How to find large files on disk. Analysis of occupied space on the hard drive. Why is your hard drive clogged and why is free space decreasing?

Lack of free space on your hard drive is a constant problem. With the purchase of a more capacious medium, this problem is not solved, but only worsened: the more information accumulates, the more difficult it is to control it and at the same time maintain a certain conventional order.

There are many utilities for searching for duplicates, outdated and other unnecessary files, but disk servicing does not eliminate the need to independently “sort out the rubble.” These files, as often happens, are stored in folders of various nesting levels. Using file manager tools for searches is one option. By the way, even standard Explorer has a filter and search. However, there are more efficient, comprehensive solutions for analyzing disk space. Typically they include features such as:

• Scan disks and directories
• Data visualization: display file structure as a chart, graph or map
• Advanced statistics and their export
• Search for duplicates, temporary files
• Filters and advanced search
• Additional tools

Today's guide participants are predominantly free programs. The exceptions are FolderSizes and TreeSize, although the latter also offers a free version in the Free edition. The resulting list of participants looks like this:

• TreeSize
• Scanner
• WinDirStat
• Space Sniffer
• JDiskReport
• Xinorbis
• FolderSizes

TreeSize Pro

TreeSize is a utility for finding files that waste disk space. Includes both information functions (visualization, statistics, export) and service functions: search for duplicates, outdated files, etc.

In the left panel of the TreeSize window there is a disk selection menu and a directory tree where navigation and selection of the scan source is carried out.

The results are displayed on the right side of the window, consisting of tabs. In the Chart section, a diagram is available from which you can find out the percentage of directories within the selected source. It is also easy to change the display of data in the form of graphs or maps. Detailed information about the directory (amount of data, space occupied, etc.) is available in the Details tab. Extensions - distribution of data according to their content: video, graphics, text and others. In Age of files - information about the age of files. In addition, it will be useful to analyze the chronology of disk filling (History). All data is available for export in XLS, CSV, HTML, TXT and other formats.

Top 100 contains a list of the largest files on the disk. The accompanying information in the columns of the table allows you to find out the date of the last access or creation of the file - this will help you decide whether to delete or leave the file.

No less interesting in TreeSize are the search (File Search menu). You can use all data types (All Search Types): this, in particular, includes searching for outdated, temporary files, and duplicates. The advantage of searching through TreeSize is undeniable: the program is multi-threaded, works over the network, and supports templates.

Alas, the free (essentially trial) version of TreeSize is significantly inferior to the paid version: multithreading, advanced search, visualization and many other important functions are not supported.

Summary. TreeSize Pro perfectly complements the capabilities of any file manager, allowing you to thoroughly analyze the occupied disk space and directories. A well-customizable interface and search, visualization, export - a standard set included.

[+] Functionality
[+] Advanced file search
[+] Fast multi-threaded scanning
[+] Additional tools

Scanner

Scanner is a free utility for analyzing the contents of your hard drive. No settings, a minimum of options - nevertheless, Scanner is a completely functional solution.

In the left part of the window, you can select a disk for analysis; you can also get information in existing files on all disks using the “Total” button in the lower left corner.

In the center is a pie chart that displays the file structure in segments. Segments, as is easy to note, have several levels of nesting and different colors. When you hover the cursor over a certain area of ​​the diagram, information about the number, size of files, and their location is available. You can move to the directory by clicking on it, or perform operations with the file through the context menu.

Summary. The program will be useful for a quick visual analysis of occupied disk space. As for the available operations with files and directories, they are only sufficient to delete and open files. In other words, you won’t be able to use Scanner as a file manager (with search, display modes, statistics).

[+] Ease of use, intuitiveness
[−] Minimum number of file operations

WinDirStat

WinDirStat is a free utility for analyzing and cleaning your hard drive from unnecessary files.

The program scans the specified sources (directories or local drives) and provides information for analysis in an easy-to-read form. The directory structure is displayed in the form of multi-colored segments of different sizes, depending on the space occupied, at the bottom of the WinDirStat window. The table of color correspondence to the file type is in the upper right corner.

