Computers use a hard drive with storage space to store data that is kept on the computer. You will need to know how much available disk space you have in order to install new programs. Free disk space also ensures that your computer running smoothly. Windows and Mac operating systems allow users to view the available space on the computer's hard drive by right-clicking on the drive icon and viewing the hard drive's properties.
Instructions
Windows
1. Open your "My Computer" folder by clicking the icon on your desktop. If you do not have a shortcut on your desktop, open your "Start" menu and right-click on the "My Computer" icon.
2. Right-click on your hard drive icon. Generally, the hard drive is named the C: drive. Select the "Properties" option from the drop-down menu.
3. Read the pie chart and accompanying information to determine how much free disk space your hard drive has. Windows operating systems use blue to indicate how much disk space you are using and purple to depict how much free space is available.
Mac
4. Locate the hard drive icon on your desktop. This drive is usually titled "Macintosh HD." If the shortcut is not on your desktop, locate the hard drive from the Mac's "Finder" window.
5. Right-click on the "Macintosh HD" icon. Select the "Get Info" option from the hard drive's drop-down menu.
6. View the computer's hard drive information in the pop-up window. The window will show the drive's total disk space, used space and available space.
Tags: hard drive, your desktop, disk space, drive icon, available space, computer hard, computer hard drive
