Windows 10, PC, C: drive storage space unavailable, 1TB down to 236GB

Question

I recently upgraded to the version of Windows that allows me to utilize bitlocker. For some reason my C: drive was inching toward max capacity, having only a dozen or so gb's of storage space available. I had utilized bitlocker, and had gone through the disk cleanup option to no avail. Despite my ignorance with some of the finer points of computer management, I attempted and was successful at compressing the drive. That was the point at which I noticed the decrease in the drive size, and immediately the storage space went from 1TB to 236GB. I should have stopped right there and asked for help but instead I reset the laptop PC with the fresh start option, having previously backed up all of my files and photos to an external hard drive. I had hoped that the reset would have undone any foolish change I had made but to my surprise, the drive is still limited to 236GB. I started going into disk management but didn't see any option that would allow me to feel comfortable with any changes I may apply.

It is likely that I will be taking my laptop to a service technician but perhaps some of you know of a means by which I might resolve this issue before I take that step. I appreciate any help you can offer.

Thank you.
Dave D.

Answer 1

See if you can get some information with these links / software / steps / commands:

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

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/26340-compress-uncompress-files-folders-windows-10-a.html

Open administrative command prompt or powershell and copy and paste all at one time:
diskpart
lis dis
lis vol
sel dis 0
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par
sel par 2
det par
sel par 3
det par
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par
sel par 6
det par
sel dis 1
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par
sel par 2
det par
sel par 3
det par
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par
sel par 6
det par

https://www.minitool.com/

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/37060-turn-off-bitlocker-operating-system-drive-windows-10-a.html
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/97242-unlock-os-drive-encrypted-bitlocker-windows-10-a.html
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/97390-use-bitlocker-repair-tool-recover-encrypted-drive-windows.html
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/36901-check-bitlocker-drive-encryption-status-windows-10-a.html

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