i have a 40gb hard drive with xp pro installed. i realized that i'm running low on space left on my hard drive, so i checked the C: drive's properties to see that i have 2.1gb free. when i open up C: and highlight everything and open up it's properties, it only accounts for 28gb...so that means that i'm missing a good 6gb [about]. i don't have auto-updates on, nor hibernation, nor system restore, nor the recycle bin...WHERE HAS MY 6GB GONE TO? if anyone knows, i will greatly appreciate a reply -- Matt

Presumably have checked for/deleted the obvious items; deleted temp files;internet-temp-files/cache; also defragged the drive? Also what is the drive's capacity if you view it via the '98 bootdisk Fdisk util? I'm wondering a little if you're running into the "maths" for actual overall hard-drive size and that actual space left is closer to truth than you think?

Matthew, Firstly, a 40Gb drive is actually only 38.1Gb in reall PC terms so there is "2.9Gb" gone already. The other Gb's are from hidden files of which there are many. manufacturers use the 1000 = Kb which is untrue for PC math. The real Kb = 1024. It follows that 40Gb from the manufacturer is 1000x1000x1000x40 = 40GB (GB = normal math) The PC math would be (for a TRUE 40Gb drive):- 1024x1024x1024x40 = 42.9Gb (Gb = PC math) However, you don't have that, you have 2.9Gb LESS hence 38.1Gb. Clear as mud huh...;o) Safe Computing...;o)

yes, i am aware of any cached files/temp files... and also, "technically", i have a 37.2Gb hard drive...that would account for what you said...okay...so lets take it at 37.2 instead of 40...i am [including the hidden files] missing 5.9Gb. here's my math..let me know if it's flawed.::: the properties of my hard drive say i'm using 35.8Gb when in reality i'm only using 29.9Gb [i got 29.9 by highlighting everything in my C: drive and selecting properties]. 35.8-29.9 = 5.9 missing Gbs is this just some qwerky windows thing?

Matt, Although I have a partitioned drive, the "C" partition obviously has XP on it. My partition is 10.39Gb. Using your method, the files add up to 4.18Gb. My free space is 2.58Gb. Total = 6.76Gb. Hmm.. 10.39-6.76 = 3.63Gb!! This is XP's HIDDEN stuff on that partition!! All my other partitions are almost exactly correct between the partition size = Used+free. Like I said, XP has ALOT of hidden stuff!! Safe Computing...;o)

Matt, If I use the FOLDER options and select SHOW HIDDEN Folders and file, then the math is correct. Is that what you are doing too? Safe Computing...;o)

Go get Sequoiaview from http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview/Main_Frame/Info.html and get a mosaic picture of your HD and literally "see" where your space is.