What the hell, computer

[effervescible]

Okay. I only have one drive on my computer, the C drive. When I open the My Computer window, it says I have 12 gigs of space free out of 149 on the drive. But when I go into C, select EVERYTHING and look at properties, it says the whole thing is only 50 gigs full. Yeah, I have some stuff on the desktop, but not THAT much. WTF? I need to clear 15 to install this WoW upgrade and I'm not sure what the hell else I can get rid of without clearing out all my mp3s. Which isn't going to happen.

Help?

Comments

[spicedrum.livejournal.com]

Have you cleared your TEMP folder? And the cache on your web browser?

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just did a disk cleanup. And I don't think I'd have tons upon tons of gigs in temp anyway :/

[spicedrum.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know there's no way that's all in the temp folder, but usually that helps a little bit.

Where's Mr. McG when you need him?

[jmcgarry.livejournal.com]

I think [Unknown site tag] might have some file corruption. Or a rootkit. I would start with something like Advanced System Care: http://download.cnet.com/Advanced-SystemCare-Free/3000-2086_4-10407614.html and see that it finds. Alternatively I could try and take over your computer remotely and see what I can see.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I'll try that when I get home. I definitely trust you to remotely poke at it if it comes to that, but I'd make sure to tidy up my desktop first. Like cleaning when guests come over.

[jmcgarry.livejournal.com]

Sure. I use a tool to connect it's pretty simple.

[vehrec.livejournal.com]

Sounds like your computer has secret hidden files or something. My brother has the same problem.

You might want to try purging your Temporary Internet Files, if you can find them. The aggregate of all the pictures one looks at on the internet can swell to an unwieldy size quite rapidly. On the other hand, your browser will be so squeaky clean afterward you might not recognize it as yours.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

I did Vista's disk cleanup thing, which includes the temp files. A couple of times, actually. Heh.

[spicedrum.livejournal.com]

Following from above, can you change the settings so you can see hidden files? Then you can see what's taking up all the room, maybe.

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Any idea how to do that? XD

[spicedrum.livejournal.com]

My sister is on my computer that has Vista, so I have no idea.

Do you have the classic view with the normal menu items at the top of a window?

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can view it classic or AWESOME NEW STYLE. I generally stick with classic.

[kasuchi]

In Vista SHINY style:

1. In the top left corner, click on "Organize"
2. Below "Layout" is "Folder and Search Options". Click it.
3. At the top of the window, click the "View" tab.
4. Scroll down. Click the radio butting beside "Show hidden files and folders".
5. Click "OK".
6. Hit F5 (Refresh) as needed.

Ta-daa....

[vehrec.livejournal.com]

Well, that's the extent of my knowledge of what to do in this situation. Maybe we should refer back to the XKCD flowchart on this...

[spicedrum.livejournal.com]

LOL

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Heeeee!

[reopened-wound.livejournal.com]

The same thing has happened to me, and many of my friends. If system restore doesn't help, then there is a hidden file that is corrupted and is sucking in all your other files memory to claim it as "space". It's sort of like a virus, but not really since it's a file you had, but just became corrupted by some means.

The only way we got ours fixed was to get ti serviced =/ Hope that helps.

[erstwhiletexan.livejournal.com]

Hey, this is erstwhiletexan from sandboxfiction! Sorry for invading your personal journal this way, but since you missed last month, I just wanted to let you know that this month's story is due next Monday, 21 September (and this time it counts!). This month's theme is "deus ex machina".

I look forward to seeing your story! :D

Sk x

[jaina.livejournal.com]

Blargh. I was hoping this month would be different, but I don't think I'm in the right headspace/time-management space for the community right now. I'm really sorry about that--I joined on something of a whim when dialogue invited me, and I should've thought more about whether I'd honestly be able to participate. Later that might be a yes, but I don't want to be a burden on the comm so for now I think I should probably withdraw.

...and randomly, that icon is cool and kind of creepy at the same time.

[erstwhiletexan.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's fine and thank for letting me know! I'll take you out of the prompt order, but please feel free to keep watching the community and leaving any feedback you have! I hope things are well with you and you can rejoin us in the future!

Sk x