I am a very new user to start with so bear with me. Here is my situation.
When I am viewing C: drives properties it says that I have used 32 GB of
space, but then when I explore C: drive and add up the folders that are in
it, the amount only reaches 28 GB. So there appears to be a difference
between my count and what it says. Why is there that difference? And where
are those other files that are taking up the invisible 4 GB of space. This is
kinda a big issue considering my hard drive is only 40 GB big and C: drives
capacity is around 34 GB. Thanks for any help!

Route514 wrote:

> I am a very new user to start with so bear with me. Here is my
> situation. When I am viewing C: drives properties it says that I have
> used 32 GB of space, but then when I explore C: drive and add up the
> folders that are in it, the amount only reaches 28 GB. So there
> appears to be a difference between my count and what it says. Why is
> there that difference? And where are those other files that are
> taking up the invisible 4 GB of space.


They are probably hidden files and folders, for example, the page file, the
hibernation file, etc.

To see these, in My Computer, go to Tools, Folder Options and, on the View
t.ab, check "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected
operating system files." Click "Apply to All Folders," then OK.


--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup




> This is kinda a big issue
> considering my hard drive is only 40 GB big and C: drives capacity is
> around 34 GB. Thanks for any help!

Along with what Ken said, keep in mind that what drive manufacturers
label as 40 GB drives are labeled as less by Windows. Drive
manufacturers use their own math to determine drive size, they use 1,000
bytes = 1 kb whereas the correct value is 1,024 bytes = 1kb. Therefore,
a 40 GB drive is more like 37.25GB

Also, slack space will account for some lost space as will the Master
File Table. The file system used has a great impact on slack space.

John


Route514 wrote:
> I am a very new user to start with so bear with me. Here is my situation.
> When I am viewing C: drives properties it says that I have used 32 GB of
> space, but then when I explore C: drive and add up the folders that are in
> it, the amount only reaches 28 GB. So there appears to be a difference
> between my count and what it says. Why is there that difference? And where
> are those other files that are taking up the invisible 4 GB of space. This is
> kinda a big issue considering my hard drive is only 40 GB big and C: drives
> capacity is around 34 GB. Thanks for any help!

Thanks, that helped me find see those files that made up the remaining space.
I have more questions and will start a new thread for those.

Thanks again

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> Route514 wrote:
>
> > I am a very new user to start with so bear with me. Here is my
> > situation. When I am viewing C: drives properties it says that I have
> > used 32 GB of space, but then when I explore C: drive and add up the
> > folders that are in it, the amount only reaches 28 GB. So there
> > appears to be a difference between my count and what it says. Why is
> > there that difference? And where are those other files that are
> > taking up the invisible 4 GB of space.
>
>
> They are probably hidden files and folders, for example, the page file, the
> hibernation file, etc.
>
> To see these, in My Computer, go to Tools, Folder Options and, on the View
> t.ab, check "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide protected
> operating system files." Click "Apply to All Folders," then OK.
>
>
> --
> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
> Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>
>
>
> > This is kinda a big issue
> > considering my hard drive is only 40 GB big and C: drives capacity is
> > around 34 GB. Thanks for any help!
>
>
>

I never knew that, but it makes sense. Thanks for the help. I do have more
questions but I will start a new thread for those.
Thanks again

"John John" wrote:

> Along with what Ken said, keep in mind that what drive manufacturers
> label as 40 GB drives are labeled as less by Windows. Drive
> manufacturers use their own math to determine drive size, they use 1,000
> bytes = 1 kb whereas the correct value is 1,024 bytes = 1kb. Therefore,
> a 40 GB drive is more like 37.25GB
>
> Also, slack space will account for some lost space as will the Master
> File Table. The file system used has a great impact on slack space.
>
> John
>
>
> Route514 wrote:
> > I am a very new user to start with so bear with me. Here is my situation.
> > When I am viewing C: drives properties it says that I have used 32 GB of
> > space, but then when I explore C: drive and add up the folders that are in
> > it, the amount only reaches 28 GB. So there appears to be a difference
> > between my count and what it says. Why is there that difference? And where
> > are those other files that are taking up the invisible 4 GB of space. This is
> > kinda a big issue considering my hard drive is only 40 GB big and C: drives
> > capacity is around 34 GB. Thanks for any help!
>

Route514 wrote:

> Thanks, that helped me find see those files that made up the
> remaining space. I have more questions and will start a new thread
> for those.
>
> Thanks again


You're welcome. Glad to help.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


> "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:
>
>> Route514 wrote:
>>
>>> I am a very new user to start with so bear with me. Here is my
>>> situation. When I am viewing C: drives properties it says that I
>>> have used 32 GB of space, but then when I explore C: drive and add
>>> up the folders that are in it, the amount only reaches 28 GB. So
>>> there appears to be a difference between my count and what it says.
>>> Why is there that difference? And where are those other files that
>>> are taking up the invisible 4 GB of space.
>>
>>
>> They are probably hidden files and folders, for example, the page
>> file, the hibernation file, etc.
>>
>> To see these, in My Computer, go to Tools, Folder Options and, on
>> the View t.ab, check "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck
>> "Hide protected operating system files." Click "Apply to All
>> Folders," then OK.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
>> Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> This is kinda a big issue
>>> considering my hard drive is only 40 GB big and C: drives capacity
>>> is around 34 GB. Thanks for any help!