Computer tech help needed -- How to delete without "saving" it to recycle bin?

[Bob]

I have a temporary backup folder.  It's bigger though.  Maybe 1 GB.

On an external hard drive.  I can't reformat the whole drive.  I want some of that stuff.

I just want to delete this folder and copy over a brand new one, so it's all updated.

The problem is the computer wants to "delete" that folder and save it in the recycling bin.  It's trying to copy over the entire 1GB folder.  Says it will take 2 hours.  Yeah.  I'm not waiting two hours for what I don't want anymore.

So how can I delete this folder without having the stupid computer have to save it over to the recycling bin? 

If it were smaller media and I didn't care about the rest of the stuff, I would just do a "quick format" and be done. 

This is actually a bigger problem than just this one folder.  I'm thinking I might delete some ancient, ancient backups.  So the problem is more like... 30, 40 , 50 folders with the same situation.  It's stupid to have to wait that length of time just to delete something.

Any help?  Is there a way to delete without saving it to the recycling bin?

[sharon_f]

I think you can right click on the recyle bin and go to properties and check delete files without saving. (I personally like the recycle bin, just in case you delete a necessary file.)

[shortyshort]

I think you can right click on the recyle bin and go to properties and check delete files without saving. (I personally like the recycle bin, just in case you delete a necessary file.)

But, bob does not want to put it in the "BIN" at all. 

this is annoying. 

If it's on an external drive, there must be a way of by-passing the "BIN". 

I just don't know it. 

if you delete from a memory stick, it does not go to the "BIN".

[anodibu]

Pressing shift + delete will delete it without moving it to the recycle bin.

[Bob]

The shift-delete thing looks like what I'm looking for.  I'll have to try it.

And yes, maybe there's a way to turn off the recycling bin.

I'm on Windows XP too.  Not a mac. 

But yes, I don't want the files to go into the recycling bin because the computer will save them in there and I just want the media storage space freed up.  Formatting -- or quick formatting -- works well for that, but that wipes the whole thing out. 

[maul]

sharon_f told you how to do it Bob. Read it again.

[Bob]

They both look good to me if they work like I think they will.  I'm thinking shift-delete is ok since I'll just want to delete a folder.  I'd have to go through an extra step to turn the recycling bin back on the other way.

[Bob]

Interesting. 

Thanks for the ideas.  I think I'm still looking for more.

I tired the shift-delete.  Nothing in the bin.  However... It still went through each file.  I suppose it has to say that that space is not available for new material.

I had a program years ago, in Window/DOS days, that would "prune" a directory tree.  You just pruned the folder and everything inside it and that folder was gone instantly. 

It still took a minute to delete that folder that way.  I'll still have a bunch more to delete.  Hmm.... I wonder if there's a quicker way.