Brad McAfee
asked on
Disappearing Hard Drive Space
I have a 750GB hard drive that just seemingly filled up overnight. It is a headless desktop used as a "server" for a specific industry.
I select all the folders on the hard drive and it shows about 45GB of data. (I have made sure that show hidden folders and files is on.) I run WinDirStat (as an administrator) looking for the huge file, malware, temporarily files and it also shows around 45GB total.
I run CHKDSK c: /f in CMD (as administrator) and reboot it. That doesn't fix it either.
I go into DISKPART and it shows the full hard drive.
In "My PC" it shows 10GB free out of 640GB.
I run a local defender scan and an online ESET scanner and shows clean.
Therefore, I have a 750GB hard drive with less than 50GB of data on it verified by two different programs and it is almost full.
I haven't ran a SMART test on it (yet nothing is being reported on boot up) nor plugged it into my Linux server box for a second opinion.
Is this a hardware or SMART error? NTFS?
The drive is old (probably about 8 years old) but still works except for this issue.
I select all the folders on the hard drive and it shows about 45GB of data. (I have made sure that show hidden folders and files is on.) I run WinDirStat (as an administrator) looking for the huge file, malware, temporarily files and it also shows around 45GB total.
I run CHKDSK c: /f in CMD (as administrator) and reboot it. That doesn't fix it either.
I go into DISKPART and it shows the full hard drive.
In "My PC" it shows 10GB free out of 640GB.
I run a local defender scan and an online ESET scanner and shows clean.
Therefore, I have a 750GB hard drive with less than 50GB of data on it verified by two different programs and it is almost full.
I haven't ran a SMART test on it (yet nothing is being reported on boot up) nor plugged it into my Linux server box for a second opinion.
Is this a hardware or SMART error? NTFS?
The drive is old (probably about 8 years old) but still works except for this issue.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
treesize is your best option as mentioned by Kimputer, No idea what Gerwin is talking about. Essentially you'd know if you had a few hundred thousand files and this wouldn't happen overnight.
I use Tree Size as well and also recommend it. As noted, run Tree Size as Administrator and then set to show hidden files.
What is the "normal" usage you expect in your system on this drive?
Use Tree Size to determine if the system is make local backups of the drive regularly - that will chew up space.
What operating system is being used? Probably not Windows 10 if 8 years old.
Did something or someone make extra partitions? Use Disk Management to determine this.
What is the "normal" usage you expect in your system on this drive?
Use Tree Size to determine if the system is make local backups of the drive regularly - that will chew up space.
What operating system is being used? Probably not Windows 10 if 8 years old.
Did something or someone make extra partitions? Use Disk Management to determine this.
You may also need to uncheck the box for hide protected operating system files.
You might just have something in the "hidden" "System Volume Information" folder.
@ Alex Green
>> No idea what Gerwin is talking about.
First finding if and what the files are using windirstat/treesize and where they are located. Then look at a few of the files trying to determine what they are, hence the question what the 'server' part is doing. And then try to find an explanation for why the files appear and what is causing that. We need to gather some information first.
>> No idea what Gerwin is talking about.
First finding if and what the files are using windirstat/treesize and where they are located. Then look at a few of the files trying to determine what they are, hence the question what the 'server' part is doing. And then try to find an explanation for why the files appear and what is causing that. We need to gather some information first.
i would run a disk diagnostic on it; you find them on the UBCD, or we can suggest one if you post the drive model
and what is eating your disk space???
@Brad McAfee - You've solved it, nice. Can you comment on what was happening?
@Nobus - missed your comment ;)
@Nobus - missed your comment ;)
tat's weird, since you mention it ..??
@Nobus - saw it after I posted, then edited mine 😉
ASKER
Just to elaborate it was temp files that WinDirStat did not pick up on which was disappointing to say the least.
I used another program listed above and CCleaner to fix it.
I used another program listed above and CCleaner to fix it.
What does the 'server' part do? Does it have a folder with a few 100 thousand files? Cleaning up some of those would help.
Try using a tool like windirstat - it shows you graphically where space is used and by what kind of files.