Deeply hidden files consuming USB drive space

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warmbeer

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Aug 24, 2013
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External G-slim 500GB USB drive, hidden files shown including Recycler and Volume System Information which together show 140 KB of space. Doing a properties size check on all folders in windows explorer shows 292 GB but a properties size check on the drive itself says it is all but full (465 GB). I checked several similar inquiries here which suggested WinDirStat so I tried that and it also only sees 292 GB. I had previously deleted most of the contents of the drive and then needed to copy a large set of files. Once the drive got up to the full level based on what the drive properties check said it interrupted the copy (I was hoping maybe it would just go on filling the drive to it's real full level, no such luck).
So, other than a drive reformat, is there any hope of finding what might me absorbing all that space and clearing it?
TIA
ed
 
Solution
popatim
System Restore points and files are all contained in the "Super-Hidden" directory:
C:\System Volume Information\_restore{<big number>}\ . . .
None of the paths include the text "SystemRestore".

Access to this directory is severely restricted by default and "WinDirStat" usually cannot look into this directory without some help.

"How to gain access to the System Volume Information folder"
< http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309531 >

To completely remove your restore points and start fresh with a new restore point, simply turn off System Restore and then turn it back on...

"How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP"
< http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405 >
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popatim

popatim

Titan
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Dec 2, 2009
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Windirstat is typically the tool for this job but WinDirStat does not list:

Data owned by users whose folders WinDirStat doesn't have permission to access. (Run WinDirStat as administrator.)
Stuff in the Recycle Bins owned by various users.
Volume Shadow Copy / System Restore / System Protection.
 
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warmbeer

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Aug 24, 2013
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18,510
Thanks for the info. I'm running as Admin, so that should resolve the first issue.
I'm also the only user of this drive on this or any other machine.
Recycle bin is empty afaik. I'm certainly no expert but wouldn't anything in the recycle bin be covered by the file in the RECYCLER folder? Currently 2 files totalling 17.7 MB.

Is there a way to check for the Shadow Copy/Sys Restore/Sys Protect files? Hard to imagine they'd take up > 200 GB but I guess it's possible.
BTW Windirstat shows the missing space as unknown.

Still stumped.
ed
 
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warmbeer

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Aug 24, 2013
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18,510
Another BTW - pretty sure this drive has only been on XP machines. Would XP create Shadow Copy files? Also, afaik System Restore points go in the System Volume Information folder. So unless there are hidden files within that folder somehow I think that's a dead end as I have checked that and the Restore sizing is limited to 4 GB.

Sorry - should have indicated XP before.
ed
 
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popatim

popatim

Titan
Moderator
Dec 2, 2009
38,904
980
135,890
System Restore points and files are all contained in the "Super-Hidden" directory:
C:\System Volume Information\_restore{<big number>}\ . . .
None of the paths include the text "SystemRestore".

Access to this directory is severely restricted by default and "WinDirStat" usually cannot look into this directory without some help.

"How to gain access to the System Volume Information folder"
< http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309531 >

To completely remove your restore points and start fresh with a new restore point, simply turn off System Restore and then turn it back on...

"How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP"
< http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310405 >
 
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Solution
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warmbeer

Distinguished
Aug 24, 2013
24
0
18,510


Thanks for the reply. Found the data hiding in an Acronis 11 disk images folder. Not sure yet if it is corrupt or if Acronis somehow constructs their back up files to some format that is not always visible. Still have 24 GB of unknown in WinDirStat but not too worried about that. Much better than the nearly 200 GB that was missing before. It only showed up when I moved the drive to a different computer and reran WinDirStat.

Already had revealed System Volume Information (SVI) so that was not it, but if you have time, out of curiousity wondering if you can fill me in a bit more. Once the SVI is revealed does it then act as a regular folder? In other words, if I do a properties check on that folder or one of its _restore... files will it give an accurate size? Just wondering since in my first post I indicated that the SVI and the RECYCLER folders showed only a handful of KB which later had changed to ~20 MB. Guessing that's the RECYCLER folder holding some small discarded files but not quite sure.

Greatly appreciate your help and the dependability of this great site for helpful and reliable answers.
ed
 
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