Question

Slow deleting files on Windows XP

Asked by: Hardi

Hi,

It takes about 5 seconds to delete a file on my computer (Windows XP).
I have tried emptying the Recycle Bin but the problem persists.

Anyone know a solution to this?

Thanks in advance.

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Asked On
2009-01-18 at 18:17:12ID24062631
Tags

windows

,

windows xp

Topics

Windows XP Operating System

,

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

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Answers

 

by: alienvoicePosted on 2009-01-18 at 18:24:08ID: 23407648

You could try defragging your harddrive?

http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/windows/instructions/defrag.htm

 

by: alienvoicePosted on 2009-01-18 at 18:25:43ID: 23407654

I tend to use this software thou, it has a free trial version, fully functional, Id use it if the windows defrag keeps restarting dueto file use.

http://www.diskeeper.com/

 

by: dstewartjrPosted on 2009-01-18 at 18:30:08ID: 23407673

Best app for deleting files:

ccleaner

 

by: HardiPosted on 2009-01-18 at 18:38:11ID: 23407717

alienvoice: Thanks, I'll try it
dstewartjr: I think it's irrelevant

 

by: dstewartjrPosted on 2009-01-18 at 18:42:53ID: 23407744

Not entirely Irrelevant, as you are trying to delete files and you may find that application highly useful.

 

by: dstewartjrPosted on 2009-01-18 at 18:44:16ID: 23407751

Also try http://www.defraggler.com/ which is totally free

 

by: dbruntonPosted on 2009-01-18 at 19:20:29ID: 23407901

You should not need to defrag the disk to cure this problem.

There's a large number of possibles for this problem.  The list below should be used as a guide.  It may help.


Do clean out your recycle bin.
Too many files in the folder you are working on.
Virus (I've had this one).

And see

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/7063/

Best to read the article and see if any of what's there applies to your situation.

 

by: MeretePosted on 2009-01-18 at 19:59:13ID: 23408055

If you have a large amount of files to delete it takes time to shift them
Resize your Recycle Bin and see if that helps
The default setting is 10% of the size of your hard drive drive.
 Right click on the bin and slide it down to 2 or 3%.of your hard drive
 If you delete something bigger than what the recycle bin can hold
you'll get a message that it's too big to fit in the bin do you wish permently delete it without going to the recycle bin.

 

by: Frosty555Posted on 2009-01-18 at 20:29:24ID: 23408149

I suppose I should suggest running
     chkdsk /r /f

To check your disk (and all sectors) for errors and test that each cluster is readable.

Does this happen on all files on the hard disk? Or only certain ones? If you make a new file using notepad and then try to delete it, does it still take a long time?

Does it delete fast if you delete without sending to recycling bin (By holding down SHIFT+DEL instead of hitting DEL)? If so, sometimes emptying the recycling bin isn't enough. You have to physically delete the hidden C:\RECYCLER folder.

 

by: HardiPosted on 2009-01-19 at 04:32:38ID: 23409997

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!
I didn't have much time but here is some points:
- Newly created files can be deleted very quickly
- When I just start the computer, deleting is very slow, but after I restore the file from recycle bin and deleting it again, it's immediate
- The slow one is deleting from my 1TB harddisk, which has about 400GB of files
- Shift+Del looks immediate (just tested it once) and can you delete Recycler folder? I'll try it
- I have tried emptying recycle bin as I mentioned at first. (Merete: Do you think making the bin smaller would fix it?)
- I have Avira Antivir and my startup items and running processes look pretty clean (I know some virus can hide itself though)
- I think I've done that chkdsk at one point in time... when I have time i'll try it again and the defrag

Thanks again guys!

 

by: HardiPosted on 2009-01-19 at 15:21:48ID: 23415606

Deleting RECYCLER does the trick! Thanks Frosty!
But what does that mean? Windows still keep the files in an inaccessible folder inside RECYCLER even after you deleted them from the Recycle Bin? Why??

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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