Mysterious disk usage - from outer space?

Thikasabrik · Jul 13, 2003, 02:06 PM

I installed XP Pro on a friends DELL P3 700 system a week or so back. I was just updating things and installing some software, when all of a sudden I get a low disk space warning... So I check the disk... 19gb all used up. Oh well. But wait. If I select all the files and folders on the disk, it counts about 9gb total (including restored backups). Huh?!

This has never happened to me before. So I run a disk check. It finds some errors and corrects them, but the mysterious usage remains. There are no files that can be seen (hidden files shown, etc) that are bigger than about 200mb.

I delete a few things to free up some working space - the disk does not re-fill. Probably not a malicious TSR..

I run defrag (you never know) - complains of low space and doesn't fix anything. No suprise there I guess.

I run a virus scan - no hits.

I scratch my head in confusion. I reformat and reinstall, and have to leave for home.

Later, friend rings me up, mentions that he had a low disk space warning and had to delete some stuff. Crap.

Has anyone had anything like this happen and/or have some suggestions?

BWX · Jul 13, 2003, 02:11 PM

After installing some games the other day I noticed I had 569,315kbs in the temp file for some reason- Did you run disk cleanup? Set the size for restore points? Set the size for swap file? That's pretty crazy.

Thikasabrik · Jul 13, 2003, 02:13 PM

Yeah, I didn't mention it, but I ran disk cleanup - offered an incredible 100kb or so saving, disabled hibernation, and checked the pagefile. Tempfiles should show up when I select all dirs in my comp (in total size calc) I guess. Can't remember if I checked them individually..

**MIG-31** · Jul 13, 2003, 02:41 PM

xp dosn't use that much disk space.not too long ago i reinstalled xp[ and when complete it were only something like 5gig used on a 120gig wd caviar hdd so there is something definatly wrong with yours?

Chaos · Jul 13, 2003, 02:43 PM

sounds like an fdisk may be in order.... delete all partitions, create a new partition the entire size of the drive and see if that regains the space....

BWX · Jul 13, 2003, 02:45 PM

There are a few guys on this site that I know will be able to help you out- I'm sure one of them will see this post pretty soon-

Thikasabrik · Jul 13, 2003, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chaos
sounds like an fdisk may be in order.... delete all partitions, create a new partition the entire size of the drive and see if that regains the space....

I used the xp installer to delete existing partitions each time. That should do it right?

PangingJr · Jul 13, 2003, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thikasabrik
I used the xp installer to delete existing partitions each time. That should do it right?

how many partition on that HDD?

Thikasabrik · Jul 13, 2003, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by panging
how many partition on that HDD?

Only 1 -> 19 gb.

ToshiroOC · Jul 13, 2003, 03:29 PM

Go to System Properties -> System Restore, and make sure your minimum level is plenty low.

PangingJr · Jul 13, 2003, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thikasabrik
Only 1 -> 19 gb.

so it mean you can see C: as a 19GB drive in My Computer/Disk Management.. Right?
okay right click on the drive and select properties.. how much of "used space" and "free space" there?

Thikasabrik · Jul 13, 2003, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by panging
so it mean you can see C: as a 19GB drive in My Computer/Disk Management.. Right?
okay right click on the drive and select properties.. how much of "used space" and "free space" there?

It claims almost the entire drive is used. Whilst selecting all files and letting it calc a total give much less used space. I had simply not installed or copied enough stuff for this to be expected behaviour. I installed windows, updated with Windows update, and replaced some backups. I had also started to install Works Suite 2000 a minute or so before it happened. I doubt this had anything to do with it... but maybe...

PangingJr · Jul 13, 2003, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thikasabrik
I had also started to install Works Suite 2000 a minute or so before it happened. I doubt this had anything to do with it... but maybe...

okay i went to microsoft knowledge base article for you and found something that might give a little help!
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;281613

Thikasabrik · Jul 13, 2003, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by panging
okay i went to microsoft knowledge base article for you and found something that might give a little help!
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;281613

Interesting. I suppose that this could be something to do with it, but a crucial difference is that the error in this kb article is in the works installer, not disk space reported by windows. I am inclined to think something has been messing with the MFT (it is an NTFS volume), but I have no idea what, or how, or why chkdsk wouldn't fix it.

