hard drive help

[glock800]

i seem to be having a strange problem.ok heres the deal i had two 40 gig hard drives in my comp both were using the fat32 system recently one of my hdd's went up on me so i got a new 120GB hdd.after installing it it seems i can only use NTFS system format i dont know why or is this normal with high capacity drives?also it seems that whenever i delete something from the D drive(120GB hdd) instead of going to the recycle bin like it used to do its just gone.ive checked the recycle bin properties and the D drive isnt listed.how can i fix that.thanks for your time.oh last question is there a downside to using the NTFS format instead of fat32?

 

[Weird Harold]

i seem to be having a strange problem.ok heres the deal i had two 40 gig hard drives in my comp both were using the fat32 system recently one of my hdd's went up on me so i got a new 120GB hdd.after installing it it seems i can only use NTFS system format i dont know why or is this normal with high capacity drives?also it seems that whenever i delete something from the D drive(120GB hdd) instead of going to the recycle bin like it used to do its just gone.ive checked the recycle bin properties and the D drive isnt listed.how can i fix that.thanks for your time.oh last question is there a downside to using the NTFS format instead of fat32?

I'm not familiar with the NTFS file system, but I suspect it's just the native format of your OS (Win XP?) and the default for formatting a new drive. Once you formatted in the mode, going back to the older FAT32 file system isn't recommended so it isn't an option. You might be able to reformat the drive completely in FAT32 but I can't see why you would want to.

I can't think of any reason there would be a downside to using NTFS, especially if it is your OS's "Native Mode." Operating sytems usually work better in their native modes than when they have to convert to/from older formats.

Check Properties for your new drive and see if the option for using the Recycle Bin is there -- I think Win XPallows it to be turned off for individual drives instead of a just a blanket on/off switch for the recycle bin.

 

[glock800]

well heres the thing when i first installed XP pro i was using the fat 32 system and the new high capacity drive only supports NTFS unless i want to use smaller partitions instead of a single large partition.im happy with NTFS.the only thing im not happy with is when i delete a file from the drive it doesnt go to recycle bin.ive checked the drive properties,admin tools,and control panel and cant find anything about setting the new drive up to use the recycle bin.im beginning to get the feeling its because of the NTFS format.on the new drive it has a folder named "RECYCLER" and it seems to be using that folder as a recycle bin but it doesnt store the files they just go there and are automatically deleted.i tried deleting the "RECYCLER" folder but i get the message "cannot delete RECYCLER:folder not empty" but when i go into the folder its empty.its a very strange problem and i cant figure out whats causing it.under the recycle bin properties it only lists my C: drive(FAT32 40GB master drive) but not the slave drive (120GB NTFS drive) but when i used to have the old drive that i removed installed they both showed up in the recycle bin properties (they were both using the FAT32 system).

 

[Weird Harold]

... im beginning to get the feeling its because of the NTFS format.on the new drive it has a folder named "RECYCLER" and it seems to be using that folder as a recycle bin but it doesnt store the files they just go there and are automatically deleted.i tried deleting the "RECYCLER" folder but i get the message "cannot delete RECYCLER:folder not empty" but when i go into the folder its empty.its a very strange problem and i cant figure out whats causing it.

Sounds like it's time for you to search your help menu or the Web for "recycler" to find out how to use the NTFS version of a recycle bin.

It sounds like there's an entirely different recycle scheme for undeleting files between the two file systems.

Since I don't have any experience with any version of XP, I'm not sure I can be any direct help.

One thing to check is if you're signed on as an administrator -- XP reserves many functions to administrator logins. Recycling deleted files could well be one of them.

 

[ReadyOne]

Find the Recycle bin on your desk top. Or, open WINDOWS Explorer and find the Recycle bin in the file tree in the left window.

Right Click and select "Properties".

From thereon, you should be able to figure things out.

PS: If you hold the SHIFT key while doing a delete, the file will be directly deleted and not sent to the Recycle bin.

PPS: It is possable to recover files (takes a special program) that have been deleted. The are special delete programs (Wipe programs) that erase files by overwriting to make the contents truly vanish.

