time to delete

I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and pieces that
are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this came about
by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.

I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that way as
in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
complete.

Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours at it.

"Cody Jarrett" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
> <> wrote:
>
>>I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and pieces
>>that
>>are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this came
>>about
>>by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
>>computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>
>>I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that way
>>as
>>in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>complete.
>>
>>Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours at it.
>
> <sigh>
>
> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>
> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
> time you'd be half done by now.

I have tried deleting 5 to 10 at a time. Each time Vista asks "Are you
sure?" then because the file is from another computer, User Access Control
asks for permissions. Two more clicks. Then before it actually deletes the
files it is another three or four minutes.

I have typed this message in one-tenth the time that it takes to delete 5
items ranging in size from 5 to 30 KB. .

"Cody Jarrett" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
> <> wrote:
>
>>I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and pieces
>>that
>>are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this came
>>about
>>by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
>>computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>
>>I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that way
>>as
>>in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>complete.
>>
>>Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours at it.
>
> <sigh>
>
> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>
> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
> time you'd be half done by now.

Half done? 89,000 records? Do the math...

--->
>
> "Cody Jarrett" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>> I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and
>>> pieces that
>>> are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this
>>> came about
>>> by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
>>> computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>>
>>> I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that
>>> way as
>>> in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>> complete.
>>>
>>> Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours
>>> at it.
>>
>> <sigh>
>>
>> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>>
>> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
>> time you'd be half done by now.
>
> Half done? 89,000 records? Do the math...

Does opening a command window (Start -> Run: CMD and Enter key),
navigating to the directory (folder) you want and using the command

DEL *.*

help at all?

*.* will delete everything, but if you want to delete just certain types
use *.[type].

Questor

On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:50:27 -0600, Cody Jarrett wrote:

> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
> <> wrote:
>
>>I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and pieces that
>>are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this came about
>>by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
>>computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>
>>I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that way as
>>in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>complete.
>>
>>Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours at it.
>
> <sigh>
>
> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>
> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
> time you'd be half done by now.

Also, if he's trying to delete to the Recycle Bin, he may be filling it,
which should have some bad effect, I would think :-)

OP: try holding down the shift key while pressing the delete key; this
makes it a permanent deletion (caution: you can't restore files that were
deleted this way).

--
Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom

"Gene E. Bloch" <not-> wrote in message
news:hg9zqx7gc6hs$.17vtlxtx2ot9d$... .
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:50:27 -0600, Cody Jarrett wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>>I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and pieces
>>>that
>>>are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this came
>>>about
>>>by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
>>>computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>>
>>>I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that way
>>>as
>>>in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>>complete.
>>>
>>>Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours at
>>>it.
>>
>> <sigh>
>>
>> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>>
>> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
>> time you'd be half done by now.
>
> Also, if he's trying to delete to the Recycle Bin, he may be filling it,
> which should have some bad effect, I would think :-)
>
> OP: try holding down the shift key while pressing the delete key; this
> makes it a permanent deletion (caution: you can't restore files that were
> deleted this way).
>
> --
> Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom

I fully understand the max size of the recycle bin, and have been using the
permanent deletion.

On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:16:29 -0800, Charles W Davis wrote:

> "Gene E. Bloch" <not-> wrote in message
> news:hg9zqx7gc6hs$.17vtlxtx2ot9d$... .
>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:50:27 -0600, Cody Jarrett wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
>>> <> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and pieces
>>>>that
>>>>are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this came
>>>>about
>>>>by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
>>>>computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>>>
>>>>I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that way
>>>>as
>>>>in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>>>complete.
>>>>
>>>>Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours at
>>>>it.
>>>
>>> <sigh>
>>>
>>> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>>>
>>> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
>>> time you'd be half done by now.
>>
>> Also, if he's trying to delete to the Recycle Bin, he may be filling it,
>> which should have some bad effect, I would think :-)
>>
>> OP: try holding down the shift key while pressing the delete key; this
>> makes it a permanent deletion (caution: you can't restore files that were
>> deleted this way).
>>
>> --
>> Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
>
> I fully understand the max size of the recycle bin, and have been using the
> permanent deletion.

I thought that was probably true, but with weird problems like this, it's
better to leave no stern untoned. Whoops - that's Ogden Nash - I really
mean leave no tern unstoned. No, no, I mean no stone unturned. There, I got
it...

Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in a problem that I forget the obvious; I've
had some big laughs at my own expense when I called in help, and they said
"Did you really mean blah-blah-blah?" That was mostly why I asked my
questions above, in case your own frustration put you in the same state;
but also, I couldn't be 100% sure of your knowledge level.

--
Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom

"Gene E. Bloch" <not-> wrote in message
news:hg9zqx7gc6hs$.17vtlxtx2ot9d$... .
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:50:27 -0600, Cody Jarrett wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>>I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and pieces
>>>that
>>>are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this came
>>>about
>>>by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
>>>computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>>
>>>I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that way
>>>as
>>>in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>>complete.
>>>
>>>Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours at
>>>it.
>>
>> <sigh>
>>
>> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>>
>> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
>> time you'd be half done by now.
>
> Also, if he's trying to delete to the Recycle Bin, he may be filling it,
> which should have some bad effect, I would think :-)
>
> OP: try holding down the shift key while pressing the delete key; this
> makes it a permanent deletion (caution: you can't restore files that were
> deleted this way).
>
> --
> Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom

This morning I thought that I might create a new folder and move items to
it. I selected maybe 100 items and attempted to move them to the new folder.
For the past 5 minutes, the little box that says "Preparing to Move" has the
scrolling marquee, but when I expand the box, I see that nothing has been
"Discovered"
When I move one item, the Preparing to Move takes about 20 seconds.

Any further thoughts? Dynamite?

"Gene E. Bloch" <not-> wrote in message
news:hg9zqx7gc6hs$.17vtlxtx2ot9d$... .
> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:50:27 -0600, Cody Jarrett wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
>> <> wrote:
>>
>>>I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and pieces
>>>that
>>>are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this came
>>>about
>>>by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista Ultimate
>>>computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>>
>>>I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up that way
>>>as
>>>in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>>complete.
>>>
>>>Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours at
>>>it.
>>
>> <sigh>
>>
>> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>>
>> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
>> time you'd be half done by now.
>
> Also, if he's trying to delete to the Recycle Bin, he may be filling it,
> which should have some bad effect, I would think :-)
>
> OP: try holding down the shift key while pressing the delete key; this
> makes it a permanent deletion (caution: you can't restore files that were
> deleted this way).
>
> --
> Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom

This is one view after 10 minutes of attempting to move:
http://www.anthemwebs.com/images/prepare.jpg

All items have a read only attribute in properties. When I manually change
one, I can then delete it! Tens of thousands?????

--->
>
> "Gene E. Bloch" <not-> wrote in message
> news:hg9zqx7gc6hs$.17vtlxtx2ot9d$... .
>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:50:27 -0600, Cody Jarrett wrote:
>>
>>> On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:22:51 -0800, "Charles W Davis"
>>> <> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have previously posted regarding the large volume of bits and
>>>> pieces that
>>>> are under my (user) folder on the drive. 89,000 plus. All of this
>>>> came about
>>>> by trying to restore from a backup created from a Windows Vista
>>>> Ultimate
>>>> computer. My new one, at present is Windows Vista Home Premium.
>>>>
>>>> I finally figured how to sort the files by file type (not set up
>>>> that way as
>>>> in XP). When I set about to delete a thousand or so, it never seems to
>>>> complete.
>>>>
>>>> Is there a way to speed this operation up? I have now spent 5 hours
>>>> at it.
>>>
>>> <sigh>
>>>
>>> Have you tried deleting files in smaller batches yet?
>>>
>>> You've spent enough time here seeking help that if you did it one at a
>>> time you'd be half done by now.
>>
>> Also, if he's trying to delete to the Recycle Bin, he may be filling it,
>> which should have some bad effect, I would think :-)
>>
>> OP: try holding down the shift key while pressing the delete key; this
>> makes it a permanent deletion (caution: you can't restore files that were
>> deleted this way).
>>
>> --
>> Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
>
> This is one view after 10 minutes of attempting to move:
> http://www.anthemwebs.com/images/prepare.jpg
>
> All items have a read only attribute in properties. When I manually
> change one, I can then delete it! Tens of thousands?????

Try opening a command window (Start -> Run: CMD and an Enter key)

Navigate to the offending folder(s) and enter this command:

ATTRIB -r *.*

This will remove the read-only attribute for ALL files in the folder.

Then, try to delete them en-masse.

Questor