Analysis of the contents of the hard disk. Overview of free programs. What is scored by my hard disk (or where free space is lost on the HDD) program to display the disk space
Often I get questions related to a busy hard disk space: users are interested in the place of hard disk, which can be deleted to clean the disc, why free space decreases all the time.
In this article - a brief overview of free software for analyzing a hard disk (or more precisely, the places on it), allowing for a visual form to obtain information about which folders and files occupy extra gigabytes, deal with where, what and in what volumes is stored On your disk and based on this information, clean it. All programs announced support for Windows 8.1 and 7, and I myself checked them in Windows 10 - work without complaints.
I note that most frequently, "drocking" disk space is explained by automatic downloading Windows update files, creating recovery points, as well as emergency completion of programs, as a result of which there may be temporary files that occupy several gigabytes.
At the end of this article, I will give additional materials on the site that will help you free a hard disk space if there is such a need.
Wide Analyzer WINDIRSTAT
WinStat is one of two free programs in this review, which has an interface in Russian, which may be relevant to our user.
After launching WindirStat, the program automatically starts the analysis of either all local disks, or, at your request, scans a busy place on selected disks. You can also analyze what is busy specific folder on your computer.
As a result, a tree structure of the folder folders on the disk is displayed in the program window, indicating the size and percentage of the shared place.
The lower part shows a graphical view of the folders and their contents, which is also associated with the filter in the right upper part, which allows you to quickly determine the location occupied by individual types of files (for example, on my screenshot, you can quickly detect a large temporary file with extension .TMP) .
Download WindirStat from the official site https://windirstat.info/download.html
FREE DISK ANALYZER.
FREE DISK ANALYZER BY EXTENSOFT PROGRAM - Another hard disk use utility in Russian, allowing you to check what is occupied by the place, find the largest folders and files and, based on the analysis, we suspend decide on cleaning the HDD space.
After starting the program, you will see the tree structure of the disks and folders on them on the left side of the window, in the right - the contents of the currently selected folder, indicating the size, percent of the busy place, and the graphical representation chart occupied by the folder.
Additionally, the "Big files" and "largest folders" tabs are present in FREE Disk Analyzer to quickly search as such as well as buttons to quickly access Windows Cleaning and "Installing and Removing Programs".
The official website of the program: http://www.extensoft.com/?p\u003dfree_disk_analyzer (on the site at the moment it is called Free Disk Usage Analyzer).
Disk Savvy
A free version of the disk analyzer on Disk Savvy disk (there is also a paid Pro version), although it does not support Russian, but perhaps the most functional of all the tools listed here.
Among the available features, not only a visual display of a busy disk space and its distribution to folders, but also flexibility to classify files by types, learn hidden files, analyze network drives, and view, save or print diagrams of various types representing information about Use space on disk.
Download free version of Disk Savvy You can from the official site http://disksavvy.com
Treesize Free.
The Treesize Free utility, on the contrary, is the simplest of the programs presented: it does not draw beautiful charts, but it works without installing on the computer and for someone it may seem even more informative than previous options.
After starting, the program analyzes the occupied disk space or the folder you chose and represents it in the hierarchical structure, where all the necessary information is displayed on the disk space displays.
Additionally, it is possible to launch the program in the interface for touch screen devices (in Windows 10 and Windows 8.1). Official site Treesize Free: https://jam-software.com/treesize_Free/
SpaceSniffer.
SpaceSniffer is a free portable (not required to install on a computer) program that allows you to understand the structure of the folder folders on the hard disk about the same way as WINIRSTAT does.
The interface allows you to visually determine which folders on the disk occupy the largest number of space, move along this structure (using a double click of the mouse), as well as filter the displayed data by type, dates or file names.
You can download SpaceSniffer here (Official site): www.uderzo.it/main_products/space_sniffer (Note: The program is better to run on behalf of the administrator, otherwise it will report refusal to access to some folders).
The size of modern hard drives is calculated by terabyte, but the free space on them still disappears somewhere. And if you are the winner of a speed, but much less capacious solid-state drive, then the situation can be completely catastrophic.
With the help of these three programs, you can clearly appreciate what and how much space is on the disk, and make a decision about cleaning it.
The most popular carter for Windows has a special tool in its arsenal to search for large files. It is located in the "Service" section and is called "Disk Analysis".
The use of disk space is illustrated using a circular diagram that displays the distribution between the main types of files - images, documents, video. Just below, a table with details for each type is given.
