Hard disk size reported in My Computer

[TP60]

I have been using Macs for most of the past several years, but now am back using a Thinkpad X60. I'm sure there is a simple explanation for the listing of hard disk size.

The 60GB hard disk is reporting a total size of 34GB instead of something closer to 55GB. Can there be something like a hidden partition, aside from the protected portion of the drive? Where are those 20GB or so?

[JHEM]

Are you absolutely positive that you have a 60GB HD?

What you're seeing is almost exactly what a 40GB HD would report after subtracting the overhead and the recovery partition.

Another consideration is how many times have you run rescue and recovery?

Regards,

James

[TP60]

James,

Yes, it's a 60GB HDD. I am using a little under 14GB for programs and documents. I even have gone into device manager to make sure no gremlins came in and replaced it!

The drive properties show it has 57.224 GB capacity, but the volumes as simply IBM_PRELOAD as 34.891 GB and the IBM_SERVICE as 4.731 GB.

I have backed up the system to an external hard drive for resource and recovery and not to the hard drive itself.

Elliot

[quote="JHEM"]Are you absolutely [u]positive[/u] that you have a 60GB HD?

What you're seeing is almost exactly what a 40GB HD would report after subtracting the overhead and the recovery partition.

Another consideration is how many times have you run rescue and recovery?

Regards,

James[/quote]

[duffy]

Going by the information you provided everything sounds about right. The formatted drive will have about 54-55 GB minus 5 GB for the recovery partition minus 14 GB of your data equals about 34 GB.

[TP60]

The disk reads 34 GB total size and 20.4 GB as free space (meaning there is about 13.6 GB being used by programs and documents). If I go to Format the C: drive, it shows a 34 GB hard drive available to format.

[rebop]

Another consideration is how many times have you run rescue and recovery?

I had thought that R&R replaces the previous saved recovery. Is that not true?

If they are all saved, how does one remove all but the most current?

Thanks...

[duffy]

The machine ships with an initial recovery image that is hidden. When you initiate a backup the image is stored on a visible partition or other backup medium. You can make a set of backup DVDs then delete the initial recovery image. Keep in mind that you won't have a baseline image to boot from unless you have a DVD drive and the backup DVDs handy. Though you will be able to restore from any backups you made.

[rebop]

Thanks for that, but can you calrify a bit?

If I have made a new R&R after installing all my software, do I need to keep the original hidden file or can I reclaim that disk space? If so, how?

Where is the new visible file located?

And if I do another R&R, does it replace the previous "new" one if I select the same name?

If it matters, the one I created after software install is named "Base". So did that replace the original hidden one?

Appreciate your insight. Would love to have one on the disk, but not more than needed to maximize available HD space.

Bob

[trentblase]

The drive properties show it has 57.224 GB capacity, but the volumes as simply IBM_PRELOAD as 34.891 GB and the IBM_SERVICE as 4.731 GB.

It sounds like maybe there's unpartitioned space... (which doesn't seem to be a good way for it to come from the factory, but it's possible they ran the wrong setup software I guess). Load some partitioning software and see if it shows unpartitioned space. If so, you could potentially reclaim it.

[TP60]

Yes, that was it! I used Partition Manager, found the free space, and was able to make it an active partition that reclaimed the missing 17GB. I cannot seem to merge the two active partitions because the IBM_Service is in between and I assume cannot be moved on the disk. But that's fine anyway, since I can use the space ultimately. Thanks!