Wrong calculation of folder size by Windows

Anonymous
2018-06-28T18:16:18+00:00

Hello,

I noticed today that my Windows system does not properly calculate folder sizes.

I'm actually trying to make a backup of all my personal and work content. When I check the whole backup folder size under properties, It shows me around 10 Gb. But when I open this big folder and select a subfolder, It show me 30 Gb... This is kind of really annoying and I think it's a major issue Microsoft should fix ASAP.

I would like to say (because I didn't find anywhere else to post it) that in my opinion, Microsoft lacks ways of collecting feedback from his clients. There is nowhere we can manually report bugs and crashes.

In any ways, I think that showing correct folder sizes is a really basic task that an Operating System should be able to do. Such a bug is inacceptable for a leader like Microsoft, and I honestly consider going along with Apple if this issue does not get quickly fixed. My computer will soon need to be changed in anyways.

Meanwhile, if some of you guys have found ways to go around this major issue, feel free to share them :). Thank you!

Here is my technical information :

Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.60 GHz

64 bits

Windows 10 family version 1803

Installed on 2018-06-20

O.S. version 17134.112

Many thanks is advance,

Antoine

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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Answer accepted by question author
DaveM121 931.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2018-06-28T18:35:14+00:00

Hi Antoine_795,

It is widely reported that version 1803 of Windows 10 has introduced a bug into Explorer.exe

It is because it cannot read the metadata of files correctly, it mixes up the size and dimensions for example

Therefore it cannot calculate the size of a folder, especially if it has sub-folders, it also cannot calculate the spare space on a hard drive . . .

In the meantime, while we are waiting for Microsoft to fix this bug:

Click the link below to download a small free utility called Treesize - it is a great utility . . .

Using that tool, you will instantly see the size of all folders (always missing form File Explorer) and where space is being used on your hard drive . . .

https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-05-10T14:09:23+00:00

    Ron,

    Thank you for your reply.  You have mentioned TreeSize a few times.  I use WinDirStat.  This is however besides the point.  We should not have to use third party software to deal with a problem that should never have existed to begin with.  MSFT should get this basic function right before spending energy on turning our machines into oversized cell phones.

    Look at the start menu in W8 & 10. It is nowhere near the W7 start menu (and its predecessors) where neatly organizing programs in groups was easier and better.  I am now using OpenShell  to have a W7 start menu.  Again I should not have to do this.  If MSFT thought that the W10 start menu was so much better (which it is not), they could have given users both options, the old W7 look and the W8/10 look.  I have no use for the metro option, maybe good for people with only a few programs who like the look and feel of a cell phone app.  And when are we going to be able to customize the awful color scheme of the metro blocks; this was designed with high contrast high visibility in mind for cell phones.  The 3-D look of the buttons has been abandoned too because it uses up too much resources.  Really??  That may be true for an old cell phone (although I doubt it) but for sure not for the machines we use. Sad state of affairs is that almost every software developer has done the same, flat unpleasing buttons.

    Giving people options instead of patronizing them with what big brother thinks is best would gain bonus points.

    Filiep

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-05-09T05:10:34+00:00

    Hi

    Thanks for writing. I solved the problem by downloading and using a program called “Treesize”. It does what File Explorer should do. Plus it lets you print the contents of folders-something MS has never been able to do, pathetically. Check out Treesize. (I have no financial interest in the program). 

    Ron M

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-05-09T04:28:13+00:00

    Hi Tom

    Thanks for your reply. It is comforting to know I’m not the only one having the problem. I have basically solved the problem by downloading a program called Treesize. So far it has performed perfectly, always giving the same size info for the same folders on all media. It also has other great features like

    printing the contents of folders. 

    MS should have had this decades ago!!

    Ron M

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-09T00:53:33+00:00

    This is not a recent problem.  It has been an active bug (bug, poor programming, whatever) at least since Windows 7 that I know of, maybe even earlier.  My company has been dealing with it for the last 5 or 6 years.  It may have been around earlier than that, but perhaps we never noticed.  It's interesting to note that the bug does not appear to be in the latest Windows server versions, if it was ever in any of the server editions.

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