~~HawK~~ · Jul 13, 2003, 05:29 PM

This might be a silly question, but still, just incase... I ask
You said:
"If I select all the files and folders on the disk, it counts about 9gb total (including restored backups). Huh?!"
is this with or without the hidden files & folders?

MikeDaMan · Jul 14, 2003, 12:12 AM

How much space is Windows Restore using and are there any Hidden Files in your C:\ folder?

Judas · Jul 14, 2003, 01:00 AM

Here's the deal, Find a floppy with fdisk on it.... if not, go >HERE< and download one that will work.... (i haven't really taken a look at the site... but i know theres something on there that will work.... if not.. click my sigy and go to the downloads, then to the windows and get the Windows ME Boot disk creator)

After that, shove in your windows XP cd and go through the installer to the point were you can create delete and select the partition of choice.... DELETE ALL PARTITIONS.... and leave then as RAW.... exit the installer now..

Put in your Boot disk you have... (with the fdisk on there along with the nessary startup files)

wait for it chew through to the point were it says:

Quote:

A:\

At this point... type:

Quote:

A:\FDISK /MBR

This will rewipe the entire Hardrives MBR because it itself may contain a virus or something really messed up...

Now pull that disk out... slap in your windows xp cd and start installing all over again... make sure you select FORMAT NTFS and none of the QUICK formats....

I recommend with that hardrive (might be a good idea)... to split the 19gb into a 10gb and 9 gb.... (set first partition size to 10240-10245mb and partition 2 to the rest) This might tell you if windows is just pileing crap onto the Main C: or if it's some kind of massive hardrive quirk

I hope I got most of the above right.... if not, please.. SOMEONE SPEAK UP!

Thikasabrik · Jul 14, 2003, 05:37 AM

Thanks for your suggestions so far. I did make sure hidden files were visible when I selected everything, and I have neutered system restore. Unfortunately, it will be at least 4 months before I get a chance to look at this pc again. I reckon I'll try fixing the mbr from the recovery console first.

merry · Jul 14, 2003, 05:44 AM

but just in case... Sounds like there's a lot of lost clusters on your drive, so chkdsk... ?

I'd also go with the multipartition setup, only XP (and Office, and blah-blah-blah) don't take me more than 5 gigs.

astrolabos · Jul 14, 2003, 11:50 AM

Have you tried to put the HDD to another computer as a primary master and try to boot or format it from there?

PangingJr · Jul 14, 2003, 10:21 PM

Thikasabrik, sorry i got off connection lasttime i had things to took care real quick.
anyway as i can see from reading you had a very good computing b/g so you can try to fix the mbr from the recovery console 1st(without the re-format)and see!
or just run "fdisk /mbr" from a win98 boot disk, i'll not worry about the existing XP booting it'll still boot.

for "do all over again"
from Judas and merry advices...2 partitions is a very good idea

PangingJr · Jul 14, 2003, 11:34 PM

just went to MS KB again, this time i found.. if that PC is on a domain you may want to check this..

Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 304624
Caching Redirected Folders Can Use All Available Disk Space

use the same link as above only change the "Q" to Q304624

good luck!

Thikasabrik · Jul 15, 2003, 11:33 AM

Sorry, the only thing this pc was connected to was the internet via ISDN, and a Powerbook via ethernet. The powerbook was used to house the backups. Maybe it's the mac's fault

PangingJr · Jul 15, 2003, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thikasabrik
Sorry, the only thing this pc was connected to was the internet via ISDN, and a Powerbook via ethernet. The powerbook was used to house the backups. Maybe it's the mac's fault

that's what i thought and that's all i could get for now.. good luck and let us know i really like to know whats going on. thxs.

Judas · Jul 16, 2003, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by panging
good luck and let us know i really like to know whats going on. thxs.

Yes, it will be nice to hear about this....and how it went....