Disksize & contents size differ
- Thread starter especht
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nukemaster
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- Nov 23, 2004
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RetiredChief
Judicious
- Feb 22, 2007
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^ spot on
Also it depends on if looking at file size vs disk space taken for files.
Here’s an extreme example but illustrate the difference.
You have 10,000 files, each 1K, then Total file size would show 1K x 10K = 10 Megs. However true disk space taken by the 10,000 1K files is really 10K x 4 K or 40 Megs a 4 fold increase. Reason is that the HDD is set-up with 512 byte sectors and 4K clusters (each Cluster has 8 sectors). The cluster is the smallest unit a file can occupy which means that a 3.6K file takes 4K of disk space BUT a 1 Byte file ALSO takes 4 K of disk space. More realistic example would be a 10 K file would take 3 clusters or 12K disk space.
Also it depends on if looking at file size vs disk space taken for files.
Here’s an extreme example but illustrate the difference.
You have 10,000 files, each 1K, then Total file size would show 1K x 10K = 10 Megs. However true disk space taken by the 10,000 1K files is really 10K x 4 K or 40 Megs a 4 fold increase. Reason is that the HDD is set-up with 512 byte sectors and 4K clusters (each Cluster has 8 sectors). The cluster is the smallest unit a file can occupy which means that a 3.6K file takes 4K of disk space BUT a 1 Byte file ALSO takes 4 K of disk space. More realistic example would be a 10 K file would take 3 clusters or 12K disk space.
wanderer11
Honorable
- Jun 11, 2012
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Also, my computer is showing GiB (1 GiB = 2^30 Bytes) instead of GB (1GB = 1 billion bytes), but it says GB. That's why when you download a 1 GB file my computer doesn't show 1 GB more being used on the drive.
Thanks for all the responses.
I have show hidden files turned on.
I know to look at the Size, not the size on disk because of the sector/cluster padding.
And I am looking at the byte count out to the single byte in parentheses so the reduction to KB or MB or GB should have no bearing.
Are there other files that are ignored/hidden even so? If so is there somewhere i can find a list of those or get them to show? Are they only system folder files or could they be in other folders too? I check the folder size when I copy something to make sure everything got copied correctly. If it is not dependable then I have a problem.
I have show hidden files turned on.
I know to look at the Size, not the size on disk because of the sector/cluster padding.
And I am looking at the byte count out to the single byte in parentheses so the reduction to KB or MB or GB should have no bearing.
Are there other files that are ignored/hidden even so? If so is there somewhere i can find a list of those or get them to show? Are they only system folder files or could they be in other folders too? I check the folder size when I copy something to make sure everything got copied correctly. If it is not dependable then I have a problem.
nukemaster
Titan
- Nov 23, 2004
- 19,626
- 6
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I am not sure if anything aside from trying to see files and space on another operating system(like linux)
Windows handles things in a strange way to begin with as an example, If i make a symbolic link to another drive in a folder on d : it will be added to the select all(properties) while not being on the disk. I am not even sure if system restore points show up in the select ALL. Also, some folders simply do not give you permission to see the contents(they show up as ZERO when in fact they contain data.).
In this image you can see a folder that the normal users do NOT have access to, it shows as 0, but if you add your self in the security tab(read only), you can see the size. Are you going to hunt all over the drive for these folders
If you are very interested, You may want to try a live Linux DVD/CD/USB drive to see what it has to say.
Windows handles things in a strange way to begin with as an example, If i make a symbolic link to another drive in a folder on d : it will be added to the select all(properties) while not being on the disk. I am not even sure if system restore points show up in the select ALL. Also, some folders simply do not give you permission to see the contents(they show up as ZERO when in fact they contain data.).
In this image you can see a folder that the normal users do NOT have access to, it shows as 0, but if you add your self in the security tab(read only), you can see the size. Are you going to hunt all over the drive for these folders
If you are very interested, You may want to try a live Linux DVD/CD/USB drive to see what it has to say.
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