How to scan a hard drive for unknown garbage?

Question

Iron

Good day!

Restored from a factory backup Windows (7x64) on Sony Vaio. I go into my computer, and the summary shows me that 60 (!!!) gigs are occupied. I go to the disk, select everything, measure it - it shows 20 (hidden files are taken into account).
Definitely something is not right, and a bit too much in both cases.

Sobsno question: how to scan the screw for debris? Or are there other options?

Answer 1

On Windows, there are directories that, by default, cannot be accessed even by an elevated admin. In particular, this is System Volume Information, in which restore points are stored and which, thus, can take up incredible volumes. Since it is impossible to enter it, it does not participate in the size calculation either, hence the difference in the calculated and actual sizes. You can set yourself permissions to access this directory and then see how much it takes.

Answer 2

1. A standard utility for checking disks.
2. If there are a large number of small files on the disk, then these may be losses on the unused volume of clusters.

Answer 3

www.jam-software.com/freeware/

Answer 4

scanner

Answer 5

To identify potential garbage, WinDirStat (nee SequoiaView) has not yet seen anything better.

Answer 6

1. Disk Cleanup. Found 300KB
2. Windows is clean (theoretically). Philo can't have so many

Answer 7

Most likely, "system restore" gave birth to a bunch of pictures. Try turning it off. or reduce the quota for it

Answer 8

By the way, in Windows 7 there is a hard link, for example, Documents and Settings in Users. If you check the place, then they are both considered, although only one folder occupies the place.
Z.Y. Total Commander counts well the place (which the folder occupies) when pressing the key combination Ctrl + L (only it does not take into account those folders that are not accessible)

Answer 9

sequoia view of the future. You just need to turn on the coloring in the options for convenience.

Answer 10

boot from the LiveCD with admin rights and empty the recycle bin, System Volume Information, etc.

Answer 11

Do not forget that on the Sony Vaio, the manufacturer partitions the hard disk in such a way that it has a “recovery disk” - there is a copy of licensed Windows and the stupid Sony software that comes with Windows.
This was done in order to be able to return the laptop to the "factory" state without a Windows disk. And most likely this section is hidden or something like that.
Once a happy owner of Sony Vaio contacted me with the goal of reinstalling Windows - and so there was just such a topic. Moreover, if you interfere in this section, then the vaika flies from the guarantee.
Here is such a business shmiznes.