After starting and pre-assessing the completion of the hard disk, WinStat gives a full card of its condition. It consists of various squares whose size corresponds to the size of the file, and the color is its type. Click on any element allows you to find out its exact size and location on the disk. Using the buttons on the toolbar, you can delete any file or view it in the file manager.
SpaceSniffer is an excellent alternative to CCleaner and WindirStat. This free app is able to show a disc of the disc head map like the previous utility makes it. However, here you can easily adjust the depth of viewing and the number of details displayed. This makes it possible to first see the biggest directories, and then dive with the deeper in the subsoil of the file system until you reach the smallest files.
Among the innovations of the Windows 10 operating system - a utility for analysis of disk space. It is strange that such a useful tool was not attended by the Arsenal of the operating system from Microsoft earlier, when hard disks of computers provided a much less capacity compared to the volumes of modern hard drives.
So, the peak of the relevance of the problem with a lack of free space on the system disk came at the time of the mass transition of users from Windows XP to 7. These versions of the system were radically differed in the sizes of disk space used for their needs. Then, for the full-fledged work of Windows XP, it was enough of the system partition in 25-30 GB, a computer with the same amount of disk on which the new Windows 7 was installed, after installing the program couples and the clusters of temporary files remained without free disk space.
Windows versions of Windows 8.1 inclusive, encountered a problem of a lack of space on a system disk, even after using a regular utility "Clearing disk" or third-party program-cleaners, are forced to resort to a special type of software - to so-called disk space analyzers. These are convenient tools that allow you to quickly search for sweaty files and immediately get rid of them, or deleting or transferred to another place. Such analyzers scan the contents of the computer and represent data on a disk space occupied by various categories of files. Tabar data In such utilities are often accompanied by charts for visual assessment of the occupied disk space.
1 The disk space analyzer embedded in Windows 10 is the "Storage" section in the system settings. It is the synthesis of simplified variants of several system utilities that many users are used to seeing in separate programs or individual modules of complex software packages. In addition to the presence, in fact, the tool for analyzing the disk space on the disk, the utility built in Windows 10 is equipped with some functions of cleaning the system and the primitive uninstallator of the installed software.
The Windows 10 disk space analyzer is among other system settings inside the "Parameters" application. This is a subsection "Storage", which can be opened by selecting the "System" section in the main window of the application.
2 As in any other section of the settings, in the "Storage" section you can quickly get through the system search.
The "Storage" contains a list of disc partitions and connected information drives if there are those. For each section, data is presented in common and occupied volume.
4 Opening each disk partition separately, you can see detailed information about the disk space of various categories of files.
5 One of the items of the system section of the disk - "System and Reserved". Since the utility is designed for inhabitants, there is only an informational certificate about how much spaces are occupied by individual system files. No tools to remove these files, naturally, Windows 10 does not provide. The only thing that is offered to the user is the option "System Recovery Management" option, which opens the system properties window with settings to roll back to the recovery point.
6 The "Application and Games" item is the above-mentioned primitive uninstallator of installed programs, which does not even provide for the removal of pre-installed universal applications.
7 Specific categories are presented documents, images, multimedia files, but the regular utility does not provide their table with the possibility of sorting in size. When you press a detailed view button of these files, the system moves to the appropriate user profile folders inside the conductor to manually remove unnecessary files.
8 Item "temporary files", alas, does not give enough detailed information, which files will be removed. Experienced users are unlikely to be experimenting with such inexpensiveness, and researchers are most likely released on the disk, and without realizing that it was removed. Read more about reading a separate article.
9 The most intelligent point of the Windows 10 disk space analyzer, perhaps, can be considered "Other". Here, in the order of descending size, folders with files are displayed, not related to the categories of music, video, documents and images. The files of these categories are usually stored in the user profile folders or specially created directories on non-system disk sections, and you can reconsider their contents in the explorer or file manager without any disk space analyzers. The last much more useful will be reminded to the user, for example, the storage of passionist files, perhaps already unnecessary distributions of operating systems or backups.
10 Integrated system analyzer, of course, far from excellence and is inferior to many third-party utilities of this software niche and in functionality, and in the convenience of data presentation. In general, a new tool can be said a little: Microsoft has embedded a good simulator for beginners in a computer case, but no more.
Excellent day!
The utility for analyzing a busy disk space allows you to visualize how the place is used on the hard disk, defining the size of all directories, including the invested directories and files stored on this disk.
It can be very useful if you want to free the place on the disk of your computer. Having defined which directories and files take the most space, it is easy to find unnecessary and removed among them, freeing the maximum of space with a minimum of effort.