This structure representation has its drawbacks: for example, you cannot find out the file size when hovering, there are no marks. Therefore, in the case of WinDirStat, there is a lack of alternative visualization methods such as graph and chart.

By clicking on a segment, you can get detailed information about the corresponding file and its location. The following standard commands are available for files, such as deleting (to the Recycle Bin or permanently), viewing properties, copying the path, and others. In the “Cleaning” section of the program settings, you can create custom actions that allow you to add up to 10 operations from the command line: deleting files, archiving, recursive deleting, and others.

In general, almost all WinDirStat settings come down to design, display of the structure and list of directories. There are no additional utilities, tools for reporting, statistics, or search provided here.

Summary. WinDirStat provides good customization options, but the lack of additional tools and display modes significantly limits the program's use.

[+] Selective scanning
[+] Command line support
[−] One file display mode
[−] Lack of detailed statistics and reporting

SpaceSniffer

SpaceSniffer is a free utility with a fully customizable interface and data display mode in the form of a map. Compared to similar solutions, notable features include multi-threading, search (including network search), and NTFS support.

For processing, you can select not only a disk from the list, but also a directory by specifying the path in the Path line. As a result of scanning, a map is formed in the form of blocks. The level of nesting can be adjusted using the Less/More Detail buttons - accordingly, the detail is reduced or increased. By clicking on a block, you can view its contents without going to the catalog. Navigating deeper through catalogs is no less convenient. There are no additional display modes in SpaceSniffer, but you can customize the design to your liking through the main settings (Edit - Configure).

Statistics functions are presented modestly. If desired, you can export to a text file: summary information, a list of files, as well as files grouped into folders. Interestingly, reports can be created using templates.

Additional features include tags and a filter. Filtering is carried out using the specified mask; the syntax is described in the Filtering help section. You can search by size, folder name, tags, attributes and other data. Tags allow you to make selections from data for subsequent filtering and batch operations. They can be thought of as temporary bookmarks within a session.

Summary. SpaceSniffer does not stand out for its wide functionality, but it attracts with its speed of operation, quite convenient display of data in the form of a map and additional tools, such as a filter and tags.

[+] Multi-window interface
[+] Integration with Explorer
[+] Filters and tags
[−] No search

JDiskReport

The free cross-platform utility JdiskReport analyzes which files take up the most disk space. In addition, the program provides statistics on the distribution of data, which can be viewed in the form of graphs and charts.

By selecting a directory or drive to scan, the user can view the collected information or save the result as a snapshot for later opening. This is relevant when constantly working with large volumes of data.

Statistics are divided into tabs: Size, Top 50, Size Dist, Modified and Types. The Size section shows the ratio of files in the selected source. There are several display modes to choose from: 2 types of charts, graph and table. Top 50 contains a list of the largest, oldest and newest files - potential “candidates” for deletion. The Size Dist, Modified and Types sections allow you to view the distribution of files by their size, modification date and type, respectively.

On the one hand, the statistics really give food for thought, on the other hand, navigation through files and sample directories is not thought out in JdiskReport. That is, any file operations are not available, there is only the “Open Explorer...” item in the context menu. There is no export, except that the file table and related information can be copied to the clipboard.

The program settings are mainly responsible for the interface. There are plenty of design themes, but, say, there are no options for displaying columns or a directory tree.

Summary. JdiskReport outperforms Scanner and WinDirStat due to file distribution statistics. But there are also weaknesses - first of all, there are no operations with files and directories.

[+] Statistics
[−] No export
[−] Non-functional context menu

Xinorbis

Xinorbis is a data analyzer on your hard drive with the ability to view statistics in the form of tables, charts and graphs. The program supports scanning on various sources: hard drives, removable media, local network, FireWire, etc.

When selecting a scan source, you can specify multiple paths, include and exclude items, and add favorites. The scan results are displayed in the form of a summary: this information will help you quickly determine the largest file or directory, familiarize yourself with the distribution of data by type, etc.

Detailed information is collected in the Folder properties section of the Tasks section. Data can be viewed in the form of custom graphs, charts, and structured by data type or file extension. Information about the age of data (Dates), chronology (History), and occupied size (Folders) is available. The Top 101 section contains a list of not only the largest and smallest files. The file table displays properties such as creation, modification, and last access dates.

