Sudden loss of files.

Hi. Folks, My system is Windows XP Home Edition. Up until a few days ago the 'hard disc' properties showed 'used space' as 32.95GB and 'free space' as 37.57GB. The disc size is 70.51GB. To day it shows 'used space' as 12.50GB and 'free space' as 58.02GB.
I have found the following file to be empty. (Name) TEMPORARY ASP.NET Files. (In folder) C:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT NET I have no personal files stored on the computer and it appears to be working ok. Can anyone suggest what has happened, and if it is serious or not. The computer is 8 months old. Regards, William.

 

That would have been the temporary installation file/folder for the Microsoft Net Framework update. I don't have one but instead a folder named Framework @ 35.7 MB within the C:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT NET folder. Few applications for the average user even using the Net Framework. I wouldn't fret over that folder being empty.

See anything else missing/not functioning? Anything in the recycle bin? Wouldn't make that much of a difference in space, but did you clear the system retore points? 20 GB of data is alot to be just gone. Did you reboot and check it again?

 

Hi. Dave, Thanks for your reply. I have checked / re-booted several times without finding anything missing /not functioning. As you say 20GB is a lot of data to go missing. Regards, William.

 

I recommend you download Everest 1.10. It's a system information tool that will report the drive size, used and free space, as well as a whole lot more. It may be that for whatever reason, which seems logical if you can't identify anything missing, that Windows is reporting the free/used space improperly.

 

Another option would be to get to a cmd prompt and run chkdsk /r and after the reboot and scan, to defrag the drive and see if it is reporting accurately after that.

If not, Everest to get accurate system details and try to track down the issue from there - and with help from here if you wish.

 

Hi. Dave & Newt, I have downloaded and used EVEREST. It showed free space as 58896 MB. Still found nothing missing, and working OK. Perhaps the missing data will show up a clue someday. Newt, what is a 'cmd prompt'? Many thanks for your interest. Regards, William.

 

Start > run > type cmd > ok

In the white on black dialog box's blinking cursor line type in chkdsk /r > enter

Cmd.exe is a way to run applications, batch files and also OS processes that otherwise do not have a standard clickable path thru the Control Panel.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi.Charles & Newt, Thanks for info Charles. Done as you suggested Newt.The new space figures are still the same. I think it will be a case of waiting to see what happens. Regards, William.

 

Did you defrag after the chkdsk finished and the system booted back up?

 

WilliamDP
I have 5000+ MP3 files on here that aren't taking up 20 gigs. Surely you would notice that much data missing? Download Belarc, and see if that gives you any clues. It will measure free disk space independently also, and give us another number to compare with XP and Everest (Sounds like a cemetery, doesn't it? Think I liked AIDA name better!) It will also list all of your installed software. Post it here if you have any questions.

Johanna

 

Hi. Newt & Johanna, Yes Newt I used defrag after chkdsk funished.
Johanna, Belrac shows free space as 59.6 GB. Having thought more about this, a question pops up. Is it reasonable for a new computer to have almost half of its hard drive capacity used up by the manufacturer with preinstalled software? Would it be possible for the computer to have been giving false readings and then has somehow been rectified? Which may suggest that no files may be missing. If you had sight of the Belarc readout would it indicate if there was a problem? Cheers, William.

 

I'd bet on the initial display of free space being wrong. What you show now is lots more reasonable and you have two independent sources showing basically the same values.

Quite likely there was a glitch in the free space being reported that was fixed by something you did.

 

Yes. Sigh. And if you take a good look at that Belarc report, you'll find a good portion of it that you don't want or need, and it's all loading at boot. Download install and run Spybot and AdAware, let them delete all they want to. Then get Mike Lin's StartUpCPL and untick everything that you'd prefer to turn on manually from the applet it will create in the Control Panel. This will speed up your boot time and increase the security. What kind of firewall and A/V do you use?

I'm with Newt, though. I believe your comp was giving you a false reading, especially because you said you had no personal data stored on there. A basic OS and some programs would/could take up about 12 gigs and be very reasonable. If it really had nearly 60 gigs of garbage on it, it would have to be an HP, and even that is rather extreme. I think you fixed it, everything's running fine, don't lose any sleep over it. I hope the above tips are of use to you, or someone else reading this thread.

Johanna
if you want me to have a look at your Belarc, send it to my email addy with BBS in the subject line. Click on my name for my email.