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WinDirStat shows 244GB unknown space on external drive

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19

I recently noticed that one of my external hard drive seems to be missing a lot of space. It was recommended that I try WinDirStat, as it could help identify how much space each file was taking up. This is the result:

As you can see, there is about 244.7GB "unknown" usage.

Doing a bit of research online, the most common suggestion was (a) Recycle Bin and (b) System Volume Information.

(a) As you can see, empty. To double check, I ran Disk Cleanup. It confirmed that it was empty. (Note that a new file appeared by the time I took this screenshot, but it's only 129 Bytes.)

(b) Harder to tell. However, according to various forums, the most common reason for System Volume Information to grow large is due to System Restore Files. I had a look, and it is definitely turned off for this drive, as seen here:

What else could be causing this issue? It is an enormous amount of storage to have gone missing!

hard-drive windows-10 windirstat

share|improve this question

edited Aug 30 '15 at 10:18

DavidPostill♦

108k27235271

asked Aug 30 '15 at 9:15

BSnapZBSnapZ

98118

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  "System Restore Files. I had a look, and it is definitely turned off for this drive" - was it ever turned on in the past?
  
  – DavidPostill♦
  Aug 30 '15 at 10:23
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Did your run windirstat as administrator?
  
  – DavidPostill♦
  Aug 30 '15 at 10:28
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @DavidPostill This is the first time I've checked system protection settings since buying the drive earlier this year, so I'd say that it has never been turned on. And yes, this was run as administrator.
  
  – BSnapZ
  Aug 30 '15 at 10:53
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Did you upgrade to Windows 10 from a previous version of Windows? Perhaps there were files on the drive from the old version that now have the wrong owner/permissions and cannot be read by WinDirStat.
  
  – DavidPostill♦
  Aug 30 '15 at 10:55
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I prefer TreeSizeFree over WinDirStat . Run TreeSizeFree as admin to see more.
  
  – magicandre1981
  Aug 30 '15 at 18:22
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 4 more comments

19

I recently noticed that one of my external hard drive seems to be missing a lot of space. It was recommended that I try WinDirStat, as it could help identify how much space each file was taking up. This is the result:

As you can see, there is about 244.7GB "unknown" usage.

Doing a bit of research online, the most common suggestion was (a) Recycle Bin and (b) System Volume Information.

(a) As you can see, empty. To double check, I ran Disk Cleanup. It confirmed that it was empty. (Note that a new file appeared by the time I took this screenshot, but it's only 129 Bytes.)

(b) Harder to tell. However, according to various forums, the most common reason for System Volume Information to grow large is due to System Restore Files. I had a look, and it is definitely turned off for this drive, as seen here:

What else could be causing this issue? It is an enormous amount of storage to have gone missing!

hard-drive windows-10 windirstat

share|improve this question

edited Aug 30 '15 at 10:18

DavidPostill♦

108k27235271

asked Aug 30 '15 at 9:15

BSnapZBSnapZ

98118

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  "System Restore Files. I had a look, and it is definitely turned off for this drive" - was it ever turned on in the past?
  
  – DavidPostill♦
  Aug 30 '15 at 10:23
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Did your run windirstat as administrator?
  
  – DavidPostill♦
  Aug 30 '15 at 10:28
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @DavidPostill This is the first time I've checked system protection settings since buying the drive earlier this year, so I'd say that it has never been turned on. And yes, this was run as administrator.
  
  – BSnapZ
  Aug 30 '15 at 10:53
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Did you upgrade to Windows 10 from a previous version of Windows? Perhaps there were files on the drive from the old version that now have the wrong owner/permissions and cannot be read by WinDirStat.
  
  – DavidPostill♦
  Aug 30 '15 at 10:55
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I prefer TreeSizeFree over WinDirStat . Run TreeSizeFree as admin to see more.
  
  – magicandre1981
  Aug 30 '15 at 18:22
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 4 more comments

I recently noticed that one of my external hard drive seems to be missing a lot of space. It was recommended that I try WinDirStat, as it could help identify how much space each file was taking up. This is the result:

As you can see, there is about 244.7GB "unknown" usage.

Doing a bit of research online, the most common suggestion was (a) Recycle Bin and (b) System Volume Information.

(a) As you can see, empty. To double check, I ran Disk Cleanup. It confirmed that it was empty. (Note that a new file appeared by the time I took this screenshot, but it's only 129 Bytes.)

