External Hard Drive Clean up
May 18, 2017 15:04:30 #
I am trying to clean up an external hard drive and by moving big files to trash I am not seeing space cleared up. Is there a different process to erase file on a hard drive. Thanks as always
Joe
Joe
May 18, 2017 15:15:48 #
Papa j wrote:
I am trying to clean up an external hard drive and by moving big files to trash I am not seeing space cleared up. Is there a different process to erase file on a hard drive. Thanks as always
Joe
Joe
Did you dump the Recycle Bin? Just erasing a file dows not remove it. It only moves it to the Recycle bin.
May 18, 2017 15:18:17 #
marki3rd wrote:
Did you dump the Recycle Bin? Just erasing a file dows not remove it. It only moves it to the Recycle bin.
No I right clicked on a MAC and moved to trash
May 18, 2017 15:44:43 #
MichaelH
Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI
Now Right-Click on the Trash and choose Empty Trash. {Open Trash to see contents.}
May 18, 2017 16:11:56 #
On Windows you can also delete a file without moving it to the recycle bin by just holding down the shift key when you delete the file. It will ask you to confirm that you want to permanently remove it. You can also do that on a group of files; select the ones to purge, hold the shift key down and hit delete.
May 18, 2017 17:56:34 #
Pegasus wrote:
On Windows you can also delete a file without moving it to the recycle bin by just holding down the shift key when you delete the file. It will ask you to confirm that you want to permanently remove it. You can also do that on a group of files; select the ones to purge, hold the shift key down and hit delete.
thank you
May 18, 2017 19:44:10 #
May 19, 2017 08:40:02 #
jackpi
Loc: Southwest Ohio
After you delete your files and empty the trash folder, you should run the defragment utility on your hard drive. Afterwards, file access speed should improve because files will not be fragmented over the drive.
May 19, 2017 08:46:51 #
May 19, 2017 10:02:00 #
Papa j wrote:
I am trying to clean up an external hard drive and by moving big files to trash I am not seeing space cleared up. Is there a different process to erase file on a hard drive. Thanks as always
Joe
Joe
If it's a Windows machine, empty the recycle bin and the space will become available.
May 19, 2017 10:19:16 #
jackpi wrote:
After you delete your files and empty the trash folder, you should run the defragment utility on your hard drive. Afterwards, file access speed should improve because files will not be fragmented over the drive.
Thanks
May 19, 2017 10:20:09 #
May 19, 2017 10:49:56 #
On any machine, sending it to the trash, and even emptying the trash doesn't really remove anything, that's how they keep finding files on machines when the government officials try to hide their tracks. It just hides the location. Then, new files may, or may not be written over the old stuff. The only real way to get rid of items on your drive is to use a digital shredding program (like Hillary), or format the drive.
Of course, for just freeing up space to overwrite existing files, the trash, then empty trash should do it.
Of course, for just freeing up space to overwrite existing files, the trash, then empty trash should do it.
May 19, 2017 10:51:42 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
Delete your files and then run Defrag on that drive. This will reorganize all remaining files so their bytes are contiguous greatly improves access speed. It fills in the empty spaces left by the deleted files.
May 19, 2017 12:04:03 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.