Re: Mysterious file crowding my laptop's hard drive - HELP!!!

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

On Aug 3, 6:58 pm, "Twayne" <nob...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"JazzyJeff" <seal...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:55829275-e4c5-4d5e-901a-733efa58f82e@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

My HP dv6149's hard drive appears to have only 10GB of space
remaining. When I use Disk Size Manager (DSM) to view the contents of
my hard drive, it shows that a file in the 'Install' sub-directory of
'WINDOWS' has a 50GB file in it by the name '[File]'. This file
apparently cannot be deleted, viewed or manipulated any way. It also
doesn't appear when viewing this sub-directory in the Windows
Explorer, neither does the Windows Explorer figure this file into the
total size of everything in this sub-directory. Is this a ghost or a
file generated by a virus or something?

Hmm, interesting.  Before I go further, let me say: Don't discredit the
things Shenan provided for you; go ahead and try them out, as he hasn't
suggested anything harmful in any way that I can see.  I just don't
understand how he is addressing you problem and instead has probably
assumed you have a full disk drive you need to free up some space on.

If my questions seem a little odd, I'm just trying to cover all the
bases:

   Checking my own system, I do not see a folder/directory called
"Install" under C:\Windows\.  There IS a folder called "InstallER"
however.  Did you literally mean "Install" or did you maybe leave off
the "er" at the end?

Are you certain it's in the C:\windows folder and not a different one?

Do you actually mean 50 GigaBytes?  Not MegaBytes?  50 Gig is a
humongous size for a file, and even for a folder, for that matter.  My
largest file in the Installer folder is around 54 Meg. The largest
folder in the entire Windows folder is System32 at 1.93 Gig.

Are you certain it is a "file" and not a "folder"?

When you say you can't see it in win Explorer, have you set it up to
display hidden files, all known file extensions and all hidden system
files?  If not, then that may explain why you aren't able to see it.
   The three settings are located in the View tab of win Explorer's
Tools; Folder Options.  They're spread out in the list, so you have to
look for them.  Setting those three options properly will enable you to
see every folder and file on the disk drive.
   You may want to put them back to their original settings when you're
done.

--  Exactly HOW and with WHAT have you tried to delete the file?

You say only DSM sees this file?  How about after making the settings to
reveal all files in windows Explorer?  Does win Explorer it see the file
now?
   Can you delete it now?
   If you get any error messages, please quote them as exactly as you
can.

My initial feeling is that you have a virus, trojan, worm or some other
sort of malware in general.
   Have you scanned with an anti-virus program?  Are the definitions up
to date? And what is the name of the program?

Have you scanned for spyware and general malware?  With updated
programs?  What programs did you use?
   If you haven't done so, you should now.  The general concensus is
that at least 3 anti spyware programs are necessary to cover all the
bases; no program yet can find everything.

If you have any questions, feel free to post back for answers.  I
haven't included a bunch of links and references because I don't yet
know what you have and don't have so I'm just saving myself a little
typing and research right now<g>.

Go through all the suggestions above and respond back with the results
for each one.  Include any/all relevent information you can think of,
especially error messages and what happened just before and just after
the error message appeared?
   Then we can go forward from there is necessary.

HTH,

Twayne`

Sorry I confused you on the directory names. Well, Norton AntiVirus
doesn't pick this up either when I do a manual scan. I tried booting
up in safe mode as was suggested before but that didn't get me any
more access to this file (and yest it is a file, not a folder) than
what DSM gave me. Heck, at least I got to see where this thing is.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How reduce number items listed start menu
    ... is Explorer the only way, ... If you create a folder in the All Users\Start Menu with the same name as one ... Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP ... application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you have ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: MS Update #KB960859 keeps "installing" over and over + other p
    ...   fine. ... can report that's happening is Windows Explorer has been crashing ... Explorer was shut down to protect the computer. ... and install it. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain)
  • Re: Why are files/folders in pop-up menus now chronological?
    ... In the absence of indicators to the contrary, I currently assume Office 2007 running in Vista (gradually shifting the latter to Windows 7, but it will be a while). ... problem in Explorer, which is working fine. ... > folder ordered by the last date they were touched. ...
    (microsoft.public.office.misc)
  • Re: renaming file
    ... Once you get the correct file path from that dialog, ... You can also use Windows Find or Search ... > You are confusing Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer. ... > When you have it running, select its Tools> Folder Options> View ...
    (microsoft.public.word.newusers)
  • Re: Desktop Explorer poops out.
    ... I've had this problem on several versions of Windows, Win 2000 for sure, ... Each folder opens in a new window, and I drag icons around, etc. ... Problem is, after a while, opening and closing windows and all, Explorer ... Specifies that each folder is opened in a separate part of memory. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)