.hdd file grows rapidly despite little VM use

I've noticed that the .hdd file for my VM is growing in size extremely rapidly, despite the fact that I really haven't added anything new to the VM (no new programs or big files in awhile), nor do I use but a few programs and then, generally in brief sessions (IE and Windows Live Mail). I also keep the Vista Sidebar up. Nevertheless, it's managed to add nearly 10 gigs in two and a half weeks. After running Compressor on it on July 11th, I managed to get the size down to 10GB or so. Now it's 20 and I'm again running compressor... is this normal? Why would it expand so much further than the actual disk usage reported by Windows?

 

This is Windows Vista restore points http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6159394.html

 

...no. System Restore is not enabled in this VM, nor has it ever been to my knowledge. When I bring up the "System Properties" applet as shown in your link, there isn't even a "System Protection" tab available. My "System Volume Information" folder is empty.

In addition to the inexplicable expansion of the .hdd file, I also have an issue where the size of used disk space reported by Windows is far greater than the actual amount of files. If I select all the items in C:\, remembering to make system files and hidden files visible first, Windows reports a total size of 11.1GB (including the 1GB pagefile). But if I select C:\ and hit Properties, it reports a "Used space" of 14.1GB. Where is that extra 3GB????

Some stats on the .hdd size: presently it's compressed down to 13.8GB, after having been 20.9 prior to running Compressor. During this time, the only application that was running was Windows Sidebar (using only built-in gadgets) and Windows Explorer.

 

Empty the Recycle Bin.

 

Very funny, smartass. If I run "Disk Cleanup" the total amount that can be recovered by emptying the Recycle Bin, deleting temp and temp internet files, and all other disposable files comes to 6MB.

 

Yes my ass is very smart.

My comment should've made you think: "What do I have installed on my VM that would consume space in possible hidden files?*"

There are lots of possibilites, there's Symantec/Norton software that 'protects' your deleted files for easy recovery (a second recycle bin, redundant nuisance), Indexing Service, Office Updates that fail to apply (Windows\Installer), Hibernation (do you have that turned on?), etc...

It's up to you to know your system.

*If there are differences between reported used size and disk usage the answer is: Hidden files.

 

Assuming I'm a beginner with an obnoxious comment like that (belied by my previous post showing that I do know my way around Windows), does not "make me think". I know my system: it is a virtually untouched, 2-month-old, default install of Vista Ultimate. No extras, no Norton or other virus/spyrware/adware protection of any kind, a handful of very old, mid-1990s-era art programs needed for legacy purposes, none of which take up much space or have ever exhibited disk space-gobbling behavior, the downloaded Windows Live Mail program, and otherwise just the default installation of standard Vista stuff like IE. And if you were listening, I said I had already made sure that hidden and system files were visible. Are you saying one of my ancient art programs has uncharacteristically decided to start making files that are super duper EXTRA hidden, so they can't be seen under ANY circumstances?

In any case, this does not explain the .hdd file expansion. Even accepting the mysterious extra 3GB as some weird Vista quirk, the C:\ drive is still, at its greatest, only 14GB.. not 21GB. It has never *been* reported anywhere near that high, using either of the methods I described above. And when compressed, the extra 7GB in the .hdd disappears. This has got to be a Parallels thing.

 

Ok, I'm obviously not listening mister expert user, so I'll let a more humble and better listener help you.

Just a quick note: In your expertise you should've also figured out that the size of the .hdd file is related not the used space, but to the space between the first bit at the start of the virtual disk to the last bit of used space, which means, if you have a 1KB file that is written to the start of a 20GB virtual disk and another to the end of that 20GB disk, totaling 2KB of used space the .hdd file will be 20GB, now, Windows normally puts the pagefile at the end of the disk so the free space in between increases the .hdd file.

You can see this usage at the defragmentation window.

 

Try to use this http://windirstat.info/