Resolved windows partitioned drive properties show more content than in explorer

I partitioned the hard drive on a machine and placed the user's folders on the D drive leaving the OS and program files on C

It has undergone several months of use since this was done and now when I open Windows Explorer it shows D with 5GB of use space however, when I right click on D and inspect the properties it shows 18GB as used space.

The folder settings are set to show hidden files and folders as well as system files but, there are none.

The C partition does not have this problem when I check it.

Why would I receive two so vastly different readings?

Thanks

 

My Windows Explorer doesn't show used space in the right pane ... it's not one of the items that can be displayed. Are you sure you're not seeing free space, instead?

 

I went back and had another look and I should clarify the situation - sorry for the confusion.

When I open Windows Explorer the graphic shows 106 GB free of 124 GB. When I look at the properties of the drive it reflects the same information however (and this is where I made my initial reporting error), when I highlight all files and folders on the D drive and view properties, it only shows 5.5 GB in total file size.

What is the discrepancy?

I have attached screen shots to help clarify, thanks

 

The space could be used by Recycle bin, System Restore or hidden files. Also try running chkdsk on D:

 

Thanks Tony. I will look at that on return from holiday

 

Hi
I inspected and totaled the files thoroughly in explorer and I get the same results. I cleared any restore points, the recycle bin is empty, the hidden files are exposed...

I have come across the same situation in an XP Pro machine. The HDD was showing used space of 39.2GB of 40GB space meaning there is only .8 GB of empty space. I cleared everything and deleted all but 1.2 GB of files from all of the user files in the Documents and Settings folder. I turned off System restore, restarted to clear the restore points, turned off the pagefile, ran Ccleaner and Disk Cleanup but I only managed to get it to 37.6 GB of free space.

It's beyond me...

Thanks for the suggestions though

 

A program like Defraggler could show you a file map of the the drive.

 

Files can be hidden from Windows Explorer and the DIR command. It's called Alternate Data Streams. More links.

 

Thanks everyone, I have moved on as it isn't affecting performance. There is no clear resolve worth chasing.