wrong HDD properties -used space

Hi all, I have a small problem,
I recently did an install (Win Xp) on a machine, partitioned the 80G hard drive in two parts, 15G for Windows and the rest for My Documents and so,
but the thing is that in the Windows(system) partition properties it says 10G space used,
how can it be if even when I select all the folders in that hard drive it gives me a combined size of little more than 2.5G?
What else is supposedly taking almost 8Gigs?
I just thought of something,
do you think it's in the hidden folders?
something like installation backup files or so?

Change your Folder view options to see all the hidden files.
Remember, it's also including your page file,hibernation file and system restore.

Ooh the System Restore files, I guess I wouldn't want to get rid of those.
are the page and hibernation files critical?, or is it something I can get rid of like cokies or cache?

Damn I always brag about how I fix ppls computers and install windows to difficult machines,
and I still keep finding that ' I know nothing' lol haaa ha ha!.

The page file is the one you cannot get rid of...personally, I find System Restore and Hibernation to be useless, so I get rid of them.
Also check the Recycle Bin...by default it will reserve 10% of your disk space for future trash.

If you have a 1GB flash drive lying around you could probably put your swap on it (a'la rigged ReadyBoost).

if nothing helps, use Total Commander, pressing alt+shift+enter in root, you'll see each directory size. so that will lead u to the space eating folder...
good luck.