 

[sxylegs]

well heres the thing when i first installed XP pro i was using the fat 32 system and the new high capacity drive only supports NTFS unless i want to use smaller partitions instead of a single large partition.im happy with NTFS.the only thing im not happy with is when i delete a file from the drive it doesnt go to recycle bin.ive checked the drive properties,admin tools,and control panel and cant find anything about setting the new drive up to use the recycle bin.im beginning to get the feeling its because of the NTFS format.on the new drive it has a folder named "RECYCLER" and it seems to be using that folder as a recycle bin but it doesnt store the files they just go there and are automatically deleted.i tried deleting the "RECYCLER" folder but i get the message "cannot delete RECYCLER:folder not empty" but when i go into the folder its empty.its a very strange problem and i cant figure out whats causing it.under the recycle bin properties it only lists my C: drive(FAT32 40GB master drive) but not the slave drive (120GB NTFS drive) but when i used to have the old drive that i removed installed they both showed up in the recycle bin properties (they were both using the FAT32 system).

I hope you got your hard drive fixed....but if you havent maybe you should use an older version of windows or the installation disk that you used to format the hard drive.......it sounds like mine did when it was using win2000......almost exactly....in fact that was the main bugs in win2000.......try installing win98 to format then put winxp over it......

good luck....

 

[glock800]

ok well after fixing one problem now im having another lol.i fixed the hdd problem but now im having a corrupt file problem.i had a popup blocker installed and i uninstalled it and the leftover files are on my hdd and i cant delete them.i tryed uninstalling and reinstalling the program but that doesnt help.when i try and delete the files i get a message saying "access denied make sure the disk is not full or right protected or in use" the files arent in use and arent right protected.when i try to change attributes for the files in properties i get "error applying attributes" message.ive also tryed using NAV2003 to do a goverment wipe of the folder but it cant delete them either.last but not least i used a uninstaller program and that also had no luck removing them.i even tryed going into safe mode and still recive the same messages.im getting ready to kill this damn comp lol.also i know there is a way to delete files through DOS i used to know how but its been years since ive had to use that method.if any of you could provide directions or a tutorial link it would be appreciated thanks for your time

 

[justatramp]

I just did a little search and turned up this site hope it helps you out...http://computing.net/

 

[Maiden-hunter]

open dos window (in safe mode is better)

cd to the dir
then


del each file

is a sod to do in xp

 

[Alfiesback]

there are advantages to using both file systems, NTFS is more efficient on disk usage and fragments less, while having a slight reduction in seek time. fat32 is slightly faster on seek times, but requires that windows be "shut down" which is why scan disk has to run whenever your computer crashes/loses power/etc.

right click on your recycle bin and choose properties. there is a tab with an option that says "do not move files to the recycle bin, delete files immediately, make sure that is unchecked.

now as far as your hard drive itself, if i may be so bold, having multiple smaller partitions is the better way to do it. i have two drives, one 60 gig and one 40 gig. i have the 60 gig partitioned into two drives, one drive is 10 gigs and i use that strictly for my operating system. i install everything i would consider important to the larger partition, that way if i have to format and install, i only format the small partition and my data is not touched.

 

[Weird Harold]

i fixed the hdd problem but now im having a corrupt file problem.i had a popup blocker installed and i uninstalled it and the leftover files are on my hdd and i cant delete them.i tryed uninstalling and reinstalling the program but that doesnt help.when i try and delete the files i get a message saying "access denied make sure the disk is not full or right protected or in use" the files arent in use and arent right protected.when i try to change attributes for the files in properties i get "error applying attributes" message.ive also tryed using NAV2003 to do a goverment wipe of the folder but it cant delete them either.last but not least i used a uninstaller program and that also had no luck removing them.i even tryed going into safe mode and still recive the same messages.

Again, this is problem that can probably only be solved with administrator access.

Those files have been left "locked" by Windows XP and only an administrator login has the level of access that would let you unlock them.

Any tme you need to install or uninstall aprogram, you need to log as an administrator to prevent Win XP from preserving those files for "other users" who might need them.

