[Drew]

I've got a relatively old HP laptop. It's only got a 37 GB hdd. However I seem to have lost 5 GB and when that's 13% I'd really like it back!

Basically if I do "Properties" of the C:/ (the only hard drive), it says 22.1GB used, 15GB free space, which makes sense. Then I go into C:/ and do "ctrl+a", then do properties, it says size 17.5GB. So where's that other 5GB? I'd quite like it if I can have it. If it's being used by Windoze, then fair enough, but why does it tempt me with it, then put it out of my reach?

[GCW]

You could have a look here.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

Yeah, Elisabeth Benson seems to know what she's talking about!

If they aren't hidden system files, try ccleaner/defrag/disk check etc etc. Remember also that stated size is always slightly larger than actual size for reasons I don't understand/particularly care about but you can read about here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_disk#Capacity_measurements

[Drew]

You could have a look here.

Yeah I know. Eggs, basket etc.

[GCW]

When you select all in c:/ do you include hidden files?

[Jim]

it can't be that old if its got a 40 gig HD in it. Get a 120 gig for about £35 and stick that in. Is what I did with mine

[Drew]

Truth be told I don't know how old it is (2nd hand off eBay), but it's chunky, heavy, hot (fans are bloody noisy), and the battery is w#nk, so I assume it's a few years old now. Yeah, yeah, I know, disposable culture, but it's only a cheap stopgap until I can actually earn some money and buy a better system. Like an Eee.

When you select all in c:/ do you include hidden files?

Yup

it can't be that old if its got a 40 gig HD in it. Get a 120 gig for about £35 and stick that in. Is what I did with mine

I'm worried about making it even slower and warmer/louder.

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

If it's second hand and got a working CD drive, definitely the way forward is to do a clean install of XP. Who knows how much malware/crap/viruses/pr0n  is on it. And if your doing that may aswell spend a couple of quid on a bigger harddrive. I am amazed how cheap they are now, for ages hd's were a quid/gig, now it is about 20p a gig, I just got a 750gig external drive for 130.

[Jim]

seen you coming then obi. 0.5 TB's are half that.
I got an old dell 1.5 celeron laptop. gig of ram £25, 120 gig HD £35, looking at getting 1.7 pentiumM chip for about £30 clean instal of xp and it runs just fine. obviously got me a fast desktop as well

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

seen you coming then obi. 0.5 TB's are half that.

For an external with Firewire800 and a decent brand?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131284
Not that I care, work paid. 

[Johnny Brown]

You're forgetting you don't live in JimWorld, where all prices quoted are before VAT.