“Why is it only 118 GB instead of 128gb like it says? The other programs are small”
Answer This Question
1-10 of 15 Answers
Because there are two definitions for GB. The binary definition is 1,024 x 1,024 x 1,024 = 1,073,741,824 and that is the one used by Windows to report disk size. Storage system manufacturer, however, took the liberty to define GB as 1 billion bytes. The difference between the two is 7.3%, so 128 GB (disk) = 119.2 GB (binary). Then you must take into account the fact that Windows reports formatted capacity, while storage manufacturers reports unformatted size, resulting in the difference that you noticed. The same applies to your hard drive, too.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.The storage capacity (size of a drive) is actually a mathematical calculation in base 2 in which the results are 2 raised to a power. For simplicity some people call 2 to the tenth (2^10 because this text editor is too limited to allow scientific notation) equals 1000 (or 1k) whereas the actual calculation is 1024 and the differences eventually are far enough apart to make what appears to be a significant difference. Drive manufacturer's tend to report the larger calculation while Windoze and other operating systems tend to use the lower. There will also be some memory usage telling the thumb drive what it is, etc., making the apparent capacity slightly lower.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Virtually every storage device manufacturer defines 1KB=1000 bytes, 1MB=1,000,000 bytes, and 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. The fine print on the packaging indicates this. Let's call these "marketing" GB. Technically, however, 1KB=1024 bytes, 1MB=1,048,576 bytes (1024*1024), and 1GB=1,073,741,824 bytes (1024*1024*1024). Computer operating systems will use the more correct technical values when calculating sizes. Thus, when you divide 128,000,000,000 (SanDisk's advertised capacity) by 1,073,741,824, you get just over 119GB. The packaging's fine print also indicates "Actual user storage less", which explains the difference between the calculated 119GB and actual 118GB. The playing field is level among manufacturers because nearly all of them use the same practice, but it requires the consumer to be aware of it when looking for a device of a particular actual capacity. For example, since file sizes are reported using actual values, users will need to convert between "marketing" capacities and actual capacities to ensure they're getting a device large enough to hold the desired files. As always, caveat emptor.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Some data loss is normal as all drives require formatting. Your hard-drive will show less capacity as well. This applies to flash drives, USB Flash Drives, and SD cards. The manufacturer cannot know if your drive will go into: Windows, Apple, UNIX, some game console, your car, or who knows what. So, they pick a widely used format and let you change it if you like or must.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.as an answer kinda, it seems the discrepancy provides the manufacturer a in my case 12 gb unavailable space, it does not take 12 gb to format any system i know of, even the largest windows and linux sit around 1.98gb, being that companies like lexar have a type of security software already downloaded at purchase lend creedence to the idea that 10 gb is either that security program (silently preinstalled, to avoid the need for accepting the service policy). why would an empty device come with a service policy link preinstalled, because a service is being provided, not storage space. this keeps a backdoor area on your device despite file encryption that may or may not be accessible to manufacturers, hackers and uncle tom, i mean, enforcement surviellance activities. the same way a hacker would install say a network activation or spyware on a comprimised device, these companies has space for themselves no matter that 116 isnt 128, it is if you pretend the billion byte thing makes sense, otherwise guy here is correct, or their formatting waaay to large to start and the initial partition corrupts itself and is lost to oblivion, but thats unlikely. stay frosty fans.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Typically, the size quoted on Drives are unformatted size. Formatting low level and High Level uses up the sectors. Think of it like marking up a pizza with a wide black marker, and the width of the marker is a byte(bite) here and there being taken away. So after you draw up your sections(sectors) what is left is what is inside the black lines Based on your numbers , 8% of your drive was lost do to formatting, which sounds about right. Now there is another thing to keep in mind, sometimes, they don't report the true Binary number, as in 1k doesn't equal 1024, just 1000, like you see them use for Likes on Youtube. 1k likes doesn't mean 1024, it means 1 + 3 zeros(k) . So with that in mind, always expect the follow, either it will be 64K bytes = 64,000 or the True Binary number of 65,535 . Then as a rule of thumb, I would always round it off as a 10% loss of space do to writing flaw map( low level format) and formatting the drive ( high level). Not to go in depth too much, but the drive is written on, marking it up in segments with Markers for the start and end of each sector, and if the sector is bad, that is written in the Flaw Map. Once all that is done, then you use Format to group the sectors into clusters, Directories are creator and a FAT (File allocation Table) is created. Thus this explains why the any drive is always show less than what it says. Typically, they should print, whether it is 128 GB formatted or unformatted.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Some times 1024 bits are read by a computer as 1000 bits. 118 x 1.024 = 128. So its really the same, just a question of specification.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.It is because when Formatted, the real drive space as always less then the physical total size of the drive. hard drives are the same way.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Sandisk always load some of its own software on the flash stick. You can delete it if you want.
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.Driver Software Installed
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.