Recycle Bin on USB Stick?

"T. Jenkins" <TJenkins@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote

>I have an 8GB USB memory stick, and it appears to have space tied up in
> deleted files that I can't find. Windows only shows about half the space
> available, even though it doesn't display any files. I ran a drive
> storage
> analysis app (disk pie) on it, and it shows a large amount of space
> associated with "recycle" files. I assume this means there's a recycle
> bin
> on the drive holding previously deleted files.
> I tried to reformat the drive, but got some errors. Also made sure hidden
> files were displayed, which they are (at least the setting is turned on to
> do
> so).
> Any tips on resolving this issue?

After attaching the memory stick have you tried right-clicking on the
Desktop Recycle Bin icon and looked at Properties? If the Recycle Bin is
turned on for the memory stick, turn it off.

Another possibility is that System Restore has been activated for that
device. That would eat up space too.

Having been burned by WinXP's schizoid handling of USB memory storage
devices several times, I make it a habit to check both the Recycle Bin and
System Restore to be sure neither has been turned on before I detach such a
device from the system.

--
Bob
http://www.kanyak.com

On Jan 20, 2:01*pm, T. Jenkins <TJenk...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

> I have an 8GB USB memory stick, and it appears to have space tied up in
> deleted files that I can't find. *Windows only shows about half the space
> available, even though it doesn't display any files. *I ran a drive storage
> analysis app (disk pie) on it, and it shows a large amount of space
> associated with "recycle" files. *I assume this means there's a recyclebin
> on the drive holding previously deleted files.
>
> I tried to reformat the drive, but got some errors. *Also made sure hidden
> files were displayed, which they are (at least the setting is turned on to do
> so).
>
> Any tips on resolving this issue?
>
> Thanks.

It would help to know the make, model and extra features this USB
flash drive has. Some flash drives come with security software to
hide portions of the drive. Other come with the U3 system which
behaves like a CD drive and let you have applications auto-start from
the flash drive itself. All of these "enhanced" feature can block the
re-format.