Drive F with question mark and disk space mysteriously decreasing


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       #1

    Drive F with question mark and disk space mysteriously decreasing


    Hi to all! I just upgraded to Windows 10 just 3 days ago. Everything was smooth until I noticed a drive named "F". However, there are no usb or external hdd that are being used by my laptop. The drive F could not be right-clicked in order to see and an error message appears when I click on it. Another problem is my hdd space is mysteriously decreasing, from 463gb yesterday to 459gb today. How can I solve this? Thanks.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Drive F with question mark and disk space mysteriously decreasing-error.png   Drive F with question mark and disk space mysteriously decreasing-error2.png   Drive F with question mark and disk space mysteriously decreasing-f-drive.png  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, welcome to the mysterious and sometimes confusing world of Win 10.

    F: - suggest you post a screenshot of Disk Management
    (Windows key + R, type
    diskmgmt.msc)
    - maybe something odd related to your media card slot?

    As regards your disk space, first make sure your data is separate from your OS - on a separate partition or disk. I would imagine you have quite a lot of personal data on C: looking at the size of it.

    Second, having just installed Win 10, you will receive updates. However, the number of updates after each major build is quite limited, as many updates are cumulative, so not 100s as in Win 7. So you might see some change initially. Some drivers may be delivered later - so for example, you might find your graphics driver takes space.
    (Apps (the universal apps) are also regularly updated according to a scheduled task but should not result in loss of space).

    Clearly that should all stabilise quite quickly, and you should not see a progressive reduction in space.

    Suggest you check to see what is newer on your drive if yuo want to try to find out what's happening.
    E.g. install Everything by void tools, free, let it index (quick) and search for (say) files > 10Mb and newer than your installation date.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    dalchina said:
    Hi, welcome to the mysterious and sometimes confusing world of Win 10.

    F: - suggest you post a screenshot of Disk Management
    (Windows key + R, type
    diskmgmt.msc)
    - maybe something odd related to your media card slot?

    As regards your disk space, first make sure your data is separate from your OS - on a separate partition or disk. I would imagine you have quite a lot of personal data on C: looking at the size of it.

    Second, having just installed Win 10, you will receive updates. However, the number of updates after each major build is quite limited, as many updates are cumulative, so not 100s as in Win 7. So you might see some change initially. Some drivers may be delivered later - so for example, you might find your graphics driver takes space.
    (Apps (the universal apps) are also regularly updated according to a scheduled task but should not result in loss of space).

    Clearly that should all stabilise quite quickly, and you should not see a progressive reduction in space.

    Suggest you check to see what is newer on your drive if yuo want to try to find out what's happening.
    E.g. install Everything by void tools, free, let it index (quick) and search for (say) files > 10Mb and newer than your installation date.
    Thank you for your reply, Dalchina. I opened the disk management but I could not fine the drive "F". Is this a virus or something? Thank you in advance :) Here is the screeshot of the disk management. Drive F with question mark and disk space mysteriously decreasing-disk-management.png
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Hmm.. a quick search suggests:

    Have you ever mounted sthg as a disk drive?
    windows - How to get rid of an extra drive in showing up with question mark - Super User

    and potential solution here (if you read on)
    http://www.theeldergeek.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24412
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 17,838
    Windows 10
       #5

    The 'mysterious' drive, (most likely from a thumb drive), should not keep showing in This PC, just in Quick Access, (as it is, per screenshot), if it's been 'Pinned' there.
    Simply right click the entry and choose 'Unpin from Quick Access', or leave it and the question mark will disappear the next time the device is attached again.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Edwin said:
    The 'mysterious' drive, (most likely from a thumb drive), should not keep showing in This PC, just in Quick Access, (as it is, per screenshot), if it's been 'Pinned' there.
    Simply right click the entry and choose 'Unpin from Quick Access', or leave it and the question mark will disappear the next time the device is attached again.
    Hi Edwin, I bought a new cable for my external hdd then I plugged it in. The F Drive with question mark was gone however it appears again once I remove my external hdd and there is no option to "unpin" it from the quick access.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    dalchina said:
    Hmm.. a quick search suggests:

    Have you ever mounted sthg as a disk drive?
    windows - How to get rid of an extra drive in showing up with question mark - Super User

    and potential solution here (if you read on)
    http://www.theeldergeek.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24412
    Thank you dalchina, I'll check it out.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8
      My Computers


 

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