15-03-2013, 10:46 AM
Another silly question for the computer buffs!
A couple of months ago I bought three 32GB USB memory sticks to store backups of the ‘Documents’ folder on my PC, containing amongst other things a subfolder of all my Radio Manuals in pdf format etc.
No problem, I copied the ‘Documents’ onto each memory stick, and everything can be opened OK. There is about 18GB of data in this folder.
There have been various changes and additions to what is stored in ‘Documents’, so I thought it is time to create new copies. Simple, I thought, just delete the existing contents of the memory sticks and reload the current version of the folder.
The trouble is, the data just refuses to delete! I click on Delete from Windows Explorer, a small window opens counting up how much is deleted, at the end the folder icon vanishes from the Explorer screen and all looks OK. But do anything and go back to Explorer and the whole folder is still there and readable. Go to the piechart showing the amount of data, it is 18GB full.
Go to ‘Properties’ of the drive, for some reason it defaults to Read Only, so uncheck the little box, it trundles through changing the Attributes of the folder, subfolders and files. Try to delete again, same result!
So I thought the only way is to reformat the memory stick. A ‘Quick Format’ instantly gives the error message ‘Windows was unable to complete the format’. Uncheck the ‘Quick Format’ box and try again. The process starts and the little green bar progresses across, taking the best part of three-quarters of an hour. As it completes up pops the same error message! And guess what, the data is still all there and readable!
I’ve tried this with two of the three sticks, with identical results.
What am I doing wrong, or failing to do?
Any ideas welcome, please.
Many thanks,
Andy
A couple of months ago I bought three 32GB USB memory sticks to store backups of the ‘Documents’ folder on my PC, containing amongst other things a subfolder of all my Radio Manuals in pdf format etc.
No problem, I copied the ‘Documents’ onto each memory stick, and everything can be opened OK. There is about 18GB of data in this folder.
There have been various changes and additions to what is stored in ‘Documents’, so I thought it is time to create new copies. Simple, I thought, just delete the existing contents of the memory sticks and reload the current version of the folder.
The trouble is, the data just refuses to delete! I click on Delete from Windows Explorer, a small window opens counting up how much is deleted, at the end the folder icon vanishes from the Explorer screen and all looks OK. But do anything and go back to Explorer and the whole folder is still there and readable. Go to the piechart showing the amount of data, it is 18GB full.
Go to ‘Properties’ of the drive, for some reason it defaults to Read Only, so uncheck the little box, it trundles through changing the Attributes of the folder, subfolders and files. Try to delete again, same result!
So I thought the only way is to reformat the memory stick. A ‘Quick Format’ instantly gives the error message ‘Windows was unable to complete the format’. Uncheck the ‘Quick Format’ box and try again. The process starts and the little green bar progresses across, taking the best part of three-quarters of an hour. As it completes up pops the same error message! And guess what, the data is still all there and readable!
I’ve tried this with two of the three sticks, with identical results.
What am I doing wrong, or failing to do?
Any ideas welcome, please.
Many thanks,
Andy
