I'm working on a computer that has a Western Digital Caviar SE 7200RPM 160gb
HDD. It has two partitions of roughly equal size. The A partition is NTFS
and where all the files are, Windows XP, apps, etc. The B partition is
FAT32 and shows nothing on it, even with all hidden folders set to view. It
looks blank in Windows Explorer. However, the properties show 4.5gb used,
with 68.5gb free.

Is this simply and "XP thing?" Is it showing 4.5gb used as a result of how
XP reads larger hard drives or FAT32? Or is there actually 4.5gb worth of
data on that partition that's not showing up?

thank you for any input.

jm

JM

To investigate how you are using hard disk space you need to make sure that
you can see all files. Go to Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View,
Advanced Settings and verify that the box before "Show hidden files and
folders" is checked and "Hide protected operating system files " is
unchecked. You may need to scroll down to see the second item. You should
also make certain that the box before "Hide extensions for known file types"
is not checked. Next in Windows Explorer make sure View, Details is selected
and then select View, Choose Details and check before Name, Type, Total
Size, and Free Space.

You still will not see the System Volume Information folder.
How to Gain Access to the System Volume Information Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;309531

Do you have System Restore set to monitor all partitions as it should only
be monitoring your A partition i.e. the partition where the Windows
operating system is located. Right click on the My Computer icon on your
Desktop and select Properties and System Restore. For each of the other
partitions ( other than A ) click on the partition and then Settings and
drag the
slider as far as you can to the left , click on Turn Off System Restore on
this
Drive and then OK. Repeat the process for each partition.

You may also have other default allocations reserving space e.g. Recycle
Bin,
Temporary Internet Files.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



"JM" <jm@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:TLUsf.91771$lh.26220@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com.. .
> I'm working on a computer that has a Western Digital Caviar SE 7200RPM
> 160gb HDD. It has two partitions of roughly equal size. The A partition
> is NTFS and where all the files are, Windows XP, apps, etc. The B
> partition is FAT32 and shows nothing on it, even with all hidden folders
> set to view. It looks blank in Windows Explorer. However, the properties
> show 4.5gb used, with 68.5gb free.
>
> Is this simply and "XP thing?" Is it showing 4.5gb used as a result of
> how XP reads larger hard drives or FAT32? Or is there actually 4.5gb
> worth of data on that partition that's not showing up?
>
> thank you for any input.
>
> jm
>
>
>
>
>
>

The B partition is probably setup as hidden, containing the XP installation
startup files.
If you intend to create other partitions, you will need a 3rd party
partition manager such as Partition Magic or BootIt NG to change partitions
on the fly without losing programs already installed.

Jerry

--

A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...
but a true friend will be sitting beside you saying,
"Damn... that was fun!"


"JM" <jm@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:TLUsf.91771$lh.26220@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com.. .
> I'm working on a computer that has a Western Digital Caviar SE 7200RPM
> 160gb HDD. It has two partitions of roughly equal size. The A partition
> is NTFS and where all the files are, Windows XP, apps, etc. The B
> partition is FAT32 and shows nothing on it, even with all hidden folders
> set to view. It looks blank in Windows Explorer. However, the properties
> show 4.5gb used, with 68.5gb free.
>
> Is this simply and "XP thing?" Is it showing 4.5gb used as a result of
> how XP reads larger hard drives or FAT32? Or is there actually 4.5gb
> worth of data on that partition that's not showing up?
>
> thank you for any input.
>
> jm
>
>
>
>
>
>