You and I both know that you are the only one who uses your computer, but Windows XP assumes multiple users and requires administrator access for anything that would affect more than one user.

Depending on why the files were left locked instead of deleted and whether they're simply locked against your normal user login or the file header is corrupt to show them locked for a user that doesn't exist, you may never be able to completely delete those files without reformatting the drive.

I have a couple of files that are "locked" by corruption that I can do nothing with. They're annoying whenever I run across them, but they don't harm anything and only waste a small amount of space. They're not worth going to the trouble of reformatting that partition to get rid of them -- yet.

My files were "locked" by a power failure when they were being written to and the flag in the file header telling other programs not to access the file just then was never reset.

the NTFS has a broader range of conditions that can be set for accessing a file -- yours might be marked "Private" instead of "Busy." An administrator login can get past a private flag, so you may have more options that I do under Win 98SE.

 

[sxylegs]

Again, this is problem that can probably only be solved with administrator access.

Those files have been left "locked" by Windows XP and only an administrator login has the level of access that would let you unlock them.

Any tme you need to install or uninstall aprogram, you need to log as an administrator to prevent Win XP from preserving those files for "other users" who might need them.

You and I both know that you are the only one who uses your computer, but Windows XP assumes multiple users and requires administrator access for anything that would affect more than one user.

Depending on why the files were left locked instead of deleted and whether they're simply locked against your normal user login or the file header is corrupt to show them locked for a user that doesn't exist, you may never be able to completely delete those files without reformatting the drive.

I have a couple of files that are "locked" by corruption that I can do nothing with. They're annoying whenever I run across them, but they don't harm anything and only waste a small amount of space. They're not worth going to the trouble of reformatting that partition to get rid of them -- yet.

My files were "locked" by a power failure when they were being written to and the flag in the file header telling other programs not to access the file just then was never reset.

the NTFS has a broader range of conditions that can be set for accessing a file -- yours might be marked "Private" instead of "Busy." An administrator login can get past a private flag, so you may have more options that I do under Win 98SE.

I have a quick question if you could help.....my boyfriend had a 30 gig hard drive and he had used about 3 gig of it......now it says he only has 5.2gig left.....and I cant find out what is filling it up........if anybody has any suggestions please let me know....

 

[Ling]

Don't delete /RECYCLER, it's the recycle bin (i.e. where stuff you delete goes when it's in the recycle bin).

sxylegs, what says he's used 3Gb?

(On a technical level, files will take up more space on the disk than the size of the data within them due to the cluster size, which is the minimum allocation unit on a drive. That's a discussion I'm not going into on here though. If you want to see this effect, try doing "Properties" on a folder in Explorer. The "Size" field is the size of the data, and the "Size on disk" field is how much space is used up by the clusters the file is using.)

Perhaps it's porn he's not telling you about?

 

[sxylegs]

Don't delete /RECYCLER, it's the recycle bin (i.e. where stuff you delete goes when it's in the recycle bin).

sxylegs, what says he's used 3Gb?

(On a technical level, files will take up more space on the disk than the size of the data within them due to the cluster size, which is the minimum allocation unit on a drive. That's a discussion I'm not going into on here though. If you want to see this effect, try doing "Properties" on a folder in Explorer. The "Size" field is the size of the data, and the "Size on disk" field is how much space is used up by the clusters the file is using.)

Perhaps it's porn he's not telling you about?

I thought about that......but since he asked me to help him find it, then i thought that maybe i was mistaken....he says he puts all his porn on floppy's......he doesnt do movies......we just want to know where the 24 gig went

 

[Weird Harold]

I have a quick question if you could help.....my boyfriend had a 30 gig hard drive and he had used about 3 gig of it......now it says he only has 5.2gig left.....and I cant find out what is filling it up........if anybody has any suggestions please let me know....

Have you run scandisk?

One thing that can reduce your drive capacity is "lost clusters" -- if he regularly uses a program that doesn't close files properly or doesn't shut down properly, clusters get removed from the free list but not assigned to the file they were intended for.

