How to Find Out the Number of Items on My Hard Drive
By Heather Laurent
Determining how many data files are stored on a particular hard drive can be useful information, especially relative to the total number of space available on the device. Computer speed often correlates to the amount of information stored on your hard drive. Locating the number of files on a particular drive involves a quick and easy process that anyone can perform.
Step 1
Navigate to “My Computer,” which can either be found as a link on your desktop or in the “Start” menu.
Step 2
Locate the hard drive from the displayed list. Usually, “C:” is the primary internal hard drive where most information can be found.
Step 3
Right-click the hard drive. Select “Properties.” You will find the total amount of space that your files occupy on the hard drive in gigabytes. You will also see a pie chart which maps the amount of space you have used relative to the total amount of space on the device.
Step 4
Select “OK” to close the Properties window. Open the folder for the hard drive you selected by double-clicking on it. Select all folders by pressing CTRL+A. Right-click on the selected area and choose “Properties.” Wait until your computer has finished counting all of the files on the drive. You will find the total number of files at the top of the Properties window.
References
Writer Bio
Heather Laurent is a nomadic writer and photographer who has worked and/or studied in over 10 different countries on five continents. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Denver in 2007 with a B.A. in languages and international studies. Laurent's work has appeared in the reports and official websites of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Zambia's refugee camps.