CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 I have a 500gb Seagate Freeagent external HD and have a query regarding the storage used / free that the device is showing. It currently says that it has 105gb free of 465gb capacity. I am assuming that the difference between the 500gb and 465gb is the firmware but when I check all the files that i have loaded onto the drive I can only get to 100gb total. So, where is the other 300 odd gb being taken up? I have checked the disk for errors and run a defrag but to no avail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallshinyant Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 its just the way they sell hard disks now. They are built to be 500Gb for example, but with error correction and fault tolerance during the build you will always loose a few percent. There are a few ways to try and get some of it back, but they run the risk of loosing some of its error correction ability. Edit: im hoping you mean "other 20 odd gb?" if you are missing 200 Gb, there is stuff to be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 its just the way they sell hard disks now. They are built to be 500Gb for example, but with error correction and fault tolerance during the build you will always loose a few percent. There are a few ways to try and get some of it back, but they run the risk of loosing its error correction ability. Edit: im hoping you mean "other 20 odd gb?" if you are missing 200 Gb, there is stuff to be done. No, I meant 200 (actually 300 missing somewhere) as the drive says 105 free of 465 capacity but I can only find just over 100gb being used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRalphMan Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 How are you getting the space used total? I'd open the drive and at it's root level select all the files and then right click --> Properties. It will then give you the Total File Size and the Size on disk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 How are you getting the space used total? I'd open the drive and at it's root level select all the files and then right click --> Properties. It will then give you the Total File Size and the Size on disk. I have Windows 7 and click the start button, then open computers. I then right click on the Seagate drive and then click properties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallshinyant Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 no. Click start -> My computer -> Double click your drive(for example e:) -> You should now see all the folders. -> Select everything (press CTRL + A) -> Then right click once on something you have highlighted and select properties. The numbers will start counting up it could take a couple of mins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallshinyant Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 no. Click start -> My computer -> Double click your drive(for example e:) -> You should now see all the folders. -> Select everything (press CTRL + A) -> Then right click once on something you have highlighted and select properties. The numbers will start counting up it could take a couple of mins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 no. Click start -> My computer -> Double click your drive(for example e:) -> You should now see all the folders. -> Select everything (press CTRL + A) -> Then right click once on something you have highlighted and select properties. The numbers will start counting up it could take a couple of mins. Done that and got 97gb which is what i had already calculated and yet when I right click on the drive and then click properties it shows the pie chart and used space etc with the used being 360 and free 105 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Some hidden files in the root of the drive perhaps. I'm not sure how you enable to show all hidden and system files in Windows 7 as they seem to have deliberately tried to hide changing settings like that. It'll be in the control panel somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallshinyant Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 ok try to turn on viewing hidden files and folders, and system files and folders. and then repeat. p.s. dont want to teach you to suck eggs, but if you were not aware. In the window that you are looking at all the folders. press the ALT button on the keyboard -> from the menu at the top click Folder Options -> Then Click the "View" tab -> Select the option "Show hidden files, folder, and drives" & "untick Hide protected operating systems files" (best to put these back when you are finished.) Then repeat the earlier process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 As I suspected, they've moved it for no real reason, and added several other ways of getting to the same thing. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/295-folder-options-open.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallshinyant Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 As I suspected, they've moved it for no real reason, and added several other ways of getting to the same thing. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/295-folder-options-open.html well you can always count on microsoft to let you do things 100 different ways. (then only allow you to use one in there test ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 ok try to turn on viewing hidden files and folders, and system files and folders. and then repeat. p.s. dont want to teach you to suck eggs, but if you were not aware. In the window that you are looking at all the folders. press the ALT button on the keyboard -> from the menu at the top click Folder Options -> Then Click the "View" tab -> Select the option "Show hidden files, folder, and drives" & "untick Hide protected operating systems files" (best to put these back when you are finished.) Then repeat the earlier process. Done that and still only get 107gb of storage used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallshinyant Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 well thats just odd. I have a theory. could you post up a screen shot of the pie chart thingy you get when right click on the drive and get properties up. to get an easy screen shot with windows 7 press the windows button + s the screen will grey out allowing you to highlight what you want a screen shot of -> once you highlighted the area you will get an option box, just select copy to clipboard -> then paste it into picture editor of choice and share with us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penguin Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 is the drive formatted for FAT16, FAT32 or NTFS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 is the drive formatted for fat16, fat32 or ntfs? ntfs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 well thats just odd. I have a theory. could you post up a screen shot of the pie chart thingy you get when right click on the drive and get properties up. to get an easy screen shot with windows 7 press the windows button + s the screen will grey out allowing you to highlight what you want a screen shot of -> once you highlighted the area you will get an option box, just select copy to clipboard -> then paste it into picture editor of choice and share with us Sorry for sounding dumb...but which windows button? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallshinyant Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 thats cool, you could not sound dumb after the person i had to train this morning. Any way The windows button on your keyboard. there are two on your keyboard, the one on the left is normal between the CTRL button and the ALT button. If you hold down the "windows" button and then tap the S key you should see your screen change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 I thought it was that one but when I do that nothing happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 I have to go to work now but will log on from the bar later to try and bring things up to date Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 I still have the same problem and have now noticed that the ext HD recognises the increase in used space when I put new things on but doesn't recognise when I take things off. Very strange eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallshinyant Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 sounds like it is making its own back-up. is there any software on your PC that works with the drive? Sorry almost forgot about this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Is Win7 Readyboost enabled on it? Right click, properties, ReadyBoost tab. Dumb question but is the recycle bin holding 2-300Gb? Or a backup... Have you tried unhiding the system files option in Tools -> Folder Options -> View Tab -> SELECT Show Hidden Files and Folders/ Untick "Hide Protected..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 Sorted! I had previously arranged for the system to regularly run a back up and to store that back up on the ext HD. I have now deleted the back ups and turned off the schedule and all is OK. What a divvy I am! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 Is Win7 Readyboost enabled on it? Right click, properties, ReadyBoost tab. Dumb question but is the recycle bin holding 2-300Gb? Or a backup... Have you tried unhiding the system files option in Tools -> Folder Options -> View Tab -> SELECT Show Hidden Files and Folders/ Untick "Hide Protected..." 'twas the back up schedule Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.