Scandisk finds and recovers these lost sectors. by default, it save the lost clusters in files named "FILExxxx.CHK" in the root directory of the disk theywere found on.

So, the lost capacity might be in clusters that are still "lost", or locked in files waiting for him to look at them and rcover the data from them as required.

Run Scandisk.
Go to Start -> Find -> find *.chk starting at My Computer and including sub-folders.
When the search finishes "Select all" (ctrl A or on the edit menu) and hit Shift-Del. (answer YES permanently delete all of these files.)
Go to the Recycle Bin and Empty it.

That should recover any capacity lost to lost clusters and the recycle bin.

The disk clean-up utility should clear up a bit more space.

If he's online a lot, his Temporary Internet files could also account for a big chunk of disk space too.

 

[ReadyOne]

You don't say what OS (or I missed it) but look for any directory with the word "TEMP" in it: \TEMP \WINDOES\TEMP \WINDOWS\PROFILES\<user>\TEMP.

You've check the recycle bin.

You've using Internet Explorer/Tools/Internet Options/General "Clear Files" and "Clear History"

You've run scandisk, then deleted all the FILEnnn.CHK ones it creates.

Last thing to do is find a utility (I'm still looking for one) that puts sizes on the directory tree so you can find the fat ones easily. Good old Q-DOS or X-Tree or equlivalent from the DOS days.

Oh, and if your're NT, 2K or XP, then convert FAT32 to NTFS and turn on compression. Search for help on the "convert" command line program

 

[Wulf7]

Glock, if you haven't already I'd recommend using XP's converter for your fat32 drive so both of your drives are using ntfs, overall its much better at dealing with large partition sizes.

I had a fun time when I got a 160GB drive, both 2k and XP require a registry tweak to recognize anything over 129GB.

 

[Weird Harold]

Last thing to do is find a utility (I'm still looking for one) that puts sizes on the directory tree so you can find the fat ones easily. Good old Q-DOS or X-Tree or equlivalent from the DOS days.

Check out ZTree. It's an XTGold work-alike thatworks great on Win 98 or ME -- I don't know how it handles NTFS, but it handles FAT16 or FAT32 and Long Filenames just fine with the latest revision.

 

[glock800]

sorry for such a late reply.ive finally fixed the problem after going through hell and thought id share on what the problem was.first of all the recycle bin problem it was caused by me partitioning the hdd with maxblast3 instead of using the normal utility in windows XP.after formating and everything through XP everything now works.

second the corrupt file problem it seems for some reason when i used the new file system (NTFS) it didnt set the permissions correctly to who has acces to files so when ever i moved a file from one folder to the next it would become innactive and say access denied.after booting in safe mode and resetting the security options it now seems to be working great.thanks for all the help you guys provided

also to weird harold i was the admin since im the only user on the PC so it was really strange

Glock, if you haven't already I'd recommend using XP's converter for your fat32 drive so both of your drives are using ntfs, overall its much better at dealing with large partition sizes.

I had a fun time when I got a 160GB drive, both 2k and XP require a registry tweak to recognize anything over 129GB.

yes i already know about that problem but your a little incorrect 2k and XP only have trouble reconizing drives over 129GB if you have them formatted using the FAT32 file system using the NTFS file system solves that problem which is why i was forced to use it.also i was going to change my other hdd over to NTFS but since its all working fine now ill keep it the way it is lol all i need is to change it to NTFS and let the problems begin again

I have a quick question if you could help.....my boyfriend had a 30 gig hard drive and he had used about 3 gig of it......now it says he only has 5.2gig left.....and I cant find out what is filling it up........if anybody has any suggestions please let me know....

as for this when you check the drive does it say the drive is 30GB i know some computers have trouble with larger hard drives like my old one i put in a 40GB hdd and it was only showing up as a 15GB hdd after a few windows updates and a reformat it fixed the problem.another thing would be check temp files maybe run a disk cleanup utility such as system mechanic to get rid of all unessisary junk.i just ran it on my system found out i had almost 2GB worth of leftover crap files and folders from programs i deleted,uninstalled,reinstalled,or upgraded so after time that can really affect you space.