frequent hang-ups when deleting large files

freight · 07-02-2003, 08:03 PM

specs: win98se, piii 733, 20gb HD - no bad sectors

whenever I delete large files, the pc sometimes hangs. not a full hang - it is only that the desktop does not refresh. to illustrate:

I'm running several iexplorer browser windows. I open windows explorer, and proceed to delete a 100Mb file. If I do a shift-delete (files straight to oblivion) then there is a chance that the following happens.

1. I'm still looking at the windows explorer window. Trying to close that window will have no effect. It's as if it's stuck there and I can't see my desktop.
2. I can switch to the iexplorer windows I was running earlier. I can also close those windows and they will close.
3. The windows key works. It still has access to program links too. But I can't run any programs at the moment.
4. The show desktop works by minimizing all windows except the windows explorer window. That thing is stuck right there, obscuring the desktop.
5. Alt-Tab works, so does the systray.
6. After several minutes, the pc regains functionality and all those mouse clicks I did will start executing, e.g. if I kept opening iexplorer windows while the pc was in a semi-hang, when it recovers, all those commands are executed and iexplorer windows now pop out. The windows explorer window also now closes properly.

There is less of a chance of this happening if I allow the file to be sent to the Recycle Bin first then empty that. It still happens though.

Add info: I did partition that 20gb drive into 2 10 gb part-s. Could the problem be caused by my drives running low on free space?

**merlin** · 07-02-2003, 11:26 PM

well, the file doesnt actually get deleted. The reference to that file changes, and the space where that file was, is marked as free for use. Next time you have something to save, your OS will use that space to simply overwrite the old file that you have "deleted" (in reality just marked to be overwritten)...anyways, how is your memory ? Have you done scandisk and defrag lately ? are running low on resources ?

Uranium-235 · 07-03-2003, 03:07 PM

that usually happens in Win9x when you delete large files.

It can takes a few minutes to recover assuming it does.

it always does it to me

you can probably use DOS to delete it and it should be ok

07-02-2003, 08:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
freight Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 13 OS: Win98SE	frequent hang-ups when deleting large files specs: win98se, piii 733, 20gb HD - no bad sectors whenever I delete large files, the pc sometimes hangs. not a full hang - it is only that the desktop does not refresh. to illustrate: I'm running several iexplorer browser windows. I open windows explorer, and proceed to delete a 100Mb file. If I do a shift-delete (files straight to oblivion) then there is a chance that the following happens. 1. I'm still looking at the windows explorer window. Trying to close that window will have no effect. It's as if it's stuck there and I can't see my desktop. 2. I can switch to the iexplorer windows I was running earlier. I can also close those windows and they will close. 3. The windows key works. It still has access to program links too. But I can't run any programs at the moment. 4. The show desktop works by minimizing all windows except the windows explorer window. That thing is stuck right there, obscuring the desktop. 5. Alt-Tab works, so does the systray. 6. After several minutes, the pc regains functionality and all those mouse clicks I did will start executing, e.g. if I kept opening iexplorer windows while the pc was in a semi-hang, when it recovers, all those commands are executed and iexplorer windows now pop out. The windows explorer window also now closes properly. There is less of a chance of this happening if I allow the file to be sent to the Recycle Bin first then empty that. It still happens though. Add info: I did partition that 20gb drive into 2 10 gb part-s. Could the problem be caused by my drives running low on free space? __________________ wachawamedo?

07-03-2003, 03:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Uranium-235 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milky Way/Alpha Quadrant/Earth/US/Texas Posts: 189 OS: Windows 2000 Professional 2195	that usually happens in Win9x when you delete large files. It can takes a few minutes to recover assuming it does. it always does it to me you can probably use DOS to delete it and it should be ok Last edited by Uranium-235; 07-03-2003 at 03:23 PM.

07-02-2003, 11:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
merlin I helped the forums. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,612 OS: 3.11	well, the file doesnt actually get deleted. The reference to that file changes, and the space where that file was, is marked as free for use. Next time you have something to save, your OS will use that space to simply overwrite the old file that you have "deleted" (in reality just marked to be overwritten)...anyways, how is your memory ? Have you done scandisk and defrag lately ? are running low on resources ?