External HDD - Delete Files but HDD Space is still occupied

• monoblam

  11 Jan 08, 08:08

  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

  11 Jan 08, 08:14

  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

  11 Jan 08, 08:29

  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

  11 Jan 08, 09:24

  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

  11 Jan 08, 20:22

  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

  11 Jan 08, 21:30

  Try this thing called Unlocker Assistant. It helps delete "stuck" files.
• monoblam

  11 Jan 08, 21:40

  Originally posted by Shotgun:

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

  Ok thanks. I'm trying it now.
• monoblam

  11 Jan 08, 21:44

  Originally posted by Shotgun:

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

  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.
• ndmmxiaomayi

  11 Jan 08, 21:57

  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

  11 Jan 08, 22:20

  Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:

  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

  Worked perfectly. Thanks a lot!
• Shotgun

  12 Jan 08, 04:41

  Originally posted by ndmmxiaomayi:

  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

  OMG! Where u get these solutions from?!
• LatecomerX

  12 Jan 08, 05:20

  Originally posted by Shotgun:

  OMG! Where u get these solutions from?!

  OMG! I'm not alone in the middle of the night.
  
  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?
  
• ndmmxiaomayi

  12 Jan 08, 13:27

  Originally posted by Shotgun:

  OMG! Where u get these solutions from?!

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

  12 Jan 08, 13:30

  Originally posted by LatecomerX:

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

  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

  12 Jan 08, 13:40

  Originally posted by monoblam:

  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
  

  P.S You should delete this you know.
• ndmmxiaomayi

  12 Jan 08, 13:44

  And you quote it.
  
  Must preserve evidence. Thread closed.
• eagle

  12 Jan 08, 13:47

  Originally posted by Shotgun:

  OMG! Where u get these solutions from?!

  it's our resident power ant, what can you expect
• Keii

  12 Jan 08, 13:53

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

  12 Jan 08, 15:29

  Originally posted by eagle:

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

  
• ndmmxiaomayi

  13 Jan 08, 01:43

  Just realized something.
  
  $RECYCLE.BIN is actually the name of Recycle Bin in Vista.
• monoblam

  13 Jan 08, 05:36

  Originally posted by LatecomerX:

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

  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 already at season 3. It's also better than most other shows I watch (Lost, House, CSI,). Two other shows I like as much as Prison break are My name is earl and The Office (US).
  
  Too bad every single show is put on hold cos of the WGA strike. But I'd definitely recommend you to download Prison break. I think there're still many seeders for the previous 2 seasons' torrents.