Lost 150GB on Vista Laptop

[Slimeburger]

My newish Sony Vaio (VGN-SZ5VWN) Computer tells me that I only have 2GB of 176GB free. Yet I have only used about 28GB of my hard drive. Programs like TreeSize Free confirm that I am only using 28Gb. So where has the other 150GB gone!

I have run Check Disk but still no joy.

I have all files and folders visible (via folder options)

I am unable to do a system restore (as I assume that I do not have enough disk space.

Help!

Any ideas?

Simon

[redforty4]

with drives that big, I find that partitioning the drive helps... I didnt think it was needed anymore, but I know back in the day I had to do that for my computers to recognize the full drive. plus it helps with organizing files.

[Slimeburger]

thanx, but it was fine when I first got it for 5 months, so can only assume that it should work fine.

It seemed to coninside with AVG removing a Trojan virus mid December, but then again there has also been a load of MS updates in the lsat 3 weeks or so.

[zallison]

Have you done a disk cleanup lately?

Delete all but the most recent restore points. See if that helps.

Volume Shadow Copy is the cause of many people's frustrations. Its possible that you have it on.

Check out these links.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa381497.aspx

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76...k-cleanup.html

and reference this thread...

http://antionline.com/showthread.php?t=276163&page=5

[Slimeburger]

zallison, you are a genius...many thanx...

The disk clean up only managed to clear 80mb but when tried the System Restore and shadow copies clean up, it gave me the 150Gb back....yipee

Still not sure about the Volume Shadow Copy stuff as I didnt understand what was on the link you gave.....how do I know if it is enabled and how do I turn it off?

I use Carbonite http://www.carbonite.com/ as my back up service (I can reccomended it and it is only about $48 a year for unlimited back up space...so they say....I have 7Gb backed up) so not sure if this uses the VSC functionality.

Many thanx for your help

Simon

[zallison]

Volume Shadow Copy is kinda neat.

(Layman's explanation.)

It basically makes invisible (the system doesn't inform you of them) clones of files that you have manipulated in some way. That way you always have a backup of something if you 'accidentally' do something.

Theory is that it will clean itself on its own as you require the disk space.

Example..

I install World of Warcraft + expansion + updates for 7 gb, but I only report 4gb free on my 250gb drive.. The 3 gb I "don't have" magically appears because the shadow copies in that 3gb chunk have dissolved.

*Puts on an Asbestos suit*

Ok, now grill me for not giving a 100% accurate tech answer.

[Cider]

That explanation was perfect

[Slimeburger]

Z

Thanx again for your explanation...although I think I am more familiar with Star Wars Clones than VSC ones.....still not sure how I know if I have it turned on though and also how the 'elephant and castle' it managed to gobble up 75% of my hard drive.....but at least I now know how to cure it

Cheers
S