Missing Memory

[chin85]

My laptops hard drive is 18 gb, recently I had used 5 gb, now it says that ive used 15 gb. However, this can't be true because I havn't installed any new programs, and all of the folders in my hard drive add up to 5gb (which is what they should be). I find it very strange that I only have 3gb left when it should be 4 times that amount.  Does anyone know why this has happened and how it can be fixed? Its nothing simple like temporary internet files or in the recycle bin, and there aren't any hidden files this size.

[hertz]

This is a rather technical problem to do with older BIOSs/motherboards trying to access larger hard drives than were around when the PC was built. There is a rather dusty piece describing the problem here

http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/hard_drives/drive_size_barrier_limitations_3.htm

but the upshot is that your computer only thinks there is around 8GB of disk capacity because that is all it was designed to see as the largest possible hard drive.

The link points you to some software patches by hard drive manufacturers, but I have no idea if they work. You might have to live with it or upgrade your system.

[chin85]

I bought the pc new last year, and it seemed to know that there was more than 8gb for the last 11 months. It shouldn't really cause a problem because I probably won't use all of the 3gb it says I have left, but I would rather have it corrected.

[Gandy]

try running a search for temp files.  I once aquired 20gig of them overnight somehow.  In your search box type *.tmp and then click search

[Gandy]

Also, google for a free program called disktective.  That'll show you where the culprit files are.  The only problem (annoyance) is that you have to shut disktective down before you can delete them.  You''ll get "files in use" errors otherwise.

[Ralph]

System Restore tends to use a lot of space. You can get the space back by turning it off, then turning it back on again.