Problem deleting large files

[Guest ejohnson@unitedwww.com]

I'm running a windows 2000 server with NTFS as the filing system. It's

an email server.

 

 

I'm having problems deleting some large files that are on this server.

It seems that if a file is in excess of 500MB, then I can't delete it.

I've tried deleting one via windows explorer and the server's UI hung.

I've tried deleteing another through the command prompt, and the same

thing happened.

 

Some more info:

 

* I was actually attempting to DELETE the file, not move it to the

recycle bin. I held down the shift key so it would actually delete the

file.

 

* I shut down all the mail services before I attempted to delete the

files so I knew there were no processes with an open file handle.

 

 

Why would windows hang when attempting to delete a file?

 

I realize that it is possible that it was just taking a VERY LONG time

to delete, and the UI just appeared hung. But I waited about a half

hour and still didn't get the UI back. I had to cold boot the server

as my users were starting to complain.

 

Could this problem be due to fragmentation?

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Problem deleting large files

 

 

<ejohnson@unitedwww.com> wrote in message

news:73bff8cc-cbbb-434d-8a26-64c497834446@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...

> I'm running a windows 2000 server with NTFS as the filing system. It's

> an email server.

>

>

> I'm having problems deleting some large files that are on this server.

> It seems that if a file is in excess of 500MB, then I can't delete it.

> I've tried deleting one via windows explorer and the server's UI hung.

> I've tried deleteing another through the command prompt, and the same

> thing happened.

>

> Some more info:

>

> * I was actually attempting to DELETE the file, not move it to the

> recycle bin. I held down the shift key so it would actually delete the

> file.

>

> * I shut down all the mail services before I attempted to delete the

> files so I knew there were no processes with an open file handle.

>

>

> Why would windows hang when attempting to delete a file?

>

> I realize that it is possible that it was just taking a VERY LONG time

> to delete, and the UI just appeared hung. But I waited about a half

> hour and still didn't get the UI back. I had to cold boot the server

> as my users were starting to complain.

>

> Could this problem be due to fragmentation?

 

What does the Event Viewer report?

[Guest Sid Elbow]

Re: Problem deleting large files

 

ejohnson@unitedwww.com wrote:

> I'm having problems deleting some large files that are on this server.

 

I feel sure there was a thread on this here a few months ago. Can't

remember the resolution but to might want to do a search (either at the

MS site or via Google Groups).

[Guest ejohnson@unitedwww.com]

Re: Problem deleting large files

 

>

> What does the Event Viewer report?- Hide quoted text -

>

 

Nothing that seems relevant.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Problem deleting large files

 

 

<ejohnson@unitedwww.com> wrote in message

news:88b9bb8c-d0ba-4f33-bebc-a8b1fc4f7dd5@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

>

>>

>> What does the Event Viewer report?- Hide quoted text -

>>

>

> Nothing that seems relevant.

 

The only reason I can think of is a damaged disk. However, this

would generate a number of error messages in the event logger.

If this was my machine then I would perform a number of tests,

preferably after hours in order not to inconvenience the users.

Here is what I would do from the Command Prompt:

- Create & delete a number of test files of varying sizes on the

System partition.

- Do the same on other partitions.

- Keep an eye on the processor loading while performing the tests.

 

To create a 100 MByte file (or any other size!) quickly, use this command:

fsutil file createnew e:\big.bin 100000000