External Hard Drive Question

I have a computer question for you all.

I was running out of space on my 4.8 GB drive that I got a few years ago with my computer so today I acquired a new 40 GB external drive. I followed the directions word for word, I've put some stuff on it, and everything appears to be running smoothly.

However, I notice something when I view the "Properties" of the drive:
Used Space: 1.131 GB

But when I select all of the files on the drive and view their "Properties" it tells me that the total contents of the drive is:
0.947 GB (1.124 GB)

Somewhere, somehow, I am being jipped either 0.007 GB or 0.184 GB. Which do I believe? I'd assume that there are some data that was copied onto the drive during formatting to make it run correctly. However, I'd like other opinions/knowledge. If this isn't supposed to be occuring, how may I curb this "lost space" or even prevent it?

I hate to be a stickler about HD space, but I have a disease that has been developed due to traumatic hard drive experiences in the past.

Also, whenever I transfer files or folders that amount to 100 or 200 MB it'll go about its business and then it'll tell me "Error writing to drive F, data or files may be lost. Press any key" in a blue screen. I press any key and it finishes the job.

That may have to do with cluster size. Larger drives like that will have larger cluster sizes (my 34GB uses 32k clusters on a FAT32 partition table), which means that files on my drive are written in 32k sections. If you have a file that is 33k in size, it will take up two 32k clusters, thus using 64k of drive space. There's actual file-size contents, and then there's space used. As the drive gets more content, the gap between the two grows pretty fast.

At least you got the full 40GB on the new drive, right?

Is it recognising the size of the new drive properly?

If so, I wouldn't sweat over losing a bit on the local disk. Just think to yourself, "It's gonna be much worse if I start messing around and breaking everything".

Yo shady, wuddup dawg! First off, what version of windows are ya using (95, 98, me, etc)?

Second how many megs of ram do ya have on yo computer, what drive is used for virtual memory, and how much space is left on it?

Thirdly, I am assuming dat F is da 40gb drive, is this correct?

Da reason I am asking these questions is because the "blue screen of death" error which you are having could be caused by several things. It could be that you are using win95a or b, which seem to have slight weird problems with external drives, especially transferring to and from LARGE ones.

If you only gots a small amount of ram, or there is only a little space left on the disk drive dat windows uses for virtual memory (most likely c:, unless ya changed it), it could actually be running out of memory for a second or so (especially if you have other things goin on at da same time) and that's why this screen would come up, this is the most likely cause of this IMHO.

Does this screen come up, EVERY SINGLE TIME, you transfer folders in the range of 100-200mb, and like Pritch asked is it recognizing the correct drive size? If it isn't, the drive is NOT bein read properly, and probably is NOT installed right, or some settings may be incorrect (drives are pretty basic though, and there isn't much ta screw up).

If it isn't damaging your files, and they all work right then you should be fine. Just make sure you use copy, and test the folders, in case something goes wrong, BEFORE you delete them. DO NOT use cut and paste, because if da files get screwed it could be a real bitch!

As for da space issue.... the disk's partition takes up some space on your drive, and Lüt's explanation above would definate help explain why it "seems" you is missing space, but you really ain't. Trust me, you probably ain't missin squat. If you gots any doubts, try usin scandisk and see what pops up.

At least you got the full 40GB on the new drive, right?
Is it recognising the size of the new drive properly?

If so, I wouldn't sweat over losing a bit on the local disk. Just think to yourself, "It's gonna be much worse if I start messing around and breaking everything".

Oh yeah, I'm thankful that it is recognizing the full 40 GB, as it is.

Everything seems to be working fine, except just now I was listening to an MP3 of Cult of Personality by In Living Color that I copied onto the new drive and it skipped as a CD player would for perhaps half a second. :=P BAH, who the fuck cares.

I'm not really gonna worry about it anymore, it seems as though I have no control over it. And I have a fear of defragging that thing because I think I may end up losing space as I have in the past. Go figure.

Yo shady, wuddup dawg! First off, what version of windows are ya using (95, 98, me, etc)?

Heh, what's up man. I'm using Windows 98 SE.

Second how many megs of ram do ya have on yo computer, what drive is used for virtual memory, and how much space is left on it?

I've got 98 MB ram (not much I know). Virtual memory drive is C. Since I have been relocating a whole bunch of shit onto it (MP3s, DOOM stuff, porn, Quake II) Drive C has 300 MB free and Drive D (partitioned drive) has 700 MB free.

Thirdly, I am assuming dat F is da 40gb drive, is this correct?

You got it.

If you only gots a small amount of ram, or there is only a little space left on the disk drive dat windows uses for virtual memory (most likely c:, unless ya changed it), it could actually be running out of memory for a second or so (especially if you have other things goin on at da same time) and that's why this screen would come up, this is the most likely cause of this IMHO.

That probably is the most probable explanation, since when I first started transferring my stuff onto the F drive I had 70 MB free on Drive C at the time. I haven't gotten it since I freed up about 300 MB. I didn't have anything going on at the time.

Does this screen come up, EVERY SINGLE TIME, you transfer folders in the range of 100-200mb, and like Pritch asked is it recognizing the correct drive size? If it isn't, the drive is NOT bein read properly, and probably is NOT installed right, or some settings may be incorrect (drives are pretty basic though, and there isn't much ta screw up).

Actually, just a few hours ago I installed Quake II onto the drive which takes up 206 MB, and I'd imagine that it should give me some sort of message since it's not much different than copying a shitload of data like I did before.

Heh, this is my first external hard drive. I did get a CD burner for my birthday last year and it burned about three CDs and quit. I troubleshot the fuck outta it and it doesn't work to this day. Heh. Don't ask about it, I'm not gonna bother with it since I had to reformat my computer because of it (it overrode my regular CD drive and made itself the default).

If it isn't damaging your files, and they all work right then you should be fine. Just make sure you use copy, and test the folders, in case something goes wrong, BEFORE you delete them. DO NOT use cut and paste, because if da files get screwed it could be a real bitch!

Doesn't seem like that the files are getting fucked. All of my DOOM stuff works fine, Quake II works fine, I can still see the lesbian videos (ahem), MP3s sound fine (except for the one I'm listening to right now, bah, I bet it was like that before).

As for da space issue.... the disk's partition takes up some space on your drive, and Lüt's explanation above would definate help explain why it "seems" you is missing space, but you really ain't. Trust me, you probably ain't missin squat. If you gots any doubts, try usin scandisk and see what pops up.

Yeah, his seems logical enough. I know that there's gonna have to be SOME stuff on it just to make it function properly. I know it's not much on such a big drive, but I have that phobia. Worry about little things.

Thanks for your guys' help.

Why dont you try externalharddrivesworld.com, they can probably help you better.. :P