Overview of seven paid and free utilities for analyzing a busy disk for Mac OS X I described below in the article.
Overview of seven utilities for free space analysis on Mac disk
Applications I placed in the order of increasing the impression of the utility, from a negative to positive.
The release date of the latest version is indicated at the time of writing: January 2014.
Application testing was carried out on MacBook Pro Mid 2012 and OS X 10.9.1.
Diskwave.
Price: Free
10.08.2012
0.4.0.246
System requirements: Mac OS x 10.6 and above
Website: diskwave.barthe.ph.
Apple AppStore: Not
The application uses the simple and at the same time a convenient way to represent data, other than all other utilities, the directory and files are represented by the usual list. Next to each directory and the file is written their size (the color of the font depends on the size). The list can be sorted by name or size.
The settings are also concise, but it seems there is everything you need. I do not like when settings too much and deal with them becomes a task comparable to aircraft management.
Diskwave had all the chances of becoming an excellent free utility for analyzing the disk space, if it were not for one "but": I was able to analyze a separate folder, but when analyzing the disk, the application decides steadily, and considering the date of the last update, the fast "Fix" should not wait .
But suddenly you will work, try.
Grandperspective
Price: Free
Release date of the latest version: 25.08.2012
The version participating in the review: 1.5.1
Website:
Apple AppStore: Not
GrandPerspective Immediately after starting the application, it is asked to choose a scan directory. Unlike diskwave, with the whole grandperspective disc scanning. After completing the scanning, such a little psychedelic picture is seen:
Very similar to the image of the processor crystal under the microscope. But in terms of practicality, perhaps I do not understand something, because Disk Inventory X and Space Gremlin also use similar display, but it is inconvenient to look at these multicolored squares and rectangles. You have to force them to associate them with files. But maybe you will be comfortable such a way of display, I do not know.
Photography of the crystal processor under the microscope What exactly and objectively uncomfortable is the need to click on the squares or bring the cursor on them to find out what this file is hidden behind them.
But in the settings you can choose a color palette for squares, for example, "Blue Mountain Tulips"! :)
If such a way to visualize files on the disk is convenient, then otherwise this application copes with its task.
Space Gremlin.
Price: 129 rub. (At the time of publication there was a purchase discount).
Release date of the latest version: 1.03.2011
The version participating in the review: 1.2
System requirements: Mac OS x 10.6 and above
Website: www.spacegremlinapp.com
Apple AppStore: iTunes.apple.com - Space Gremlin
This utility has a strong similarity with Disk Inventory X and GrandPerspective in the data visualization method, but with a noticeable advantage - instead of square files are displayed as, you will not believe, files, but directories as containers including other directory and files.
The application does not have the application, although it is possible, this is a restriction of the demo version. Considering that the result of the analysis of the disk cannot be viewed as a list, but only in the form of a visual display, and that the application has not been updated for several years, I would not spend money on it.
Disk Inspector
Price: 269 \u200b\u200brub.
Release date of the latest version: 08.02.2013
The version participating in the review: 1.0.4
System requirements:
Website: nektony.com/disk-inspector
Apple AppStore: iTunes.apple.com - Disk Inspector
Simple both the functionality and the appearance of the utility. Data on a busy place on the disk is presented in the form of a circular diagram. The list of files cannot be seen, no windows with settings. Very simple, I would even say a primitive application.
Given the limited functionality, the price and the lack of updates after the first release, recommend the Disk Inspector to use.
Disk Expert.
Price: 329 rubles.
Release date of the latest version: 22.12.2011
The version participating in the review: 1.0.1
System requirements: Mac OS x 10.6 and above
Website: nektony.com/disk-expert.
Apple AppStore: iTunes.apple.com - Disk Expert
Disk Expert uses a circular diagram for visualization, as well as Disk Inspector and Daisydisk. In my opinion, this is the most comfortable and visual representation of the contents of the disk from those I have seen.
Instead of the list of files, the Disk Expert displays the largest files, which is better than nothing, but it is more convenient for it when you also have a simple list of directory and files on a disk, sorted by size, for example, like Disk Inventory X, diskwave And Daisydisk.
There is no separate window with the settings for Disk Expert.
Although this application has coped with the entire analysis of the disk, but once during the review, the Disk Expert closed with an error. Given its price and the fact that the updates did not go almost from the moment the application's release, I would not recommend to spend money on it, although with my task, Disk Expert copes.
Disk Inventory X.
Price: Free
Release date of the latest version: 9.10.2005
The version participating in the review: 1.0
System requirements: Mac OS x 10.3 and above
Website: www.derlien.com.
