I copied 20GBytes of data into personal safe. I found that I could not search properly for files so deleted the data but the C drive free space has not been released and I have lost 20GBytes of space. Is there any way to revover this space?

I recommend a degragment. If that is not the issue then try giving it time. I see that you posted this around 12 hours ago check now and see if it has the same problem.

Thanks for the reply. Defragmant did not work and time has not solved the problem. I suspect the bitlocker opens up a hidden partition and does not resize when files are removed. I probably need to find out how to delete this partition.

If you have used bitlocker to encrypt a 20 GB partition on a drive then you need to unlock the volume in order to see that bitlockerd volume.If you no longer want that 20 GB used, just delete that volume or unencrypt it.

I assume the drive was encrypted using bitlocker but I did not create it. When I opened Computer there was a drive at the bottom under Other (1) with a folder labeled Personal Safe. I cannot see how to delete it even when it is unencrypted.

The "Personal Safe" item is not related to BitLocker or to Windows 7 but is a third party related item.

Do you have a 3rd party software back up system (such as Acronis etc.)? Can you click this file? Screen shot would really help us solve this problem.

Yes, please assist us collect the screenshots and upload them to SkyDrive in order to make sure the issue. In addition, I wonder if the folder named, Personal Safe, has been existed since you purchased the computer. If so, its better to contact the computer manufacture to confirm how to release the space. Or you create this folder by using 3rd party programs. Please let us know. After performing a further research, I found that Personal Safe can make a partition in your hard disk as a virtual disk in order to protect your private information(eg.important document, private movie, IM chatting record, financial data, etc.). You have to use password to access the disk, and nobody can find or see those information without it. Do you have the password? Also, if there is no useful information included in the drive, please format it and try to allocate it to other available driver to check if these 20GB space can be re-allocated. 1. Click Start, type diskmgmt.msc in Start search box and press Enter.2. In the Disk Management window, right click on the problematic drive you would like to delete and select Delete Volume.3. Right click the Drive you want to assign these 20GB space to.4. Click Extend and follow the instructions tofinish the steps. If all the suggestions above do not help you with the issue, lets take the following steps to make sure if the drive is encrypted by BitLocker. 1) Open BitLocker Drive Encryption to check if the Personal Safe disk is listed, and if the BitLocker is turned on. 2) Use a command to list the encrypted files or folders and see if the Personal Safe disk is in the list. Steps: a. Click the Start button, then in the "Start Search" box, type CMD but DO NOT press Enter yet. b. In the list above, under "Programs" right-click on CMD that appears above and choose "Run as Administrator" and click "Continue". c. In the open window, type the following command and press Enter: cipher /u Additionally, please let me know the brand and model of the drive. Meanwhile, you can try to use Microsofts free ultility SDelete as well.

Ok, there are a few things you can do. Go to Command Prompt (start menue, type "CMD", right click and click "run as admin") and after starting your CMD should say this: "C:\Users\your user name>"type this "cd.."CMD should say this: "C:\Users\>"again type "cd.."now CMD should say "C:\>"type "dir"try to find the file here when you do leave CMD running and go to start menue type "msconfig" a window should pop up and click on "boot" at the top of that window and check taht you only have 1 line. Sometimes what happens is some computer manufacturers let you put a backup image on the CD drive so during boot all you have to press is "F11" and access it and i believe thats why you can't erease it. Post a screen shot of the CMD and the MSCONFIG and then we can better help you.

Thanks you are right personal safe in not related to bit locker. I have tracked down the issue and solution. I have a Sony Vaio AW21XY which also comes with a finger print scanner and protector suite 2009 software from UPEK Inc. I have contacted their helpline and got the following reply which I have tried and it worked. An archive file is creatred which I have deleted. Thanks for your inputs and help everybody. PersonalSafe archive can be found in your profile directory: On Windows Vista or Windows 7: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Protector Suite\psqlsa.swp On Windows XP: C:\Documents and settings\[username]\Application Data\Protector Suite\psqlsa.swp It is mostly marked as hidden, so you have to enable hidden files in Explorer (Tools -> Folder options -> View) first to be able to see this file... You can delete it manually from the above locations as per the your operating system