Out of room on an 8 gig partition with only 2 gig on it

[imported_PHarmer]

Fresh install of XP Pro on NTFS 8 gig partition. Windows Explorer reports 7 of 8 gig is used, while I only have less than 2 gig in all my files and programs. Moved swap file to second partion and changed the resourses to 5% for the go-back option. Also deleted all temp and internet files. Where did the 5 gig go?

 

[ScottMac]

There may be (at least) a few reasons.

If you have a sh*tload of small files.
If the minimum cluster size is 512 bytes, that's the least amount of storage allocation you'll get. For example, you have a bunch of very small files, even though the file itself is only a couple hundred bytes, it will still take 512 bytes to store it, because that's the smallest allocation chunk. Ultimately, you may only have 1 gig or two of "real" files, but the remaining cluster space is unusable by the OS. If you activate compression, eeverything gets stuffed into one large file, and you get that space back.

Creation & (non) deletion of very large files.
I have had a couple video files that I ultimately moved (to another machine) or deleted....except WIN2K (and XP, BTW) didn't delete them. I hit 'em with every disk cleaner & utility I have, nothing could get the OS to give up the file. I ended up copying the contents of the drive to another place, re-loading the OS & apps from a Ghost image, then moving the Data files back to the drive.

The disk directory/VTOC could be corrupt
Fixable with many disk utilities.

Some viruses will eat disk space.

How big is your sawp space and registry allocation?

That's about it for me...

Good Luck

Scott

 

[OZEE]

I'd be looking for a virus. One of the ones floating around here right now creates a hidden file in the recycle bin that grows up to the size of your hd. A quick check for this virus if you don't have a virus scanner -- search for kernel32.exe. If you have that file, you've got the virus... MS uses kernel32.dll. So kernel32.exe is disguised to look important when it's really a virus.

 

[imported_PHarmer]

Thanks for the replies, but I still haven't solved the problem. I have the latest updates from Norton antivirus and can find no trace of any bug. I moved the swap file to D drive so that should not hurt me any. 400 mg is dedicated to the system recovery. If I go to Explorer and count all the folders and files ther are less than 2 gig. I don't have many programs installed there, most are on D.

What utility program could check my disk directory? I ran Nortons Disk Doctor and it didn't find any problems.

Thanks for the Help

 

[ZZZZZZ]

Have you tried to do a scan disk and defrag? I sounds like windows is incorrectly reporting the free space on the drive