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
    2019-04-27T19:43:35+00:00

    As i posted above, the utility “Treesize” solved my problem of discrepancies in reported folder sizes on different media. Plus it has other useful features such as printing a hard copy of folder contents. This something MS should have incorporated decades ago.

    Ron M

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-04-27T20:32:00+00:00

    Treesize does work.  Thanks for reminding me of the program.  I believe that I used this or some similar program years ago when I was trying to get the correct directory size in Windows.  I had forgotten about it.  This file size problem has been a bug in File Manager for many years, and given how long its been here, it is unlikely that Microsoft is going to fix it.  But it does seem that the problem has gotten worse in Windows 10 for some reason.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-04-30T11:33:55+00:00

    I have same problem on my new Dell desktop Window 10 Home 64bit of wrong folder size problem. It also happen on my other 3 windows device (Acer notebook 64bit, Acer tablet 32bit and Cube Tablet 32bit).

    I have 20 years on hardware and software, small Bugs on software is at early release is reasonable but window 10 is so bad and noise all around the world.

    Since there is so many problem and non-trustable on window 10 quality, is it possible to set up a window 10 complaint group and with more than 1 millions window 10 user complaint to ask Microsoft money back on all licence and supply free of charge window 7 with life time update until window 10 is trustable!

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-05-01T01:21:22+00:00

    Glad it helped.  I'm just learning to use Treesize, and like it very much so far.  Reminds me how much I relied on QDOS in the past.  Ever hear of it?

    I hope MS is monitoring these dialogs; they really need to fix the file size issue, they should be embarrassed!  Quit adding "features" and fix the things that are really useful.

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