Hidden files worth 140GB

macfanuk · 18 May 2011 at 22:38

I've got a 1TB Samsung F3 that I have been using as a backup drive but decided to copy everything across to a smaller drive. The drive also at one point was used for the 'users' folders on a Windows 7 machine. I put the drive in my current pc and cut and pasted everything from the drive to the smaller one, however, I didn't have the right permissions for this 'users' folder.

Anyway, it proceeded to move everything but now, the drive is seamingly empty but in My computer, it shows that 141GB is used. I have selected the option to show hidden and system files but it still shows nothing.

Anyone got any ideas how I can access the data on it?

rpstewart · 19 May 2011 at 08:42

If there's nothing in My Computer when Show Hidden Files is on then there's nothing accessible on there. It's likely that the space is being taken up by old System Restore points in the System Volume Information folder.

philjohn · 19 May 2011 at 09:40

Another tip, instead of using copy/paste use robocopy and a user who has backup rights - this will ensure everything gets copied over.

Alasdairhurst · 19 May 2011 at 09:54

use winrar - that can usually see hidden system files which aren't accessible in my computer.

macfanuk · 19 May 2011 at 21:57

Thanks, will give it a try. I'm just worried it might've been some files locked in the 'Users' folder that I've now lost

Baldrick1001 · 20 May 2011 at 21:56

Try spacesniffer , a good programme for working out where your capacity has gone

postmanfw · 20 May 2011 at 21:58

Try windirstat