I'm deleting a Python installation folder (12000 files, 256 MB) from a USB flash drive, using Windows. It is currently expected to take 40 minutes. Why?
I thought it would be enough to change a couple of bits to "unlink" the root folder.
I think the filesystem is FAT.
Why does it take so long time to permanently delete files from a USB drive?
"It's an internal function of the flash memory that need to mark each cell on the flash memory as empty. In regular spinning drives you're correct - the file system just marks the space as available."
Trick..
Deleting files from an 15 year old USB drive is soooooooooo slow. If you only need a few files and the rest I can be permanently deleted, simply copy the few files to another drive and Quick Format the USB Drive in an instant.
If you need to use an old USB 1.0 for your TV this will save you time.
