[Solved] Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

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Tyme

[Solved] Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by Tyme »

Hello Folks,

I have an external hard drive. When I left click to read the properties of one of the folders:

On my Linux machine it reads:
size 276.8 Gb
83898 items (and 46 hidden)

On another Windows 10 machine, the same folder reads:
size 258 Gb
81784 files and 2201 folders

!!

Would anybody be able to shed a light on this HUGE disparity?

Thanks in advance.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
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jimallyn
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Re: Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by jimallyn »

Well, for starters, do you know about the gigabyte/gibibyte thing? We used to use kilo, mega, giga, and so on in computer to represent the nearest power of two equivalent. Like, when you say kilobyte in computers, what we meant was 1024 bytes. A "binary kilo", so to speak. Well, now kilo means 1000 again, and a kibibyte is 1024 bytes. It's going to take me some time to get used to that. Anyway, one of those numbers is in decimal and the other is in binary. And the discrepancy in number of files is not that big: 81784 files and 2201 folders = 83985 items. Not sure where the other 3 are.
“If the government were coming for your TVs and cars, then you'd be upset. But, as it is, they're only coming for your sons.” - Daniel Berrigan
Tyme

Re: Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by Tyme »

Thanks jimallyn.
I see your point re:
81784 files and 2201 folders = 83985 items

..but could not understand:
276.8 Gb vs 258 Gb.

cheers.
rickNS
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Re: Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by rickNS »

I have noticed some differences in sizes even within the same OS (mint). Example I just checked the DISKS utility, and it reports the /home partition is 50 GB exactly what I created. The reported size from inxi command says it is 46 GB. I don't know why the difference, how it's calculated, as long as I have some free space left is all that really matters. Interesting though that 4 GB is 8% of the 50 quite a big difference, a lot more than the 2.4 % difference as explained by Jim above. Like I said though It doesn't matter, just a curiosity.
Mint 20.0, and 21.0 MATE on Thinkpads, 3 X T420, T450, T470, and X200
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Flemur
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Re: Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by Flemur »

Tyme wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 9:17 pm..but could not understand:
276.8 Gb vs 258 Gb.
I forget the term(s) for it, but it's counting base in 10 (1,000) vs base 2 (1024).
276/258 = 1.069
(1024^3)/(1000^3) = 1.073
Pretty close to the same number: 258*(1024^3) ~= 276*(1000^3).
Please edit your original post title to include [SOLVED] if/when it is solved!
Your data and OS are backed up....right?
Tyme

Re: Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by Tyme »

Thank you all. This is now solved..

...except I don't seem to be able to change the title of my post to add [Solved] !
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MrEen
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Re: Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by MrEen »

Click the pencil icon on the FIRST post of the thread and edit the title there.
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catweazel
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Re: Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by catweazel »

Tyme wrote: Tue Feb 27, 2018 8:17 pm On my Linux machine it reads:
size 276.8 Gb
83898 items (and 46 hidden)

On another Windows 10 machine, the same folder reads:
size 258 Gb
81784 files and 2201 folders
2^10 != 10^2
"There is, ultimately, only one truth -- cogito, ergo sum -- everything else is an assumption." - Me, my swansong.
Tyme

Re: [Solved] Folder Content info Linux vs Windows

Post by Tyme »

Thanks MrEen.
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