(b) Harder to tell. However, according to various forums, the most common reason for System Volume Information to grow large is due to System Restore Files. I had a look, and it is definitely turned off for this drive, as seen here:

What else could be causing this issue? It is an enormous amount of storage to have gone missing!

hard-drive windows-10 windirstat

share|improve this question

edited Aug 30 '15 at 10:18

DavidPostill♦

108k27235271

asked Aug 30 '15 at 9:15

BSnapZBSnapZ

98118

share|improve this question

edited Aug 30 '15 at 10:18

DavidPostill♦

108k27235271

asked Aug 30 '15 at 9:15

BSnapZBSnapZ

98118

share|improve this question

edited Aug 30 '15 at 10:18

DavidPostill♦

108k27235271

asked Aug 30 '15 at 9:15

BSnapZBSnapZ

98118

edited Aug 30 '15 at 10:18

DavidPostill♦

108k27235271

edited Aug 30 '15 at 10:18

DavidPostill♦

108k27235271

asked Aug 30 '15 at 9:15

BSnapZBSnapZ

98118

asked Aug 30 '15 at 9:15

BSnapZBSnapZ

98118

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

11

Instead of windirstat you should use TreeSizeFree.

Run it as admin, so that TreeSizeFree shows all hidden/system files.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 31 '15 at 15:30

magicandre1981magicandre1981

82.4k20127205

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks. In my case, it showed that the <unknown> space of 40 GB was the virtual drive used for Docker (C:UsersPublicDocumentsHyper-VVirtual hard disksMobyLinuxVM.vhdx).
  
  – Michaël Polla
  Nov 5 '17 at 14:54
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I also have the MobyLinuxVM.vhdx which is about 2gb. And I have a similar situation, but how can I confirm that it's docker related? superuser.com/questions/1371209/sd-card-has-26gb-large-file where did you find that? Since both windirstat and treesize do not show a name or anything even when I run it as admin.
  
  – JP Hellemons
  Oct 31 '18 at 10:30
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

Running Windirstat as Administrator will reveal most of this. In some cases it can be system protection files, corrupt files, old installers, or in my case, the Recycle Bin.

Per the Windirstat Propaganda Blog,

https://blog.windirstat.net/20061013/unknown-space/

This mysterious item is just the difference between what Windows
reports as the free space on the volume minus size of the files WDS
can access. Please note the part WDS can access! This is the important
point here. WDS cannot access the files under System Volume
Information on all the (NTFS?) drives, so it cannot sum up the sizes
of these items. And by the way, we have had reports of up to 30 GB of
“” space.

The root of the problem is permissions, apparently.

share|improve this answer

edited Jun 29 '18 at 15:33

answered Apr 5 '18 at 0:57

J E Carter IIJ E Carter II

1665

add a comment | 

1

In my case it's the Windows search file, Windows.edb, in:
ProgramDataMicrosoftSearchDataApplicationsWindows.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Lll FffLll Fff

111

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Lll Fff is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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  Can you please elaborate a bit more for what the file is and how much it takes up for other future answer seekers?
  
  – Eric F
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11

Instead of windirstat you should use TreeSizeFree.

Run it as admin, so that TreeSizeFree shows all hidden/system files.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 31 '15 at 15:30

magicandre1981magicandre1981

82.4k20127205

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks. In my case, it showed that the <unknown> space of 40 GB was the virtual drive used for Docker (C:UsersPublicDocumentsHyper-VVirtual hard disksMobyLinuxVM.vhdx).
  
  – Michaël Polla
  Nov 5 '17 at 14:54
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I also have the MobyLinuxVM.vhdx which is about 2gb. And I have a similar situation, but how can I confirm that it's docker related? superuser.com/questions/1371209/sd-card-has-26gb-large-file where did you find that? Since both windirstat and treesize do not show a name or anything even when I run it as admin.
  
  – JP Hellemons
  Oct 31 '18 at 10:30
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

11

Instead of windirstat you should use TreeSizeFree.

Run it as admin, so that TreeSizeFree shows all hidden/system files.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 31 '15 at 15:30

magicandre1981magicandre1981

82.4k20127205

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks. In my case, it showed that the <unknown> space of 40 GB was the virtual drive used for Docker (C:UsersPublicDocumentsHyper-VVirtual hard disksMobyLinuxVM.vhdx).
  
