Vista Tutorial - D drive capacity

theleeb · 01-01-2009

Windows Home Premium 32bit

Hi, the capacity indicator show the "D" drive to have about 4GB free space out of 10GB. Yet, when I explore the drive, there is nothing there. I had previously been backing up to that drive but deleted those backup files. Yes, i have "view hidden files" turned on and still nothing except for a MediaID.bin file which consumes a whopping 1KB. Have no idea what is using 6GB of D drive space.

Any thoughts?
Thanks.

**K0T4K** · 01-01-2009

restore points?
as in: System Volume Information directory

I assume "hide protected operating system files" is unchecked correct?

**darkassain** · 01-01-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by theleeb

Windows Home Premium 32bit

Hi, the capacity indicator show the "D" drive to have about 4GB free space out of 10GB. Yet, when I explore the drive, there is nothing there. I had previously been backing up to that drive but deleted those backup files. Yes, i have "view hidden files" turned on and still nothing except for a MediaID.bin file which consumes a whopping 1KB. Have no idea what is using 6GB of D drive space.

Any thoughts?
Thanks.

im am just taking a shoot in the wild here but did you just buy a computer prebuilt???

as in you bought it from dell hp or another company??

theleeb · 01-02-2009

KOT4K - I don't know where "hide protected operating system files would be". Could the space be used by a "shadow copy"? But then still don't know why "explore" won't display anything.

Darkassain - yes, purchased from Dell....although I had to reinstall everything due to a virus and, if I recall, the Dell support guys had me reformat everything....including the D drive which is an internal hard drive.

**roy69** · 01-02-2009

The D: drive is a backup partition. Does it get smaller as you carry on working?
One other thought is where is your pagefile kept? If this is on the D drive that would explain all.

**patio** · 01-02-2009

I have no idea why the Dell people would have you delete the restore partition as the chances of it getting infected are slim at best...
Do you have Dell Recovery CD's ? ?

**roy69** · 01-02-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by patio

I have no idea why the Dell people would have you delete the restore partition as the chances of it getting infected are slim at best...
Do you have Dell Recovery CD's ? ?

There should be recovery CDs with the dell system, failing that contact them with the serial number of your computer or better still if you have it the transaction number that is on your reciept.

**johngalt** · 01-02-2009

And when you contact them be *sure* to inform them that their own techs had you format that D drive.

FWIW - that D: drive is a recovery partition, and you should not be looking at it in the first place - forget what it says you have free and what not - that is not a storage partition for you, and anything you do start doing with that partition is only going to hamper you ability to recover from a disastrous error.

theleeb · 01-02-2009

Ok, thanks everyone for your advice. No matter what tech tells me, I just purchased an external drive for storage....from a safekeeping standpoint, an external drive is a better solution anyway.
Thanks again.

**K0T4K** · 01-05-2009

Try going to:

tools/folder options/view then untick "hide protected operating system files" and press aplly and press ok.

See if there are any massive files that were hidden.

Chances are its restore ...go turn system restore off completely (this is your choice to do) & that should clear out the restore points & free a LOT of space. Free to turn it back on again and create a new restore point (but personally I wouldnt bother with the windows system restore at all. Get yourself a good stand alone backup program *wink*)

Hope that helps somewhat

01-01-2009	#1 (permalink)
theleeb Newbie Join Date: Jan 2009 Vista Home Premium 32bit 3 posts	D drive capacity Windows Home Premium 32bit Hi, the capacity indicator show the "D" drive to have about 4GB free space out of 10GB. Yet, when I explore the drive, there is nothing there. I had previously been backing up to that drive but deleted those backup files. Yes, i have "view hidden files" turned on and still nothing except for a MediaID.bin file which consumes a whopping 1KB. Have no idea what is using 6GB of D drive space. Any thoughts? Thanks.
My System Specs

01-01-2009	#2 (permalink)
K0T4K Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Vista Business 7 posts	Re: D drive capacity restore points? as in: System Volume Information directory I assume "hide protected operating system files" is unchecked correct?
My System Specs

