Tired of Computers
@verizon.ne
| Hard drive space disappearing, reappearing
A few days ago, while I was doing a routine check of the hard drive to see how much space was left, I was shocked to find that it had dropped from about 8gb to 6gb. Nothing major had been installed or downloaded. I had downloaded and installed some Windows updates, but I don't think that it would have accounted for that much space being gone. I deleted some old files and got the disk space up to 7.47gb. Then, while running an online scan with Kapersky, I noticed that the free space dropped to 7.39gb. In fact, it seemed any time that I was online, disk space slowly vanished. I took the computer offline and ran a virus scan. It turned up nothing, however, the free disk space went back up to 7.60gb. Then I just let the computer sit there offline doing nothing, and, after about two hours or so, the free disk space was at 8.54gb. I used Windows Update again today, and, while it was downloading and installing, it took the hard drive space to something below 7.5gb (I forget the actual number). The updates were about 14mb in size, btw. I left the computer alone, offline again, and, sure enough, the hard drive space went back up to 8.11gb.
I've scanned with Symantec Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Ewido, the Kapersky and Panda online scanner and each have turned up nothing. Anyone know what could be going on? |
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Tired of Computers
@verizon.ne
| Just noticed this: I downloaded two files which weighed in at 10.6mb together; free disk space went from 8.09gb to 8.06gb instantly. Huh? Why did about triple the amount of space used disappear? I was using Firefox. I cleared the cache and free space jumped up to 8.10gb.
This may explain why space is slowly draining when online. I guess all the images and stuff starts piling on in size, especially if it's taking up more space than it's supposed to. Is this a security problem or a hardware issue? |
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WaxPhoto
I AM SAM
Premium
join:2004-04-08
Roanoke, IN
| This would be better placed in the microsoft forum. Its probably a combo of: Windows Update Files, AV/AS Updates & new definitions, and most importantly, windows Page File usage. Do you run your system 24/7?
If you aren't experiencing any other symptoms other than weird HDD usage, then its probably not a security issue. Any operating system can be fickle with measuring space left on a hard drive. Try a Defrag & look at your PF settings.
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*Formerly known as LitteredMind* To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle. -George Orwell |
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Wildcatboy
Premium,Mod
join:2000-10-30
Toronto, ON | reply to Tired of Computers
Moved from Security. |
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joselso3
join:2004-05-16
Israel
| reply to Tired of Computers
In general, file and folder size on disk is larger than their actual size, depending on file-system and disk usage. Have you tried disk defragmentation?
Another possibility is if you have Norton Protected Recycle Bin, which periodically clears older recycled material and frees disk space "in the background". |
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Tired of Computers
@verizon.ne
| reply to Tired of Computers
I haven't tried to defrag the disk yet, but only because after I click "analyze" it says I don't need to. I'm not sure if I have Norton Protected Recycle Bin, but I don't believe that I do. How would I look?
Oh, and, when I was looking at the logs generated by an av scan, one of the events reported was that the program was unable to scan the pagefile.sys file. I don't know if that means anything. |
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tdumaine
join:2004-03-14
Redmond, WA | reply to Tired of Computers
My guess is 2 things....
1) Dynamic page file (growing and shrinking)
2) Temporary internet files
I believe a combo of both. The OP says he notices it "when he is online", thats what leads me to believe #2 |
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Tired of Computers
@verizon.ne
| reply to Tired of Computers
Well, I just went to a site and viewed a picture gallery with 9 photos. Each was about 70kb in size. I had cleared the cache right before going to this site. Somehow the site managed to eat away 10mb of space.
Why are these internet files using so much space?
And, to experiment, I ripped two songs from a CD. Their total size was about 10mb. About 20mb was taken from the computer. So it seems any new file introduced on the computer is taking more space than it needs to.
I'm so sick and tired of all the security updates, the patches, and whatever stupid problems (like this one) that come along. I feel like taking a hammer to this computer... |
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tdumaine
join:2004-03-14
Redmond, WA
 ·Comcast
| reply to Tired of Computers
When you rip a cd, or other things, it uses a temp folder.
Pulls from cd, puts it on the disk in original format, then converts it over. The temp file it makes will clear itself.
Also, when you add a 10 MB file, you will always use more than 10MB. Remember the (volume bitmap if xp, or the file allocation table, winme and before) uses some space to keep the computer knowing what files you have where. |
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Jrmntr
Premium
join:2004-01-10
Vancouver, BC
clubs:
| reply to Tired of Computers
I think its a combo of temp folders, new files needed for program updates. Could be System Restore, I think it will try to create a restore point when installing certain program as well as windows updates. I really don't think you have anything to worry about though.
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