Lost hard disk space in windows xp

[TigerMask]

I don't know how it happened but my hard disk space shrank from 39 GB to 37.2 GB. It's maxtor 6L040L2.
Last thing I changed is I reduced the disk space for System Restore in Windows XP from 12% to 3%.
I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it though. I changed it back to 12% but no help.
any ideas on how to reclaim the lost disk space ?

 

[MacaroneePenguin]

Where are you looking for this information?

What have you done between the time it was 39GB and you first noticed it being at 37GB?

 

[TigerMask]

Sysoft sandra as well as properties under my hard drive icon shows total disk space to be 37.2 GB.

 

[MacaroneePenguin]

You could go to DISK CLEANUP under System Tools in Accessories, maybe there's something there.

Or you could do a search for modified files between the time it was 39 and 37 GBs

 

[corkyg]

In addition to System Restore, another set of files that can grow like Topsy are Internet Temporary files and cookies.

Do a house cleaning. Turn off all automatic updates and downloads. Stay in control.

 

[BKR]

Was this off of the original install? Xp takes a large chunk just for the os.

 

[TigerMask]

let me clearify the problem. It's total disk space I'm talking about, not free disk space.
My drive used to be 39 GB. Now 37.2 GB. somehow total disk space shrank.

 

[MacaroneePenguin]

Oh, well seriously I think it's ok then. What's the actually (spec) size of the Hard Drive? 40GB?

 

[TigerMask]

yes, the nominal size is 40 GB but it used to be shown as 39 GB in property menu under the hard drive icon. now it's shown as 37.2 GB.
I've never seen a sudden shrinkage of disk space before.

 

[icepick1]

maybe someone hacked your sytem and made it a virtual HD or something.