Question:

I’m at my wit’s end trying to locate files on an SSD that seem to be concealed. The SSD has 152GB of data used out of its 240GB capacity, but disk analysis tools like WINDIRSTAT only account for 67.4GB. This includes 25.9GB for the Windows folder, 16.3GB for Users, 11.9GB for Tenorshare, 7.9GB for Programs, and miscellaneous small files, totaling approximately 16GB. This calculation leaves about 80GB unaccounted for.

I’ve verified the disk formatting through Disk Utility, explored Linux and Hirens boot options, and found nothing. Further investigation revealed that the ‘C:\Users\Owner\Pictures’ directory is missing, leading me to suspect the missing 80GB might be there. Is there a method to restore this directory, or must I reconcile with the potential loss of these files?

Do you have any advice on this matter?

The system in question is an older Toshiba Satellite model with an SSD upgrade. It’s equipped with a Pentium processor and 8GB of DDR3 memory. Currently, there’s a Windows issue preventing access to the start menu, but the ‘Win + R’ command is functional.”

Answer:

When it comes to managing and maintaining computer storage, encountering discrepancies in data accounting can be quite perplexing. In the scenario you’ve described, where a 240GB SSD shows 152GB of used space but disk analysis tools only recognize 67.4GB, there are several potential explanations and solutions to consider.

that are often hidden from the user’s view and disk analysis tools. These files can consume a significant amount of space without being readily apparent.

To address this, you can check for system restore points by:

1. Pressing `Win + R`, typing `systempropertiesprotection`, and hitting Enter.

2. Selecting the SSD and clicking on ‘Configure’ to view the current usage of system protection storage.

If you find that restore points are taking up a lot of space, you can reduce the space allocated or delete old restore points.

Another possibility is that the space is being used by the

hibernation file or page file

. The hibernation file (`hiberfil.sys`) can be as large as the amount of RAM in your system, and the page file (`pagefile.sys`) is typically around 1.5 times the size of your RAM. These files are hidden and reside in the root directory of your system drive.

To manage these files:

• For the hibernation file, open Command Prompt as an administrator and type `powercfg -h off` to disable hibernation and remove the file.
• For the page file, go to System Properties > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Change, where you can configure the size or remove the page file.

Regarding

the missing `C:\Users\Owner\Pictures` directory, it’s possible that the folder has been set to

hidden or the user profile is corrupted

. To reveal hidden folders, open File Explorer, go to ‘View’, and check ‘Hidden items’. If the folder appears, you can right-click it, select ‘Properties’, and uncheck ‘Hidden’ to make it permanently visible.

If the folder doesn’t appear, the user profile might be corrupted. In this case, creating a new user profile and transferring the files may resolve the issue. However, if the directory is indeed missing and not simply hidden, data recovery software could be used to attempt to recover the missing files, provided they have not been overwritten.

Lastly, since you mentioned a Windows issue with the start menu, it’s advisable to perform a

System File Checker

scan by running `sfc /scannow` in the Command Prompt to repair any corrupted system files that may be causing this problem.

In conclusion, the unaccounted 80GB of data on your SSD is likely tied up in system files or a hidden/lost directory. By following the steps outlined above, you can reclaim this space and potentially restore access to your missing files. Remember to back up your important data regularly to avoid data loss in the future. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consulting with a professional technician or considering data recovery services may be the next course of action.