Hard drive showing full but only system files found.

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BolshieBastard replied

23 July 2012, 18:43
Think I sussed it. Found a lot of his data via shared folders. Still convinced there a lot more hidden because the drive is still only showing about 10 gig out of 85 unused.

So, Im going to re format the drive and if anything is lost, he wont remember what!

This drive of 85 gig while small by todays standards, can be an external back up drive afterwards.
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Fishface replied

23 July 2012, 17:33
is there any anti-virus on the laptop?

check on google for 'virus definition files' that don't get deleted or over written.

They can get massive - Gb's.

And stuborn to remove.
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BolshieBastard replied

23 July 2012, 16:54
Originally posted by SimonMac View Post

Try using this on the old hdd to see where the space is being used https://dl.dropbox.com/u/70497718/Treesize.exe so you can work out what files are where

Hmmm. Its says I dont have admin permissions on the 'old' hard drive to install the file. Anyway to get around this!?
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stek replied

23 July 2012, 16:04
du -sg /* would work on AIX or some Linux thing if u booted it under Knoppix or summert.

du -sh /* too and try it under subdirs like this...

du -sh /path_chosen/*
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SimonMac replied

23 July 2012, 15:50
Try using this on the old hdd to see where the space is being used https://dl.dropbox.com/u/70497718/Treesize.exe so you can work out what files are where
Leave a comment:
stek replied

23 July 2012, 15:46
Is it 'dir /a:h' for hidden files?
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BolshieBastard started a topic Hard drive showing full but only system files found.

23 July 2012, 15:39
Hard drive showing full but only system files found.

My son's old lappie, an HP Pavillion dv6000 went tits up years ago. So, its time to chuck it out. But before I do that, I tried to get it to boot up again and failed.

So, I've taken the hard drive out and thought I may be able to save some of his data. I got a USB to SATA lead and have plugged this into my lappie.

His hard drive is showing as disc D, 6 gig free out of 85 gig and disc H, 27meg of 1 gig free. Must admit I thought the lappie had more than 86 gig on the HD but there you go!

Now, when I have a looksee in D & H, all I can see are system files. I cant see \ find any pictures, music or other docs I know he has on here.

Why cant I see these, if the HD is nearly full, I cant believe its nearly full of system files and nothing else?

Is there any dark secrets I can use to show any files that arent being displayed ie not hidden system files?

The HD used Win XP, my lappie has Vista on it so would have thought I'd be able to see jpeg, music files and word docs.
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