just right click the trash icon and change the settings

[microsoftne]

if you are using winxp home/pro, it is probably your restore settings as they are set to use about 12% of your harddrive. Which in microsoft really means around 20% or so.

[gmatov]

I find it hard to believe the Norton Protected Recycle Bin is holding 20gigs of your files.

When you click "Empty Norton Protected Recycle Bin", it will tell you there aare XXX files there, do you really....."

Mine holds, right now, 3000+ files. That is not 20 gig. Check yours. They're not multi-meg files, at least not the bulk of them.

Some one else had this same prob a while back and solved it, but I'll be damned if I can recall who or when. It had to do with one of the convert programs hiding stuff.

Try a search. My damn KB' screwed up, or I'd do it.

[Michelle]

I regularly create and delete AVIs that are 15 - 30 GBs. It was definitely the Norton Protection bin that was holding the data. I turned it off.

[vhelp]

hi michelle,

I know I'm a bit late in the thread, but..

When I want to delete anything permanent, I press-and-hold down the
Shift Key, and press the Delete Key to permanently delete something,
instead of sending it to the recyle ben.

I do this under win98gold.. specially w/ .AVI files.
-vhelp

[Michelle]

Hi,

I do that also but it doesn't work for the Norton bin.

[Michelle]

Norton System works is a great program if you use it correctly. That space that Norton used was protected storage so you can recover data that you deleted. All you have to do is turn that function of and it will no longer do that. Just right click the trash icon and change the settings

I turned off the Norton bin when I first installed SystemWorks. Then much later I added a new drive and Norton decided to protect that drive without asking me.

[racer-x]

Remember that it may have been 120 GIGs, but after formating you loose some the the filing system.

Remember your swap file takes up space.

If you have XP, turn off system restore as it uses up space and is useless.

[ChrisX]

I discovered that Norton SystemWorks was saving data in it's own recycle bin. This accounts for the missing space. I don't understand why it didn't show up in any folders though.

I believe there is an option of Norton at installation of no "Norton" recycle bin.

I wouldn't use their "recycle bin" anyway.

I experienced NAV2003 and this something that Symantec put in an extra in their product as unnecessary. This is typical of any product having added features and you’re paying for it as a waste.

[bbrich]

How do you check to see if you are running Norton System Works???

[808smokey]

How do you check to see if you are running Norton System Works???

Well not to be a smart ass but if you bought the program and installed it? But you can look under the programs tab under the start button. You probably don't have it. It's just an easier way to run scandisk and defrag, mainly