External harddrive shows 84GB being used, but I can't find these files 1

[fuckoffrightnow]

Hi all,
My external Seagate hard drive shows 931GB total storage, 847GB free, therefore by simple maths 84GB is used.
However, if I go into my computer, then E: drive, there's only one folder showing and it's only got about 5MB of data in it.
I'm trying to find this 84GB worth of data, and I don't know where to start looking!
I have "Show hidden files and folders" selected.
Can anyone help

 

[goombawaho]

A great utility to see EXACTLY where space is going is called Tree Size Pro (not free).

 

[fuckoffrightnow]

Thanks!
In my case though, when I go into E: there is only one folder there with 5MB worth of data.
It says that 84GB is being used, however when I right click the only folder in the root directory and choose properties, it says that there are only 5MB worth of files on the drive.
I'm a bit confused where the other 84GB has gone.

 

[BadBigBen]

Those 84GB are being used by System Restore, TrashCan, etc. from my experience...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[goombawaho]

Try turning off System Restore for that drive only and see if anything changes.

 

[fuckoffrightnow]

Thanks for your help guys, I'll see what I can do.

 

[wahnula]

Free program that gives you a graphical display of all the files on your HDD: WinDirStat.

It shows you exactly which files are the "hogs" and taking up all that space...for FREE.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[fuckoffrightnow]

Hi, thanks for all your replies. The problem was that the Windows XP option "Hide protected system files" was checked. I unchecked it, and viola... 84GB worth of files appeared!

 

[wahnula]

84GB of "protected system files"? I would still run WinDirStat to find out the hog(s)...no way your system needs that kind of space to function. There's something gobbling up a LOT of space.

Tony

Users helping Users...