What is eating up all my Disk Space?

[Phillbo]

I got a new computer recently and have loaded about 25GB of music and only about 50 pics to it but when I looked at my disk space today it shows the following:

931 GB Total
721 GB Used
210 GB Free


How can I possibly be using 721 GB and how do I find out what is using that much ? I looked at the programs listed in the control panel and there are none that are hogs ...

I'm cornfused by the lack of free space and have another couple hundred GB of tunes I want to load up.


I'm a mental midget around computers so be gentle

[Allan]

System Restore, Recycle Bin, Temporary Internet Files, hiberfil.sys (if you have hibernation enabled), 12% of the hd is reserved for the mft. Typically, system restore is a major culprit. You can use Treesize Personal to check everything (http://www.jam-software.com/treesize_personal/)

[Phillbo]

Is it normal for drive with a terabyte to have more than 700 gigs used for system restore ? I've been to less than a dozen websites and have not loaded much stuff to it yet..

[Allan]

No, it isn't. Sorry - I really didn't look at the numbers - this type of thread is not unusual. It could also be Malware. Download and run treesize and see what you find.

[Phillbo]

Thanks Allen.

I found a folder called "BurnIn Test test files" that is 493GB ... How do i find out if i can delete it without doing harm ?


FYI.. I had to return the PC to the factory for a new power supply last month, I believe this file was created during that repair.

[Allan]

I'm guessing it's just what it sounds like and the geniuses who fixed your computer forgot to delete it. Do you use a disk imaging utility? If not, download one and create a backup. Then just rename that folder (for example, put an "x' in front of the name) and reboot. If everything works fine you can delete the folder.

Truthfully I'm just being overly cautious because it's your system and not mine. I'm fairly certain that folder isn't needed, but just to be safe.......

[patio]

That is an image file of everything on your machine...do you not have familiarity with the passmark software and what it does ? ?

[Allan]

That is an image file of everything on your machine...do you not have familiarity with the passmark software and what it does ? ?

I don't know if you're asking the OP or me, but I certainly did not. I do now, however

[patio]

OP.

[Allan]

Ah.

[Phillbo]

as stated before the OP is a computer moron  but it sounds like a stress test was performed on the system and the file was not deleted.

It's a ZT systems PC and i sent them an email to see if i can delete it.

[Phillbo]

That is an image file of everything on your machine...do you not have familiarity with the passmark software and what it does ? ?

Do you know if it can be deleted ?

[Allan]

You've got it right, it can be deleted. But as I said earlier, any time there is a file or folder you want to delete but you aren't sure if it's okay to do so, just rename it and reboot. If there's a problem, name it back. If not, delete it.

But you really should be using imaging software - EVERYONE should.

[Phillbo]

I have no clue what imaging software does. iTunes confuses me

Thanks for the help. I'll wait a couple days to see what ZT says and then rename/reboot as you suggested.

What sites are safe to download imaging software from?

[Allan]

I use Acronis True Image which I feel is the best, but it isn't cheap. Paragon & Macrium are two excellent free choices -- http://lifehacker.com/5303067/five-best-free-system-restore-tools