External HDD - Delete Files but HDD Space is still occupied

monoblam SG · 2008-01-13T05:36:11+00:00

It's much, much better than Heroes imo; Heroes became crap in season 2; bloody laaaame plot and acting. Prison break is still interesting even though it's al...

monoblam SG

I have this External HDD. I deleted a folder that contains a lot of files with size up to 5 GB. When I was about to delete, the system asked me whether I want to delete them permanently since it is too big, I click 'Yes'.

However, after deleting these files, it seems that my external hdd space is not freed up.

Before deleting the files, I have 20 GB free space.
After deleting the files, the free space that can be used also remains the same, which is 20 GB (by right, I shld have 25 GB free space in hand right now). It's NTFS format btw.

How do I solve this problem? I've tried error checking from properties and also defragging the hdd but it doesn't work. Is there a way to solve this without reformatting the hdd?

THanks.

abao SG

restart the PC. the HDD should properly reflect the change le.

If not, reduce system restore if you want more space. But means less back ups to restore from if something happens.

monoblam SG

no use.. it’s an external hdd. also when i used my other software i can browse hidden files (these files are not even visible when i set the folder settings to view hidden files) and there’s this folder $RECYCLE.BIN with everything i tought i already deleted in it located in the ext hdd itself but when i try to right click and delete it it says access denied.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Plug in the external HDD...

Open Command Prompt.

Type in external HDD drive letter, press Enter.

Then type in dir /s > contents.txt and press Enter.

Find the contents.txt file in your external HDD and post back the file...

monoblam SG

This is the problem:
I deleted my prison break episodes and it's still stuck in the harddisk.. when I go to F:\$RECYCLE.BIN and right click properties it there's 3.08GB of data in it but no files at all; not even hidden ones.

Directory of F:\$RECYCLE.BIN\S-1-5-21-39875458-608251912-973511096-1000\$RX5SDZE

01/06/2008 09:32 AM .
01/06/2008 09:32 AM ..
01/26/2007 07:24 PM 368,285,696 Prison.Break.S02E14.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi
01/26/2007 01:38 PM 49,857 Prison.Break.S02E14.HDTV.XviD-LOL.srt
01/30/2007 09:25 PM 367,020,562 Prison.Break.S02E15.HDTV.XviD-XOR.avi
01/30/2007 04:09 PM 51,571 Prison.Break.S02E15.HDTV.XviD-XOR.srt
02/06/2007 09:58 PM 367,611,904 Prison.Break.S02E16.HDTV.XViD-NoTV.avi
02/07/2007 11:11 AM 43,523 Prison.Break.S02E16.HDTV.XViD-NoTV.srt
03/13/2007 06:33 PM 367,613,546 Prison.Break.S02E17.HDTV.XViD-NoTV.avi
02/21/2007 02:28 PM 47,347 Prison.Break.S02E17.HDTV.XViD-NoTV.srt
03/12/2007 08:29 PM 366,970,870 Prison.Break.S02E18.HDTV.XviD-XOR.avi
03/03/2007 01:59 AM 56,090 Prison.Break.S02E18.HDTV.XviD-XOR.srt
03/12/2007 07:18 PM 368,585,166 Prison.Break.S02E19.HDTV.XviD-XOR.avi
03/08/2007 10:47 AM 45,624 Prison.Break.S02E19.HDTV.XviD-XOR.srt
03/22/2007 06:08 PM 365,756,416 Prison.Break.S02E20.PROPER.HDTV.XviD-2HD.avi
03/20/2007 08:48 AM 51,580 Prison.Break.S02E20.PROPER.HDTV.XviD-2HD.srt
04/01/2007 04:54 AM 366,845,952 Prison.Break.S02E21.HDTV.XviD-LOL.avi
04/01/2007 10:37 AM 24,162 Prison.Break.S02E21.HDTV.XviD-LOL.srt
04/05/2007 02:19 PM 366,996,858 Prison.Break.S02E22.HDTV.XviD-XOR.avi
04/05/2007 11:24 AM 43,720 Prison.Break.S02E22.HDTV.XviD-XOR.srt
18 File(s) 3,306,100,444 bytes

Shotgun SG

Try this thing called Unlocker Assistant. It helps delete “stuck” files.

monoblam SG

Ok thanks. I'm trying it now. Very Happy

monoblam SG

I can't access the file in $RECYCLE.BIN cos it's empty even after I choose to view hidden files so that software won't work. Sad

ndmmxiaomayi SG

In Command Prompt, type in this

F:
cd $RECYCLE.BIN\S-1-5-21-39875458-608251912-973511096-1000\$RX5SDZE
del /q *.*

OR

F:
rmdir /s /q $RECYCLE.BIN

monoblam SG

Worked perfectly. Thanks a lot! Very Happy

Shotgun SG

OMG! Where u get these solutions from?!

LatecomerX SG

OMG! I'm not alone in the middle of the night. Mr. Green

They are files that are stucked in some kind of a hidden Recycle Bin folder that can only be deleted through the command line, I guess.

So TS, is Prison Break nice to watch? How does it compare to other serials like Heroes? Very Happy

ndmmxiaomayi SG

.....................

Thought it should be common sense enough

del /q *.*

del - delete files

/q - quiet switch = no prompts when deleting files

*.* - any files, any extensions

rmdir - remove directories

/s - including all sub directories

/q - quiet switch = no prompts

Either way should work

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Don't think that's the Recycle Bin folder... Recycle Bin folder is named Recycled...

But... the security ID of a user seems to be in the Recycle.BIN folder...

As such files can't normally be seen even after you tell Windows to show hidden files and folders... just use Command Prompt and nuke the files.

Artiwizoras SG

P.S You should delete this you know. Wink

ndmmxiaomayi SG

And you quote it.

Must preserve evidence. Thread closed. Twisted Evil

eagle SG

it's our resident power ant, what can you expect Twisted Evil

Keii SG

Also happens if you happen to use your HDD with PC and Mac.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Laughing

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Just realized something.

$RECYCLE.BIN is actually the name of Recycle Bin in Vista. Laughing