Why does it take so long to delete a file in ubuntu?

**combonautjim1966** · July 6th, 2008

I Noticed that it takes literally minutes to delete small files.
Is this normal, a memory or processor speed issue or is it fixable? Thanks!

**wolfen69** · July 6th, 2008

no, this is not normal. huge files only take a second or two for me. sounds like a borked install.

**sharks** · July 6th, 2008

it takes me 2 or 3 sec to delete 500 mb file

**sokam** · October 27th, 2009

I have similar problem on xubuntu. Take hours(!) to delete a few gb of files! Anyone can tell me if there is something I need to look at?

Also, how to delete files without moving them to the trash first? I think that might help speed things up if instead of moving to trash, I can just delete them immediately.

**SuperSonic4** · October 27th, 2009

Originally Posted by sokam

I have similar problem on xubuntu. Take hours(!) to delete a few gb of files! Anyone can tell me if there is something I need to look at?

Also, how to delete files without moving them to the trash first? I think that might help speed things up if instead of moving to trash, I can just delete them immediately.

0. Necromancy is bad. Create a new topic in future

1. Could be because it has to assess the size of the trash and then allocate it there

2. Use the rm command from a terminal (but be careful) or press Shift before hitting the Delete key

**LunaticHiatus** · October 27th, 2009

what are your specs?
Also, there are different file systems which can optimize your performance. (just an idea) Not that windows has a good one. NTFS hasn't been updated in over what, eight years now?

in linux though, EXT3 is currently dominant, the latest ubuntu (karmic) will be EXT4. there is JFS is good for older computers since its light on the cpu. Reiser which is faster with lots of small files. XFS which is fast and good for big files but notoriously bad recovery. ZFS is being ported, which is slow but incredibly stable. etc. etc.

**Penguin Guy** · October 27th, 2009

No, it's not normal. It might depend a bit on exactly what you're doing: If you're moving them to the trash then it should be done pretty much instantly, if you're properly deleting them then it may take a bit longer. It defiantly shouldn't be taking a few minutes though.

**LunaticHiatus** · October 27th, 2009

I just noticed your using kubuntu. You realize thats the fattest distro possibly ever? might be your computer specs vs. trying to run compiz fusion, widgets, etc. etc. etc.

**sokam** · October 27th, 2009

Originally Posted by SuperSonic4

0. Necromancy is bad. Create a new topic in future

1. Could be because it has to assess the size of the trash and then allocate it there

2. Use the rm command from a terminal (but be careful) or press Shift before hitting the Delete key

Ah... the "Shift+Delete" is working in a normal speed for me! Thanks.

I will try to create a new topic next time. Usually I can find all of my answer if I search in here or google but I just couldn't find the answer.

**nerdopolis** · October 27th, 2009

I read somewhere once that there was a bug in KDE with trash, that when you delete a file (to trash) in a secondary partition, it moves it to the /home folder, which may be in another partition.

There also is another bug in trash
https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=179348

They are working on a fix