Explanation wanted- how can this memory stick still be full?

[davyboy]

Could someone please explain this to me?

I have a 4GB memory stick that was almost full of files, ca 3.5GB.

I wanted to replace those files with a similar number of others.

So I selected all the fileson the stick and sent them to the trash can.

I then dragged and dropped the replacement files, which were in one folder, onto the memory stick.

I then got a message to say there was insufficient space on the stick!

Getting info the stick was 4.22GB but the available space was only ca.500 MB.

Why did deleting all those files only free up such a small space?

[Ghozer]

Right click the memory stick drive, and click "Format" - then check the amount of space when that's complete....

 

it could be that there are hidden files there, or it only moved them to the recycler, on the memory stick, so that also needs to be emptied/deleted

[tzijlstra]

Try emptying the trashcan first.

[louca001]

+1 for trashcan / recycle bin first.

 

+1 for formatting the stick after emptying the trashcan / recycle bin

[davyboy]

Thanks for the advice.Emptying the trash can did the trick and I got the full 4GB back.

However, right click on the stick icon didn't give me the option to format it, not that it needed formatting.

Thanks again.