  – Michaël Polla
  Nov 5 '17 at 14:54
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I also have the MobyLinuxVM.vhdx which is about 2gb. And I have a similar situation, but how can I confirm that it's docker related? superuser.com/questions/1371209/sd-card-has-26gb-large-file where did you find that? Since both windirstat and treesize do not show a name or anything even when I run it as admin.
  
  – JP Hellemons
  Oct 31 '18 at 10:30
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Instead of windirstat you should use TreeSizeFree.

Run it as admin, so that TreeSizeFree shows all hidden/system files.

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 31 '15 at 15:30

magicandre1981magicandre1981

82.4k20127205

share|improve this answer

answered Aug 31 '15 at 15:30

magicandre1981magicandre1981

82.4k20127205

answered Aug 31 '15 at 15:30

magicandre1981magicandre1981

82.4k20127205

answered Aug 31 '15 at 15:30

magicandre1981magicandre1981

82.4k20127205

2

Running Windirstat as Administrator will reveal most of this. In some cases it can be system protection files, corrupt files, old installers, or in my case, the Recycle Bin.

Per the Windirstat Propaganda Blog,

https://blog.windirstat.net/20061013/unknown-space/

This mysterious item is just the difference between what Windows
reports as the free space on the volume minus size of the files WDS
can access. Please note the part WDS can access! This is the important
point here. WDS cannot access the files under System Volume
Information on all the (NTFS?) drives, so it cannot sum up the sizes
of these items. And by the way, we have had reports of up to 30 GB of
“” space.

The root of the problem is permissions, apparently.

share|improve this answer

edited Jun 29 '18 at 15:33

answered Apr 5 '18 at 0:57

J E Carter IIJ E Carter II

1665

add a comment | 

2

Running Windirstat as Administrator will reveal most of this. In some cases it can be system protection files, corrupt files, old installers, or in my case, the Recycle Bin.

Per the Windirstat Propaganda Blog,

https://blog.windirstat.net/20061013/unknown-space/

This mysterious item is just the difference between what Windows
reports as the free space on the volume minus size of the files WDS
can access. Please note the part WDS can access! This is the important
point here. WDS cannot access the files under System Volume
Information on all the (NTFS?) drives, so it cannot sum up the sizes
of these items. And by the way, we have had reports of up to 30 GB of
“” space.

The root of the problem is permissions, apparently.

share|improve this answer

edited Jun 29 '18 at 15:33

answered Apr 5 '18 at 0:57

J E Carter IIJ E Carter II

1665

add a comment | 

Running Windirstat as Administrator will reveal most of this. In some cases it can be system protection files, corrupt files, old installers, or in my case, the Recycle Bin.

Per the Windirstat Propaganda Blog,

https://blog.windirstat.net/20061013/unknown-space/

This mysterious item is just the difference between what Windows
reports as the free space on the volume minus size of the files WDS
can access. Please note the part WDS can access! This is the important
point here. WDS cannot access the files under System Volume
Information on all the (NTFS?) drives, so it cannot sum up the sizes
of these items. And by the way, we have had reports of up to 30 GB of
“” space.

The root of the problem is permissions, apparently.

share|improve this answer

edited Jun 29 '18 at 15:33

answered Apr 5 '18 at 0:57

J E Carter IIJ E Carter II

1665

share|improve this answer

edited Jun 29 '18 at 15:33

answered Apr 5 '18 at 0:57

J E Carter IIJ E Carter II

1665

answered Apr 5 '18 at 0:57

J E Carter IIJ E Carter II

1665

answered Apr 5 '18 at 0:57

J E Carter IIJ E Carter II

1665

1

In my case it's the Windows search file, Windows.edb, in:
ProgramDataMicrosoftSearchDataApplicationsWindows.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Lll FffLll Fff

111

New contributor

Lll Fff is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Can you please elaborate a bit more for what the file is and how much it takes up for other future answer seekers?
  
  – Eric F
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

In my case it's the Windows search file, Windows.edb, in:
ProgramDataMicrosoftSearchDataApplicationsWindows.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Lll FffLll Fff

111

New contributor

Lll Fff is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Can you please elaborate a bit more for what the file is and how much it takes up for other future answer seekers?
  
  – Eric F
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

In my case it's the Windows search file, Windows.edb, in:
ProgramDataMicrosoftSearchDataApplicationsWindows.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Lll FffLll Fff

111

New contributor

Lll Fff is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Lll FffLll Fff

111

New contributor

Lll Fff is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

Lll FffLll Fff

111

New contributor

Lll Fff is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

Lll FffLll Fff

111