Awhile back I did a clean install of XP on my Dell Dimension 4550, changing from 
Home to Professional.  Despite the annoying but inevitable need to hunt down and 
install a few drivers, the change has had the results I wanted – with one exception 
(which I assume, only, is related).  Since the change, I’ve “lost” a great deal of 
space on the main hard-drive. The data: hd partition capacity = 45gb; installed programs 
+ stored data + pagefile  = approx 16gb; “free space” = 7.2gb.  I'd have expected 
that last number to be somewhere int 20-25 mb range at least. So I’m wondering, of 
course, why the other 20gb or so doesn’t show up in any disk-analysis I do on the 
drive (I’ve used several program; all indicate the data I just presented).  I know 
that the computer thinks I only have the 7.2 available because when I tried to download 
a file bigger than that I got a “running out of hard-drive space” msg.  Mystifying. 
 Here’s a bit of info that might help Those Who Understand These Things:  I had two 
partitions with my previous [XP Home] installation, one small and the other large. 
 When I reinstalled XP, I only wrote to the large partition [both were identified 
as available.], putting the OS on it once it was re-formatted.  The material on the 
smaller partition was intact after the re-install. The computer, now with XP Professional, 
runs fine.  But that 20mb of drive space isn’t being recognized.  Any ideas? Any 
solutions?  Thanks.

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These kinds of problems are very difficult to troubleshoot when you can't see the computer. The space has not been lost, that just doesn't happen. Usually in this situation the user thinks he has done a clean install, but has actually done a parallel installation, although you seem very certain that you formatted. You need to examine what is stored on the disk, and that requires direct access to the computer. It would be helpful if you used a more informative file manager than Explorer. I personally prefer PowerDesk, it's a lot easier to see what's on your drive. PD 5 is free, but PD 6 is a bargain at whatever it is that it costs.


On Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 2:52 pm, John Dinan wrote:
>Awhile back I did a clean install of XP on my Dell Dimension 4550, changing from
>Home to Professional. Despite the annoying but inevitable need to hunt down and
>install a few drivers, the change has had the results I wanted – with one exception
>(which I assume, only, is related). Since the change, I’ve “lost” a great deal of
>space on the main hard-drive. The data: hd partition capacity = 45gb; installed programs
>+ stored data + pagefile = approx 16gb; “free space” = 7.2gb. I'd have expected
>that last number to be somewhere int 20-25 mb range at least. So I’m wondering, of
>course, why the other 20gb or so doesn’t show up in any disk-analysis I do on the
>drive (I’ve used several program; all indicate the data I just presented). I know
>that the computer thinks I only have the 7.2 available because when I tried to download
>a file bigger than that I got a “running out of hard-drive space” msg. Mystifying.
> Here’s a bit of info that might help Those Who Understand These Things: I had two
>partitions with my previous [XP Home] installation, one small and the other large.
> When I reinstalled XP, I only wrote to the large partition [both were identified
>as available.], putting the OS on it once it was re-formatted. The material on the
>smaller partition was intact after the re-install. The computer, now with XP Professional,
>runs fine. But that 20mb of drive space isn’t being recognized. Any ideas? Any
>solutions? Thanks.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I just noticed that PD 6 is only $10 since they have released PD7. That's a real bargain.


On Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 2:52 pm, John Dinan wrote:
>Awhile back I did a clean install of XP on my Dell Dimension 4550, changing from
>Home to Professional. Despite the annoying but inevitable need to hunt down and
>install a few drivers, the change has had the results I wanted – with one exception
>(which I assume, only, is related). Since the change, I’ve “lost” a great deal of
>space on the main hard-drive. The data: hd partition capacity = 45gb; installed programs
>+ stored data + pagefile = approx 16gb; “free space” = 7.2gb. I'd have expected
>that last number to be somewhere int 20-25 mb range at least. So I’m wondering, of
>course, why the other 20gb or so doesn’t show up in any disk-analysis I do on the
>drive (I’ve used several program; all indicate the data I just presented). I know
>that the computer thinks I only have the 7.2 available because when I tried to download
>a file bigger than that I got a “running out of hard-drive space” msg. Mystifying.
> Here’s a bit of info that might help Those Who Understand These Things: I had two
>partitions with my previous [XP Home] installation, one small and the other large.
> When I reinstalled XP, I only wrote to the large partition [both were identified
>as available.], putting the OS on it once it was re-formatted. The material on the
>smaller partition was intact after the re-install. The computer, now with XP Professional,
>runs fine. But that 20mb of drive space isn’t being recognized. Any ideas? Any
>solutions? Thanks.

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