Windows 2000 Problem deleting large files

  • Thread starter Thread starter ejohnson@unitedwww.com
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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?
 
<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?
 
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).
 

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

Nothing that seems relevant.
 
<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
 
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