WinDirStat

[TimoVJL]

https://windirstat.net/download.html

Nice tool to check folder sizes.

[John Z]

Yes it is very handy. I have used the portable version for many years.
https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/windirstat_portable

Also a good site, and as the name implies portableapps can be installed on a USB and run leaving no traces, or very minimal, on the system.

However the most used tool now is SwiftSearch - the speed this has searching a NTFS formatted drive is just astounding.  Open source too.
https://sourceforge.net/projects/swiftsearch/


John Z

[Vortex]

Another file search tool : Everything

Locate files and folders by name instantly.

https://www.voidtools.com/

[TimoVJL]

That Everything works fine and was updated recently.

[Vortex]

Hi Timo,

In Windows, we have the built-in command-line tool WHERE to search files.

[John Z]

the "where" command is ok but really very slow.

SwiftSearch found 5107 *.pdf files in just .22seconds

where didn't give the first page in .22 seconds. It was taking so long to finish that I Ctrl-C'd it.

The 'Everything' program looks interesting with some added features like a HTTP server. I wounder though if the Everything software 'phones home' or sends other telemetry without notification.  I'll install at some point and check.

John Z

[Vortex]

Hi John,

You can use Windows based firewall tools to inspect your network traffic.

[John Z]

Hi Vortex,

Yes, I use the firewall monitoring and the Resource monitor (resmon.exe) to see what the programs are doing.  I have about 15 outbound blocks added for programs that really don't need to send out information when I use the program. 


John Z

[Vortex]

I wounder though if the Everything software 'phones home' or sends other telemetry without notification.  I'll install at some point and check.

Kindly, could you share your inspection results with us?

[John Z]

Definitely can but it will be a little while yet.

John Z