Hidden Data

[Ron]

I updated my daughters Dell from windows 7 to windows 8 with no problems except for one.Because I was nervous about her loosing some of her data [260gb] I suggested that she transfer it all onto a substantial external disk before i did the update.

 

But when I looked at the system there was still 63gb in use and she maintained that she had deleted all her data. After a while I gave up trying to find where this was hidden and carried out the transfer to windows 8 and there it all is, all 65gb of it.

 

I cannot find it despite using all the usual checks but any advice would be much appreciated.

 

I should say that when I started working with computers the total memory was two floppy disks so i tend to be careful about holding too much data.

[RandyL]

Hi Ron.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean but a few things come to mind.

 

It could be hidden files and folders or protected operating system files. To see these go to Control Panel>Folder Options and select the View tab. Change the settings there.

 

If you're talking about the entire size of your drive contents then it might be a hidden partition with your recovery files or System Restore (Shadow copy) files.

[KenB]

Hi Ron

 

carried out the transfer to windows 8 and there it all is, all 65gb of it.

I don't understand this.

Could you explain in a bit more detail please ?

 

If your daughter has taken off the system all that she needs and is happy that all of her data is backed up then I would suggest that whatever was left was system files etc as Randy indicates.