The navigator context menu in Xinorbis is more than functional: it not only contains standard Explorer commands, but also provides for export, archiving, Hex editing, and checksum generation.

The Advanced section contains tools such as searching for duplicates by name and size. Other teams are also expanding their search capabilities. The most interesting section is Folder Detail, which is a filter based on a number of parameters: text, size, file attributes, owner, category.

An important advantage of Xinorbis is customizable reports in HTML, CSV, XML and other formats. As a result, it takes just one click to create a file.

Summary. In Xinorbis, it is most difficult to find shortcomings, since all the standard capabilities of a file analyzer are taken into account: from creating diagrams to exporting reports.

[+] Reporting
[+] Filter and search
[+] Flexible configuration and functionality

FolderSizes

FolderSizes is a program for scanning and analyzing disk space with the ability to export results as a report. Includes tools for searching files by multiple criteria: size, owner, age, etc.

The FolderSizes interface consists of several panels (navigator, drive list, graphs, address bar), as well as a ribbon divided into tabs. The main section is Home, where basic tools for analysis, export and other operations are available.

In the address bar you can specify not only the standard path, but also a server or NAS devices, network and removable media (Analyze path(s) option). The file panel is flexibly customizable, columns are easy to hide or add additional ones. Scan results can be viewed as graphs, charts, or a map in the Bar Graph area. Additional options related to displaying information in panels are available in the Graph tab.

To create reports, use the File Reports tool, which searches based on specified criteria and displays detailed information in a human-readable format. Report export is available in HTML, PDF, XML, CSV, TXT and other formats, including graphic ones. FolderSizes can be easily linked to a scheduler to automatically generate scheduled reports.

In addition to standard reporting functions, FolderSizes offers trend analysis. The Trend Analyzer tool is designed for this purpose; it allows you to familiarize yourself with changes in size, number of files, and other criteria.

Filter and search with rule support, built-in archiver, command line - the capabilities of FolderSizes can be listed further. The functionality of the program is unrivaled.

Summary. FolderSizes pleases with the presence of all the tools necessary for analysis, a user-friendly interface, and additional features that are not available in other programs (for example, trend analysis and archiver). As a result, it will be interesting for study by a wide audience.

[+] Fully customizable interface
[+] Trend analysis tool
[+] Convenient navigation through files and directories
[+] Filter and search

Pivot table

Many people have had a situation when they seemed to get rid of excess junk on their computer, but didn’t free up much space. At such moments the question arises: what is the matter? What are these bulky files and where are they located?

Standard method without third-party software.

This is the simplest method that does not require any special program. You already have everything you need.

Go to the disk volume in which the scan will take place.

On Windows 10 and 8, click on this little check mark. With its help you will open an additional menu that will be useful to us.

In the new menu, click the buttons that are highlighted. It is not necessary to choose a giant size, you can start with any other, but keep in mind that in this case it will take a lot of time to check.

On Windows 7, add a size filter in the upper right corner.

By selecting a size, you will automatically start a search. After checking, you will receive the full result of the work done. But be careful, because system documents are also included in this list. If you don't know what this file is, it's best not to touch it.

Ainvo Disk Explorer utility for searching large documents

This program is able to find large documents in the system. But you will have to delete them manually. That is, this program is only for search, it does not provide any unnecessary functions. You can download it here: http://ainvo.com/index.php?r=aint/create&filename=files%2Fproducts%2Fde%2Fainvo-disk-explorer-setup.exe&lang=ru.

After installation, immediately launch the utility and start checking by clicking on the required button.

Tip: if you need to check a specific drive, then visit the Settings menu. There you can specify which drive to scan.

After some time, the program will give you the result. You can see huge files by clicking on the button highlighted in the screenshot.

This is where the hardest work begins. The fact is that the program shows absolutely all large documents, including system ones. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to carefully study the entire list of utilities.

Don't be surprised if you find documents from an old program that you got rid of a couple of years ago. Just feel free to delete them.

