Vista - Any Software to Analyze Hard Disk Capacity?

During the past few weeks I have faced the problem of lost some GBs from my Hard Disk! My Hard Disk's Capacity is 500 Gbs! However, when I add together Program Files, Documents and Settings and any other leftovers they don't reach even the amount of 350 Gbs! So, I reckon that I have hidden (lost) some Gbs in my Hard Disk! In the past I used a software that used to analyze my Hard Disk Data i.e. Program Files = 100 Gbs, My Documents = 120 Gbs etc...
Does anybody knows any software to do this and to recover the lost data (capacity) if possible!
Thanx in advance!!!
Windows Vista 32bit Home
2 Gbs RAM
512 Mb Geforce 9500GT

Well, that is a commono misunderstanding.

1. Your 500GB (decimal) capacity shows as 465GB (binary) in the system.
2. To get a true count of all the files run WinDirStat ( WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics ). Only than you will have a true count.
3. Finally, up to 15% of your OS partition is used for shadowstorage - and that you do not see in the above. For a better understanding I have made this write-up:

With each install and uninstall, Vista writes a shadow (restore point) of about 1GB - plus one is written each day. For that purpose Vista reserves 15% of your OS disk partition and allocates/uses it as needed.
Find Command Prompt (in All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt), right click on it and Open as Administrator. Into the little black window type VSSADMIN LIST SHADOWSTORAGE and hit ENTER. It will show 3 numbers:
Allocated - that is the amount that it has grabbed from your OS partition at this time
Used - this is the amount currently used
Maximum - this is the ultimate amount it will allocate and use
Once you reach "maximum", it will reuse the space deleting the oldest shadows for the storage of the newest shadows. With e.g. an appr. 200Gb of OS partition you should expect a maximum of 30GBs that are reserved for the system and that you cannot use. If your OS partition is larger or smaller, the shadowstorage will be accordingly (always 15% max.) But the restore points (shadows) are required the day you need to do a system restore

PS: If you need to reduce the amount of shadowstorage ( which I do not recommend), you find the procedure here: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/04...ystem-restore/

Ok! I did everything as you said and here are the results which as told a Hard Disk with 500Gb storage is approximately 465Gb in binary1 However, the WinDirtStat shows that the capacity is only 276,9 Gb! Is it normal or do I miss something (I mean I don't understand)

?

Here is how your numbers compute:
1. total disk space 465GB
2. total files 276.9GB (WinDirStat shows the sum off all files/folders - not disk space)
3. allocated shadowstorage 52.7
4. Free space (1) minus (2) minus(3) = 115GB - but if you have any other disk partitions (e.g. a recovery partition), you must subtract that from the 115GB . Does that compute?

http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/U.../DiskData.html

You need to see the efficiency of your data storage. That's where the
missing space usually is.

"Jungleyes" <guest@newsgroup-email.com> wrote in message
news:cf67923f351aa1a90c6a1e2963f85f0f@newsgroup-gateway.com...

I don't know what that is supposed to mean: "efficiency of your data storage".

I did the math and should be 135.4 Gb instead of 115 Gb that you said and which my system shows anyway! I do not now realize where are the 135.4-115=20.4 Gb remaining!

Right, my bad. My numbers got scrambled. Forget the 115. It should be 135.4 - is that what is shown as freespace?
If your system shows 115 (or maybe I misunderstood what you said), then the question is whether you have another partition on that disk - maybe even a hidden partition.

Actually, it shows 115 Gb so I think somewhere 20.4 Gb are somewhere in my Hard Drive ! I do not have another partition, is any other way to find if do I have a hidden one? Is not the matter that 20.4 Gb will save my life but I would like to know!!!
Thanx!

Open C:, go to "Organize" > Folder and Search Options > View button > in "Hidden files and Folders" click "Show hidden files and folders". It is very likely that you will find the recovery partition D:.