can't erase files on an external drive.

I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive (USB)
some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no matter
what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but why would
a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
Any help will be appreciated.
Ed.

Use Disk Cleanup to elect to delete the files on the drive selected in a
drop box for that.

--
Please use the Communities guidelines when posting.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales...help_en-us.htm
Use the "Ratings" feature. It helps the new users.
Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Mark.Ferguson

"Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
> I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive (USB)
> some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
> current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no
> matter
> what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but why
> would
> a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> Any help will be appreciated.
> Ed.

"Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
> I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive (USB)
> some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
> current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no
matter
> what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but why
would
> a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> Any help will be appreciated.
> Ed.\


If there is nothing on the drive you need to keep,
just reformat it

What are the filenames and extension?

Format could work and get UnLocker

http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

"Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
>I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive (USB)
> some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
> current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no matter
> what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but why would
> a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> Any help will be appreciated.
> Ed.

Thanks Mark for responding. I followed your advice and received the message:
"You can use Disk leanup to free 0 bytes of disk space." Yet, the files are
still there...!

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> Use Disk Cleanup to elect to delete the files on the drive selected in a
> drop box for that.
>
> --
> Please use the Communities guidelines when posting.
> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales...help_en-us.htm
> Use the "Ratings" feature. It helps the new users.
> Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Mark.Ferguson
>
> "Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
> > I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive (USB)
> > some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
> > current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no
> > matter
> > what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but why
> > would
> > a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> > Any help will be appreciated.
> > Ed.
>

Thanks! Might be an idea if all elese fails.

"philo" wrote:

>
> "Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
> > I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive (USB)
> > some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
> > current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no
> matter
> > what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but why
> would
> > a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> > Any help will be appreciated.
> > Ed.\
>
>
> If there is nothing on the drive you need to keep,
> just reformat it
>
>
>

Thanks. I'll try both if all else fails.

"Spirit" wrote:

> What are the filenames and extension?
>
> Format could work and get UnLocker
>
> http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
>
> "Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
> >I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive (USB)
> > some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
> > current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no matter
> > what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but why would
> > a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> > Any help will be appreciated.
> > Ed.
>

"Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:127BE102-8F5A-456E-AC8F-D303983CAD0D@microsoft.com...
> Thanks! Might be an idea if all elese fails.
>
It should work

you can always use disk management and just plain delete the drive
then recreate and format




> "philo" wrote:
>
> >
> > "Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
> > > I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive
(USB)
> > > some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
> > > current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no
> > matter
> > > what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but
why
> > would
> > > a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> > > Any help will be appreciated.
> > > Ed.\
> >
> >
> > If there is nothing on the drive you need to keep,
> > just reformat it
> >
> >
> >

Why is it necessary to 'delete' the drive before reformatting it?

Ed

"philo" wrote:

>
> "Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:127BE102-8F5A-456E-AC8F-D303983CAD0D@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks! Might be an idea if all elese fails.
> >
> It should work
>
> you can always use disk management and just plain delete the drive
> then recreate and format
>
>
>
>
> > "philo" wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > "Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
> > > > I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external drive
> (USB)
> > > > some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a new,
> > > > current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain and, no
> > > matter
> > > > what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files but
> why
> > > would
> > > > a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> > > > Any help will be appreciated.
> > > > Ed.\
> > >
> > >
> > > If there is nothing on the drive you need to keep,
> > > just reformat it
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>

"Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E4C9A3C8-5A5B-4F76-B899-9367C915A8B5@microsoft.com...
> Why is it necessary to 'delete' the drive before reformatting it?
>
> Ed
>


It shoul not be necessary


but if all else fails, that's what I'd do


> "philo" wrote:
>
> >
> > "Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:127BE102-8F5A-456E-AC8F-D303983CAD0D@microsoft.com...
> > > Thanks! Might be an idea if all elese fails.
> > >
> > It should work
> >
> > you can always use disk management and just plain delete the drive
> > then recreate and format
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > "philo" wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > "Ed DeGani" <EdDeGani@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:53412BD0-DDAA-4F58-83D6-B4062B49E603@microsoft.com...
> > > > > I created an image of my computer's hard drive on an external
drive
> > (USB)
> > > > > some six months ago. I am trying to delete it now since I want a
new,
> > > > > current, image. Most of the files were deleted but some remain
and, no
> > > > matter
> > > > > what I try, I can't erase them. I suspect they are system files
but
> > why
> > > > would
> > > > > a system file on an external derive be so difficult to manage?
> > > > > Any help will be appreciated.
> > > > > Ed.\
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > If there is nothing on the drive you need to keep,
> > > > just reformat it
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >