Problems deleting large number of files - painfully slow....

[rgames]

I run a software tool that often generates 75,000 - 100,000 small files that need to be deleted after the software exits. Right now, it can take 8 - 10 minutes to permanently delete all these files from a single run, and I usually have 4 - 8 runs to deal with, so do the math...

I have tried shift-del to permanently delete but it doesn't work - Windows still copies everything to the recycle bin. (I thought shift-del was supposed to bypass the recycle bin...)

Also, while moving the files to the recycle bin, I often get an error message: "Error 0x80070050: The file exists."

Bottom line is that it takes a *really* long time just to delete these files and I need a quicker way to do it.

What's the solution?

Thanks in advance,

rgames

 

[Influx]

Hello rgames,

See if this helps http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/171411-permanently-delete-add-context-menu.html

 

[endeavor]

rgames, mine does the same thing, and you have to realize 75 thousand is a lot of files! ...but I've always noticed 7 takes a lot longer to delete files than XP did, and btw, when you hold down shift-delete notice the prompt that comes up does not really say it's going to the recycle bin, look again, it's a different prompt, but anyway yes you're right it still takes as long, Especially on 75000 files!

I don't have an answer for you either, but I care about it.

 

[pecarillo]

Workaround / solution - windows 7 slow delete and copy

In Windows Explorer, shift-rightclick a drive or folder, then from context menu, click "open in new process." Go to the new window, and it will behave normally for copying and deleting large and many files.

 

[UsernameIssues]

CMD prompt (batch file) will be faster than the GUI

rd C:\lots-of-files /q/s

 

[lehnerus2000]

Separate Partition?

How about saving the files to their own partition and "Quick Formatting" it, when you want to kill them?

That should be quick.

 

[UsernameIssues]

How about saving the files to their own partition and "Quick Formatting" it, when you want to kill them?

That should be quick.

That is a great idea - lets hope that the OP stops back by after all these months

 

[rraod]

You can try right clicking on recycle bin and select "Properties". Here you can select the option,
"Don't move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted."

Use this option when you wants to delete large number of files. They will be deleted faster than moving to recycle bin. Once deleted, you can reverse this option.

If you are comfortable with command prompt, you can use the delete command in the folder to delete all the files directly. Deleting from command prompt does not send the files to recycle bin.

You can use del *.* in the folder to make it empty quickly. But use caution with this command as you may also delete much needed files in that folder. If the temporary files have a unique extensions you may use del *.ext where ext is the unique extension.

If you know the extensions of the files to be deleted and they are unique, you can add these extensions to the CCleaner program for quickly deleting them. Open CCleaner, go to Options and then Include section. Here you may add custom folders or files in a partition. This will allow you to delete the files in background while you continue working.

 

[pecarillo]

Reply to my own post:
Actually, in Windows Explorer, you can go to Folder Options and checkoff "Launch folder window in a separate process," then copy and delete will act normally.

In Windows Explorer, shift-rightclick a drive or folder, then from context menu, click "open in new process." Go to the new window, and it will behave normally for copying and deleting large and many files.