Deleting large files

[Daryl]

Hi,

When I try to delete a large file such as a video mpg file (it doesn't
appear to happen with small files), I appear to have successfully deleted
the files but, when I look at the containing folder in explorer - the file
appears to still be there!

If I then try to delete it again - it gives me an error message so it would
appear that the file has actually gone. However, the disk space if not
freed up.

Upon reboot, the file has gone but how can I prevent this behaviour - I know
it's not by default as this does not happen on my laptop.

My hard drive is an NTFS disk.

Thanks,

Kroma

 

[Terry R.]

On 7/12/2007 10:15 AM On a whim, Daryl pounded out on the keyboard

Hi,

When I try to delete a large file such as a video mpg file (it doesn't
appear to happen with small files), I appear to have successfully deleted
the files but, when I look at the containing folder in explorer - the file
appears to still be there!

If I then try to delete it again - it gives me an error message so it would
appear that the file has actually gone. However, the disk space if not
freed up.

Upon reboot, the file has gone but how can I prevent this behaviour - I know
it's not by default as this does not happen on my laptop.

My hard drive is an NTFS disk.

Thanks,

Kroma

Hi Daryl,

It's a refresh issue in Explorer. Been that way for a long time. Best
thing to do after you delete files is to press F5 to refresh the view.
Then it will update and show you the file is gone.

There is a free alternative called Power Desk that I've used for years
(although I purchased the full version). It updates after every change.

Check out the free version here (PowerDesk Pro 5.0):
http://www.v-com.com/download/obsolete_downloads.html


--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[Daryl]

Hi Daryl,

It's a refresh issue in Explorer. Been that way for a long time. Best
thing to do after you delete files is to press F5 to refresh the view.
Then it will update and show you the file is gone.

No - refreshing doesn't help nor does opening a new explorer window!

The space is not freed up either until a reboot takes place.

Kroma

 

[Patrick Keenan]

No - refreshing doesn't help nor does opening a new explorer window!

The space is not freed up either until a reboot takes place.

Kroma

What happens if you empty the recycle bin?

Do you have any sort of recycle bin protection installed?

HTH
-pk

 

[Vanguard]

Hi,

When I try to delete a large file such as a video mpg file (it doesn't
appear to happen with small files), I appear to have successfully
deleted the files but, when I look at the containing folder in
explorer - the file appears to still be there!

If I then try to delete it again - it gives me an error message so it
would appear that the file has actually gone. However, the disk space
if not freed up.

Upon reboot, the file has gone but how can I prevent this behaviour -
I know it's not by default as this does not happen on my laptop.

My hard drive is an NTFS disk.

Probably because explorer.exe itself (which is also used for the GUI
desktop) has a handle on it, like to show you the preview picture when
that file was selected. To check if Explorer is holding onto the file:

- Open Task Manager.
- Kill all instances of explorer.exe. The desktop disappears.
- Use File -> New Task to run "cmd.exe".
- In the DOS shell, check if the file still exists; if so, delete it.
- Use File -> New Task to run "explorer.exe". The desktop reappears.

One side-effect of this approach (of unloading explorer.exe to delete
files that it has inuse) is that programs that don't periodically update
their tray icons will not show up in the system notification area (aka
tray area) until you logoff and login. Rebooting will release the file
handle because explorer.exe gets shutdown and the file handle object
gets obliterated and why you can delete the file after the reboot or it
disappears because the pending delete completed. The method above
eliminates the need to reboot if explorer.exe is the culprit holding
onto the file.

You might also want to use utilities to see if a process has an open
handle on the problematic file. Use 'handle' from SysInternals (bought
by Microsoft) or 'oh' from the Resource Kit. You could also try the
Unlocker utility (http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/).

 

[Daryl]

Probably because explorer.exe itself (which is also used for the GUI
desktop) has a handle on it, like to show you the preview picture when
that file was selected. To check if Explorer is holding onto the file:

Stopping and restarting explorer.exe does indeed banish the files in
question for good so, my next question is, how do I prevent explorer from
'having a handle' on such files in the first place? Why does it seem to be
only large files? Why doesn't my laptop exhibit the same behaviour?

Thanks

 

[Vanguard]

...

Stopping and restarting explorer.exe does indeed banish the files in
question for good so, my next question is, how do I prevent explorer
from 'having a handle' on such files in the first place? Why does it
seem to be only large files? Why doesn't my laptop exhibit the same
behaviour?

I know how to fix the problem. I didn't program explorer.exe so I don't
know the cause of the problem. Since I cannot changed explorer.exe,
that cause is irrelevant and continual.