Apple AppStore: Not
Despite the fact that the latest version of this application has reached almost 10 years ago in 2005, it continues to remain not only working, so also the best among free analogues.
Although colored squares are used to visualize here, but there is also a list of directories and files with their size, which facilitates the understanding of the information provided. You can also see content statistics.
In the settings of the application is nothing supernatural.
A good free app, it is a pity that the new versions do not come out and it seems that it is abandoned by the developer.
Daisydisk.
Price: 329 rubles.
Release date of the latest version: 26.11.2013
The version participating in the review: 3.0.2
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.6 and higher (available version with support 10.5)
Website: www.daisydiskapp.com
Apple AppStore: iTunes.apple.com - Daisydisk.
This utility is constantly installed on my Mac and, in my opinion, it has only one drawback - this is what she is paid.
The data is presented in the form of a well-readable circular chart, and there is a list of files and directories. Navigation on directories is also made simple and convenient.
The application has everything you need to analyze a busy disk space, and there is nothing superfluous.
Just the Spartan settings.
Also, this is the only application from the review that is regularly updated by the creators and the new versions continue to emerge, which is important for the application, especially paid.
Conclusion
It seems to me that there are only two options from all the applications considered to pay attention to.
- If you are important to the free application, it is worth stopping at Disk Inventory X.
- If you are ready to pay, the best option is Daisydisk.
The remaining applications or lose in functionality or ceased to be updated, which can lead to the fact that after the next OS X update they will stop working.
But to decide which application to choose, of course you.
This is the one that is not enough over time. On the one hand, we bought for 1 TB and it seems well, now everything climbs. But over time, it turns out that he is "clogged" and do not want to delete the old (and suddenly come in handy), but there is no place for the new place.
Then the moment occurs in the process of which you can free something. But sometimes it is not enough.
Then there is a reasonable question in the head " and what does it take a lot of space on my disk?".
First of all, "go" in folders with movies, then games and programs. And you have to delete them creaking with teeth.
So, I will not tomat you, but I will write about several programs, the purpose of which is to show how many and what files (folders) take the most space on your disk. Of course, all of them (like all programs that are provided on my site) are free.
Running forward will report that the meaning of everyone is the same - to analyze the system and give out a visual form as and how it takes place by showing some additional features. As a result, you can see and delete (if desired) unnecessary large files.
The first program for disk analysis and search for large files and folders is WindirStat..
After installing and starting, the main window of the program will be:
In it you can specify that it is necessary to scan: all discs, a specific disk or a separate folder.
After selecting (I chose one system disk) the scanning process will begin:
As a result of which the result will be issued. The program window is divided into 3 parts:
1 - result in folders
2 - result on files (types /) indicating their legends
3 - Common chart. The meaning is simple - the more space it takes, the greater the display.
Results for convenience are shown in descending order, i.e. The most "large" files are displayed on top.
So you can clearly see what files and folders how much space occupy on the disk.
Now we look at what you can do with this information in addition to simple viewing, namely, pay attention to the top menu with the buttons:
Since the program in Russian and the buttons contain pop-up tips, I can only list what you can do with a folder or file directly from this program:
As you can see - all the most necessary functions.
By the way, using this program you can also check external and network discs.
Another similar program is JdiskReport.
It differs from the previous one primarily the lack of Russian.
After starting, it will offer to select a directory to scan and open the saved file with the analysis.
You can specify a whole disk and forward:
The window is divided into two parts: the location is indicated in the left, and the chart is generated in the right.
We will deal with the left side.
It displays a list of directories, sorted by "Most", i.e. The more the folder takes place, the higher it is. In the subfolders the same story.
Much more interesting right part.
At the bottom, you can change the form of the chart (of the four provided) and enable the display of files (check mark Show Files.).
In the upper part, you can switch to 50 "best" files ( top 50.), see how many files in size occupy certain places ( Size Dist.) when and how many files change last time ( Modified.) And what volume occupy certain types of files ( Types.).
In the upper menu of the program itself, only two switches are interesting: the first, for sorting alphabetically (and not on the "majority"), the second to display the number of files (and not volume).
But you can only view this information. To delete files, you have to open the conductor and look for this folder or file there. But you can and press PCM on the folder and choose Open Explorer ... For opening.
The following program for analyzing and search for large files is Scanner..
The program differs from previous ones that it does not require installation (portable).
After startup immediately scans all the discs and shows the alternate information:
You can select a specific disk, as a result of the scan, the volume of folders will be shown:
