Deanodarlo
Senior member
I always have this issue with Windows XP, but I think it still happens on later versions as well.
When you empty a recycle bin on an external drive, it can suddenly develop the tendancy to be locked and you can't remove it safely using the icon. I check using process explorer and an unlock tool, but nothing is accessing or leaving any handles open to the drive. It's not the indexing service or system restore - they are disabled.
People then say - disable the recycle bin using settings and configure drives independantly.
That works, but as soon as you disconnect the drive and reconnect it next reboot, the settings are lost and it's back to using the standard 10% and not being removable after an empty command.
Another thing I've noticed is, after all this time, System restore is still really unreliable. It can at random times suspend its service or lose/fail on making or recovering restore points, even though the main drive has plenty of space remaining for its function. I think external drives confuse it too, as it's inconsitent in remembering settings for those. I just use an imaging program now and disable the restore service.
Anyone else have these issues and found solutions?
When you empty a recycle bin on an external drive, it can suddenly develop the tendancy to be locked and you can't remove it safely using the icon. I check using process explorer and an unlock tool, but nothing is accessing or leaving any handles open to the drive. It's not the indexing service or system restore - they are disabled.
People then say - disable the recycle bin using settings and configure drives independantly.
That works, but as soon as you disconnect the drive and reconnect it next reboot, the settings are lost and it's back to using the standard 10% and not being removable after an empty command.
Another thing I've noticed is, after all this time, System restore is still really unreliable. It can at random times suspend its service or lose/fail on making or recovering restore points, even though the main drive has plenty of space remaining for its function. I think external drives confuse it too, as it's inconsitent in remembering settings for those. I just use an imaging program now and disable the restore service.
Anyone else have these issues and found solutions?
