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General discussion

Can't regain space from deleted files on flash drive

Feb 10, 2011 3:37AM PST

Hey Folks.
I have a fairly new Toshiba 4gb flash drive. The only way I can regain empty space is by cutting and pasting the files I want to remove to the recycle bin on my hard drive. If I just right click and delete the file, it will disappear from the flash folder. But I will not regain any empty space.

I've tried running CC Cleaner on it and wiping free space, I have also checked it for errors and defragged it.

Any Ideas?

Discussion is locked

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(NT) Why not format it?
Feb 10, 2011 3:43AM PST
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WIld guess, Recycler.
Feb 10, 2011 3:54AM PST

Recycler is a hidden folder on the hard drive, but as I understand, it is also present on other drives. Whether that includes flash drives or not I don't know.

You can 'unhide' Windows System protected files and folders from Folder Options in the Control panel.

Mark

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Tried
Feb 10, 2011 4:38AM PST

I keep all my files and folders viewable on my computer. I ran into that early in my computer days. Going crazy looking for stuff that accidentally got hidden. I also have the CC Cleaner set to 3 passes, which includes deleting recyclers.

As far as reformatting. I guess I could do that. But sometimes you just want to add stuff and leave the rest alone. Reformatting means wiping it clean every time I want to add something.

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Formatting could also
Feb 10, 2011 11:59PM PST

Formatting could also correct a file system error. It's something to consider but is not important. What I mean is these files are not the only copies you have so if the file system was glitched and failed you wouldn't lose anything.
Bob

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Fat32?
Feb 11, 2011 2:22AM PST

I ran the error checking and bad sector tool on it. nothing came up. Does the fat32 format make a difference? It came that way, and that's the only way the usb port on my dvd player will recognize it. It seems this is the only drive with a problem. I have XD and SD cards for my cameras, they delete fine. They are FAT format, not 32 though(I don't really know the difference). I think I will try to reformat it.

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Formatting didn't really work.
Feb 11, 2011 2:51AM PST

Reformatting erased the thumb drive completely. But when I reloaded files on it, I still have to cut & past them back to the hard drive to regain empty space. Right click/delete still does not work.

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I wonder if this is U3 or U2K
Feb 11, 2011 4:11AM PST
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Something to do with my tower.
Feb 11, 2011 6:21AM PST

I read that thread. I don't have the problem he's describing, although it could stem from the same thing I guess.

Now I'm thinking It may be something with my desk tower XP/SP3 computer. I tried loading and unloading various files through a Gateway laptop with Win7. It worked exactly the way it's supposed to. Files deteted and space regained properly from right click/delete.

On my XP tower computer when deleting it asks me if I want to send to Recycle Bin(just like any other drive on the computer). On the Win7 laptop it asks if I want to permanantly delete(this differs from other drives on the computer, where it asks to recycle).

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Sounds like a virus.
Feb 11, 2011 6:42AM PST
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Solved
Feb 11, 2011 10:20AM PST

OK. I got it now. I don't have any viruses.
It seems that anything that's plugged into the usb ports doesn't truly delete until I empty the recycle bin on the desktop. Including Cameras, mp3 players and of coarse the Toshiba thumbdrive. So, if I have a 4mb picture on the thumbdrive that I delete. The icon of that file goes from the thumbdrive to the recycle bin on the desktop, but the 4mb space on the thumbdrive is not freed until I empty the recycle bin.

But this does not seem to be the case if I remove the flashcards from the devices, and put them directly into the card reader slots. Then the empty space is avaiable immediately, even while the files are still sitting in the recycle bin. I also don't see this with my external hard drive, when I delete on that, the space is also available immediately.

I have never noticed this before.