Problem with a Flash Drive

[The Monkees]

I have a 1GB flash drive that I have been using to transport stuff from my PC to my Mac. When I get the stuff off of there I delete on the Mac, but when I go back to my computer it says I only have 3MB of free space even though there is nothing on there anymore, is there a way I can re-format it or something so it frees up my 1GB of space?

[aedipuss]

while plugged into the pc - right click on the flash drive icon / select format / select fast or full format - your choice. most are fat16 or fat32 again your choice.

easiest is a fast format as it just erases the pointers to the files.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Have you tried deleting at the PC end of things? Does it do the same thing?

Presumably, the flash drive is formatted as FAT32. Perhaps it's a Mac implementation of FAT32 issue(?)

[thevoelk]

The deleted files are probably put into a hidden folder called Trashes, it's got a . or an _ in front of it . If you enable hidden folders on the Windows side, it should show up. Deleting the folder will give you the space back. Or quick format like aedipuss said.

[Ai Haibara]

Yeah. You have to empty the drive's Trash on the Mac end, or delete the folder on the Windows end.

[The Monkees]

Thank you!

That worked!