USB External Hard Drive - Slax v5.0.6 says it's full, Windows claims otherwise
 

Hey everyone.

Because Windows XP pretty much packed up due to various mistakes on my part, I can no longer get Windows to boot up. However, before I reformat the C:\ drive, I need to get some files from my hard drive.

I downloaded the Slax v5.0.6 boot disc and inserted my 20gb Fujitsu external hard drive. I copied about 2.5gb of stuff from there, moved it onto my mum's laptop (along with some other files, so I know I have 12gb of free space on my hard drive now) and then loaded up Slax once more.

However, where once under, "Meta Data" it gave me however much free space it had, it showed it as being 100% full.

Now, I deleted some files (about 25mbs worth) and the Meta Data now said I had 25mb free.

Now, how can I get it to recognise that there is in fact 12gb of space free so that I can copy my files over?

If it makes anything clearer, the hard drive is formatted to FAT32. Formatting this drive is an option.

what is the output of df -h when the disk is mounted.

and what is your /etc/fstab?

In the end, all I needed to do was run chkdsk.

I feel so very foolish... :(