Files deleted are not really deleted, and mysteriously missing hard drive space

Hello all,

There are strange things happening to my 3-year old T400. I found out these problems when, I had only 1 GB hard disk left, so I discussed with my friend to buy a new hard drive. My friend found out that I have a 80 GB hard disk, my data file are less than 2GB, so where did other spaces go. I kept checking my computers then found a lot of mysterious problems (I am very sure there are no viruses on my computer), but cannot figure out why.

1. Once I tried to attach a file on an email, where the file is located on desktop. I browsed the desktop through the attachment window and found that there are so many previous deleted file are still there, and I could still attach them or delete them. So the computer has secretly backed up my files in a location in which I cannot see normally (even with seeing hidden file folder option), and eating up my spaces. I tried to delete them and immediately got 5GB relief, but after sometimes those unseen files are back.

2. There is a folder low in the folder appData under user. When I click on the property of the folder, it shows 190MB. When I open it, the sum of all files and subfolders are about 190MB. However, when I right click on the property, it becomes a huge file with more than 8 GB. So there are many unseen files in this folder. (I have used seeing hidden file property, but all the files still can not be seen).

3. I had Lenovo Rescue and Recovery software, but I disabled automatic backup option when I bought the computer, and there were no backup found. I even deleted the software, but it did not help me get more spaces back.

I am very very frustrated because I can not see those files, and I don't know how they are created, and they are eating up my hard drives. I really don't want to format my harddrive and reinstall the whole thing again. So if you have a quick fix solution, or any thoughts please let me know. I really really appreciate your advise.

Thank you!

 

First thing to do is to run a scan disk on your drive. To do that, go in Windows Explorer then right click on your drive and select Properties. Switch tab to Tools and click on Check now... Follow the instructions on screen. It should find the errors on your drive and fix them or report any errors.

HTH

 

Download and install a program called Treesize. it will list all of your folders and files and give you sizes right next to them. It is extremely accurate. You can then look at the files in the offending folders and remove them. Just know what you are deleting.

 

Ditto on Treesize, but I prefer WinDirStat. Same thing, just better

 

I like OverDisk.

 

Hi guys


Thank you for your responses. I downloaded WindirStat and then I found out that there are more than 28 GB in user\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporary internet files. Those files cannot been seen when I use windows explorer (even with the seeing hidden file option checked). I randomly clicked on some of them through WinDirStat, and realized that I visited some of the internet websites 2 years ago. It seems very very strange to me because I regularly deleted my internet files and history (IE has an option for that, and I also do it manually). I deleted all of them so I have enough space now. But it really bothers me because I don't know what is going on. It seems some programs are backing up my internet visits for me (I don't think I have any viruses on my computer). Have you seen that before?


Thank you very much!

 

Are you running Windows 7, FBI Edition?

 

No， Windows Vista, hopefully not FBI edition

 

Hello All,

My laptop is a T400 with Windows Vista OS. My hard disk is 80B but recently has only 1 GB left. I spent a lot of time trying to find the problem. Eventually, I installed one of the free softwares "windirstat" to accurate detect folder sizes, I found out that there are more than 28 GB unseen files under users\myaccount\AppData\local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

I cannot see those files using windows explorer (not because they are hidden files). I know many things about computer and temporary internet files are regularly deleted from my computer. When I clicked some of the unseen files through windirstat, they were webpages I viewed 1, 2 years ago. I really don't know how they are created and saved in the computer this way.

After deleting them, I got 28 GB back. But I can see that those files are building up again, and I want to stop it. Any advise are deeply appreciated!

 

This thread may have some input on your problem:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/len...ed-mysteriously-missing-hard-drive-space.html

 

Windirstat is great

You can set a limit to how much space ie will use

Also periodically I delete every thing in %temp%