01-01-2009	#3 (permalink)
darkassain Where is the Cake? Join Date: Dec 2008 Server 2008 R2 , Windows 7 6801 + 6936 x64,6801 6956 x32, Windows Home Premium Sp1 x64, Linux 236 posts	Re: D drive capacity Quote: Originally Posted by theleeb Windows Home Premium 32bit Hi, the capacity indicator show the "D" drive to have about 4GB free space out of 10GB. Yet, when I explore the drive, there is nothing there. I had previously been backing up to that drive but deleted those backup files. Yes, i have "view hidden files" turned on and still nothing except for a MediaID.bin file which consumes a whopping 1KB. Have no idea what is using 6GB of D drive space. Any thoughts? Thanks. im am just taking a shoot in the wild here but did you just buy a computer prebuilt??? as in you bought it from dell hp or another company??
My System Specs

01-02-2009	#4 (permalink)
theleeb Newbie Join Date: Jan 2009 Vista Home Premium 32bit 3 posts	Re: D drive capacity KOT4K - I don't know where "hide protected operating system files would be". Could the space be used by a "shadow copy"? But then still don't know why "explore" won't display anything. Darkassain - yes, purchased from Dell....although I had to reinstall everything due to a virus and, if I recall, the Dell support guys had me reformat everything....including the D drive which is an internal hard drive.
My System Specs

01-02-2009	#5 (permalink)
roy69 47,65,65,6B Join Date: Nov 2007 Vista home premium 64 bit 2,081 posts	Re: D drive capacity The D: drive is a backup partition. Does it get smaller as you carry on working? One other thought is where is your pagefile kept? If this is on the D drive that would explain all.
My System Specs

01-02-2009	#6 (permalink)
patio Geek Join Date: Nov 2008 Vista Ultimate 64bit 296 posts	Re: D drive capacity I have no idea why the Dell people would have you delete the restore partition as the chances of it getting infected are slim at best... Do you have Dell Recovery CD's ? ?
My System Specs

01-02-2009	#7 (permalink)
roy69 47,65,65,6B Join Date: Nov 2007 Vista home premium 64 bit 2,081 posts	Re: D drive capacity Quote: Originally Posted by patio I have no idea why the Dell people would have you delete the restore partition as the chances of it getting infected are slim at best... Do you have Dell Recovery CD's ? ? There should be recovery CDs with the dell system, failing that contact them with the serial number of your computer or better still if you have it the transaction number that is on your reciept.
My System Specs

01-02-2009	#8 (permalink)
johngalt Antidisestablishmentarian Join Date: May 2008 Vista Ultimate x64 MAK, OpenSolaris 5, Gentoo 2008.1.... 3,848 posts	Re: D drive capacity And when you contact them be sure to inform them that their own techs had you format that D drive. FWIW - that D: drive is a recovery partition, and you should not be looking at it in the first place - forget what it says you have free and what not - that is not a storage partition for you, and anything you do start doing with that partition is only going to hamper you ability to recover from a disastrous error.
My System Specs

01-02-2009	#9 (permalink)
theleeb Newbie Join Date: Jan 2009 Vista Home Premium 32bit 3 posts	Re: D drive capacity Ok, thanks everyone for your advice. No matter what tech tells me, I just purchased an external drive for storage....from a safekeeping standpoint, an external drive is a better solution anyway. Thanks again.
My System Specs

01-05-2009	#10 (permalink)
K0T4K Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Vista Business 7 posts	Re: D drive capacity Try going to: tools/folder options/view then untick "hide protected operating system files" and press aplly and press ok. See if there are any massive files that were hidden. Chances are its restore ...go turn system restore off completely (this is your choice to do) & that should clear out the restore points & free a LOT of space. Free to turn it back on again and create a new restore point (but personally I wouldnt bother with the windows system restore at all. Get yourself a good stand alone backup program wink) Hope that helps somewhat Last edited by K0T4K; 01-05-2009 at 03:06 AM.. Reason: updated info
My System Specs

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