But if you don’t know what kind of file it is, then it’s better not to touch it at all. After all, deleting a system document can lead to global problems with the device. So be careful.

ηSearcher utility for searching large files

This utility has several additional functions that allow you to refine your search for large files. Here you can download it: http://www.ru.n-group.info/nsearcher/download.php.

After installation, feel free to open it. But don’t rush to start, first look at what additional features it offers you.

You can specify the minimum document size, where exactly to search, and even some dates (created, modified, or opened).

When you specify all known data, simply click on the “Start Search” button.

In a few minutes, you will have access to a detailed analysis of all “heavy” files. You can sort it by specifying the criteria that interest you. Documents that can be deleted without harm to the system are highlighted in green. But if the file is colored orange, then it is better not to touch it.

This way, you can find large files on your computer and clear several gigabytes of memory. Such global cleaning should not be carried out very often. For example, once every six months will be enough. But do not forget about timely cleaning of the device, because this way you will help the system get rid of long-needed files that take away precious memory.

Do you know what the most common question my friends ask me is “How to find the largest files on a computer? I cleaned everything, but there was no more free disk space. What else can I delete and how can I find these huge files taking up disk space?”

Let’s tackle these issues now. I have already described to you on the pages of this site, how to find and remove duplicate files, and today I’ll tell you how to find large files on your computer in just a couple of mouse clicks.

I really take the cleanliness of my beloved computer seriously and constantly monitor it, but today I found more than 3 GB of extra files on the system drive alone. I was wildly surprised.

And a small, free and Russian-language program will help us in searching for the largest files on the computer. Ainvo Disk Explorer.

I warn you right away that this program only searches for the largest files on your computer, but you will have to delete them, as well as determine their degree of need yourself.

But don’t be afraid, there’s nothing wrong with that - I’ll show you everything by personal example, as always.

The main principle: if you don’t know what the file is, don’t touch it.

So, let's go, as Gagarin said...

Download Ainvo Disk Explorer: 3.45 MB

Installation and use Ainvo Disk Explorer

The top checkbox can be removed. We have established it, and congratulations to you. We got a program shortcut on the desktop...

The program has started and you can immediately press “Start”...

...or go to “Settings” and select the drive that will be analyzed for the largest files.

The program will think and think, and will give you the result of its analysis, which you can view by clicking...

And this is where the fun begins...

It turns out that after the “complete” removal of the program recently described on the website, I was left with a “tail” of 85 MB in size on the system disk.

By clicking on “Open directory with file” I ended up in the folder with this harmful file and successfully deleted it.

And this 50 MB “tail” has been hanging on the computer for about a year...

Once upon a time I installed “live wallpaper”.

I also found a backup copy of my smartphone, which I said goodbye to 8 months ago. Do you know what size this file was? 2.5 GB!!! On the system disk!!!

I agree that you need to know and remember which programs have long been removed from your computer, but strain your brains - no program will do this for you.

But I don’t know the origin and purpose of these files, so I don’t touch them.

I also strongly advise against touching files whose address begins with...

Question “What is taking up so much space on my hard drive?” sometimes it can confuse you. It would seem that all the weighty folders with documents, music, films, as well as installed programs are known to us, but... When we click on the “Properties” of the hard drive and look at the ratio of full and occupied space, we understand that there is an obvious inconsistency - somewhere Several (or maybe a dozen or two) gigabytes of our precious disk space have gone missing.

In such cases, you can audit the contents of user profiles, check hidden system files and folders, the size of the paging file (Pagefile.sys), the hibernation file (hiberfil.sys), the System Volume Information folder, which stores system restore checkpoints, and run the standard utility Windows – “Disk Cleanup” and so on. But these manipulations are not always able to shed light on the truth.

This entry lists several programs whose function is to analyze the structure and volume of information that is stored on the computer's hard drive. For me personally, it is important that these programs are free, easy to use, and most importantly, provide reliable information. I suggest we take a closer look at the programs that meet the specified conditions.

