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Old December 3rd 14, 11:45 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware
Paul
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Posts: 18,275
Default flash drives not emptying

Jo-Anne wrote:
Using WinXP. I wanted to back up some files to a 4GB flash drive. I
deleted all the files on it, but Properties shows it's completely full.
I tried another 4GB flash drive; and, emptied, Properties shows it half
full. Any idea what's wrong?

Thank you,

Jo-Anne


Fastest solution is Format-Quick.

Cleanest examination environment is Linux.

Closest utility to something which can list files
properly is TestDisk, but the interface is far from
pleasant. There is a List Files option that works. It
can even look inside System Volume Information and
list the files there. The reason it can do this, is
it's more likely to look at raw information, rather
than call the file system for help. I expect it
still needs administrator rights, to achieve block level
access to the drive, but at least it doesn't seem to let
permissions get in the way. And like every utility, I
can't guarantee it works with any storage device possible.
It worked with my RAMDisk, as an example of quirky devices,
but it moaned about a few things along the way. I was still
able to list the device when it eventually got there.

http://www.cgsecurity.org/mw/images/List_files.gif

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

Once you can see what is on there, that might make it easier
to guess at what the problem is.

Paul
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