Why is deleting files so slow on Windows Vista?

Why is deleting files on Windows Vista so slow even with small files?

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Junior M

Posted 2009-12-18T16:12:36.270

Reputation: 1 337

1Which version of Vista, did you install any service packs yet? – None – 2009-12-18T16:23:52.083

Answers

You are obviously recycling files. That means: Windows moves them into the "trash" folder.

To delete a file, go to the Explorer, select the file(s), hit Shift-Del, and Windows will really delete them.

Alternatively, you could disable the trash folder (also called Recycle Bin).

Note: This will permanently delete files, you will no longer be able to recover deleted files from the Recycle Bin.

java.is.for.desktop

Posted 2009-12-18T16:12:36.270

Reputation: 1 458

really good point, in this case there's something to do with the slow copy. I'll test it!! – Junior M – 2009-12-18T23:18:25.320

Additionally, I should mention, that in general, all kinds of indexing services (Windows search, Google desktop search (?) ) can make file operations slower. – java.is.for.desktop – 2009-12-19T01:45:19.073

Indeed it's faster when you Shift-Delete my files! – Junior M – 2009-12-22T13:14:48.663

If there is another disk-intensive operation going on, Explorer can be preempted. Check your Resource Monitor to see what other processes are heavily accessing the disk.

Factor Mystic

Posted 2009-12-18T16:12:36.270

Reputation: 11 212

Yes, I'll check it on Resource Monitor to see what's going on. Perhaps Google Desktop??! Thank you – Junior M – 2009-12-18T23:18:59.017

google desktop = slow file operations. Put up your resource monitor and try it. I did and removed google because the hit was sometimes up to 30%. Windows normally will wait for slow cpu usage before rebuilding the index, google wants it all now.

rcdc

Posted 2009-12-18T16:12:36.270

Reputation: 1

Google Desktop here is taking 16 threads, average CPU is below 1.0. But I think Google Desktop interfears when you delete a file, since it's configured to delete it also from index. I uninstall it for testing purposes. – Junior M – 2009-12-22T13:22:21.637