SpaceSniffer is a portable, free program that helps you understand the folder and file structure of your hard drive. SpaceSniffer's visualization diagram will clearly show you where large folders and files are located on your devices. The area of ​​each rectangle is proportional to the size of that file. You can double click on any sector to get more detailed information about it. If you are looking for specific file types, such as JPG files, or files older than a year, use the “Filter” option to select the conditions you specify.

The program has many settings, but its interface is in English. The information it produces seemed to me not very convenient for visual perception and, as a consequence, for evaluating it. But in principle, it works quickly and efficiently. In any case, once you get used to it and delve into the settings, it’s quite possible to use it.

WinDirStat collects information from the selected disk and presents it in three views. A directory list, which resembles the Windows Explorer tree structure, appears in the top left corner and sorts files and folders by size. The extended list that appears in the upper right corner shows statistics about different file types. The file map is located at the bottom of the WinDirStat window. Each colored rectangle represents a file or directory. The area of ​​each rectangle is proportional to the size of the files or subtrees.

The program is not portable, but it has a Russian-language interface. I didn’t delve too deeply into its settings, but one nuance immediately caught my eye - the System Volume Information folder, according to the program, is empty. In fact, this is not the case, System Restore is enabled and a little over 3 GB is currently used for it. So the program lied.

TreeSize Free

Not portable, choice of two languages: German and English. Microsoft certified. Allows you to launch the program in the usual way or from the context menu of a folder or drive. This is a very convenient opportunity, in my opinion. The program shows you the size of the selected folder, including subfolders. The results are presented in a Windows Explorer tree view, so you can expand the selected folder or drive and navigate to the file at each level. To analyze hidden system folders, the program asked to restart the PC.

Disktective is a free, portable utility that reports the actual size of directories and the distribution of subdirectories and files within them. The selected folder or drive is analyzed and the result is displayed in the form of a tree and chart. The interface is English, information collection is fast.

The interface is English, not portable. DiskSavvy is a fast and easy-to-use disk space analyzer that allows you to monitor disk space usage on hard drives, network drives, and NAS servers. The main window shows the percentage of disk space used by each directory and file. You can also easily view pie charts that show results in graphical format. Has a large number of settings.

DiskSavvy is available as a free version, as well as a full, Pro version that provides additional features and technical support. The free version allows you to scan a maximum of 500,000 files, with a maximum hard drive capacity of 2 TB. It supports long file names, unicode file names, and allows you to copy, move, and delete files directly within the program. Cool program, I liked it.

For each selected folder or drive, GetFoldersize displays the total size of all files in that folder or drive, as well as the number of files and their attachments. You can use GetFoldersize to scan an unlimited number of files and folders on internal and external hard drives, DVDs, and network share drives. This program supports long file and folder names and unicode characters and has the ability to display file sizes in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes and gigabytes. GetFoldersize allows you to print a folder tree and save the information to a text file.

GetFoldersize is available in both portable and installable versions, so you can carry it with you on a flash drive or external USB drive. However, if you install GetFoldersize, all its features will be added with the option to launch from the context menu in Windows Explorer, which will allow you to start scanning the volume of a folder or drive by right-clicking on it. The interface is English, there is a good selection of settings.

RidNacs is a fast disk space analyzer that scans local drives, network drives or individual directories, displaying the results in a tree and percentage histogram. You can save scan results in several formats (.TXT, .CSV, .HTML, or .XML). Files can be opened and deleted directly in RidNacs. During installation, you can add the option to run the program in the Windows Explorer context menu. When you scan a folder, it is added to the list of favorite drives. You can also change the appearance of the histogram by installing special skins. The program is not portable; it has 2 interface languages ​​- English and German. She could not analyze some folders, as can be seen in the screenshot.

Portable Scanner program shows a pie chart with concentric rings to show the space usage of your hard drive, external hard drive, network drive. Moving the mouse over the segments in the diagram allows you to display the full path to the object at the top of the window, as well as the size of the directories and the number of files in the directory. Right-clicking on a segment provides additional options. It is possible to delete selected directories to the Trash directly from the program. The archive with the program contains 2 reg files, one of which is used to add the scanner to the Windows Explorer context menu, and the other to remove it.

