extra files

[zaa]

I have a friend with a Sony Vaio laptop {winxp home ed}, for some reason after unistalling programs the file space that was taken up by whatever was removed still shows on the hdd properties!
When a defrag is done it displays the files "that sholdn't be there" and continues to defrag them!
It is completely random as to what files stay and they cannot be found on a search, also they are not in the recycle bin (1st place I looked).

can anyone suggest anything?

cheers,

darren

[zaa]

anyone?

[Aido]

Are you sure they aren't on the disk or is something else taking up the space??

Has he run a 'chkdsk /f' to see if the filesystem is okay?

If so just get a copy of diruse as that will tell you what space each folder is taking up so that you can identify where the space has all gone.

He's not getting confused by the pagefile growing is he?

[zaa]

thanks for the info, I did get him to check the pagefile first and dont think it's that (I haven't actually seen it myself {I'm just a messenger}), I have sent him this link and I'll wait and see what happens.

thanks again