I liked Free Disk Analyzer more than all other programs. During the installation process, you are offered a choice of 5 languages, Russian is present. The free disk analyzer displays drives on the left side of the window, similar to Windows Explorer, allowing you to quickly navigate to the desired folder or file. The right side of the window displays all subfolders and files in the selected folder or disk, the size and percentage of disk space that the folder or file uses. Tabs at the bottom of the window allow you to quickly select and view your largest files or folders. You can manage your files directly within the program, just like in Windows Explorer. Among the additional features, it is worth noting the launch of the program uninstaller, as well as the settings menu, which allows you to filter only certain files:

If you have previously had problems with “losing” disk space, tell us how and with the help of what programs (or actions) you solved them.

Good afternoon.

Very often, users ask me the same question, but in different interpretations: “What is the hard drive full of?”, “Why has the space on the hard drive decreased, since I haven’t downloaded anything?”, “How to find files that are taking up space on the HDD ? etc.

There are special programs to evaluate and analyze the occupied space on your hard drive, thanks to which you can quickly find and delete everything unnecessary. Actually, this is what this article will be about.

Analysis of occupied hard disk space in diagrams

1. Scanner

Official site: http://www.steffengerlach.de/freeware/

A very interesting utility. Its advantages are obvious: it supports the Russian language, no installation required, high speed (it analyzed a 500 GB hard drive in a minute!), and takes up very little space on the hard drive.

The program presents the results of the work in a small window with a diagram (see Fig. 1). If you hover your mouse over the desired piece of the diagram, you can immediately understand what takes up the most space on the HDD.

For example, on my hard drive (see Fig. 1), about a fifth of the busy space is occupied by movies (33 GB, 62 files). By the way, there are quick buttons to go to the trash can and to “add and remove programs.”

2. SpaceSniffer

Official site: http://www.uderzo.it/main_products/space_sniffer/index.html

Another utility that does not require installation. When starting, the first thing you will do is ask you to select a drive (specify a letter) to scan. For example, my Windows system disk has 35 GB of space, of which almost 10 GB is occupied by the virtual machine.

In general, the analysis tool is very visual, it helps you immediately understand what is clogged up on your hard drive, where the files are “hidden”, in which folders and on what topic... I recommend it for use!

Rice. 2. SpaceSniffer - analysis of the Windows system disk

3.WinDirStat

Official site: http://windirstat.info/

Another utility of this kind. It is interesting primarily because in addition to simple analysis and drawing up a diagram, it also shows file extensions, painting the diagram in the desired color (see Fig. 3).

In general, it is quite convenient to use: the interface is in Russian, there are quick links (for example, on emptying the recycle bin, editing directories, etc.), it works in all popular Windows operating systems: XP, 7, 8.

Rice. 3. WinDirStat analyzes the “C:\” drive

4. Free Disk Usage Analyzer

Official site: http://www.extensoft.com/?p=free_disk_analyzer

This program is the simplest tool for quickly finding large files and optimizing disk space.

Free Disk Usage Analyzer helps you organize and manage your HDD free disk space by searching for the largest files on the disk. You can quickly find where the largest files are located, such as videos, photos and archives, and move them to another location (or delete them altogether).

By the way, the program supports the Russian language. There are also quick links that will help you clean your HDD from junk and temporary files, remove unused programs, find the largest folders or files, etc.

5.TreeSize

Official site: http://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/

This program cannot build charts, but it conveniently sorts folders depending on the space occupied on the hard drive. It is also very convenient, if you find a folder that takes up a lot of space, click on it and open it in Explorer (see arrows in Fig. 5).

Despite the fact that the program is in English, understanding it is quite simple and quick. Recommended for both beginners and experienced users.

Rice. 5. TreeSize Free - results of analysis of the system drive “C:\”

By the way, significant space on your hard drive can be taken up by so-called “junk” and temporary files (by the way, they reduce the free space on your hard drive, even when you don’t copy or download anything to it!). Periodically, you need to clean your hard drive with special utilities: CCleaner, FreeSpacer, Glary Utilites, etc. Read more about such programs.

That's all for me. I would be grateful for additions on the topic of the article.

Good luck with your PC.