How to delete contents of a Linux formatted external disk?

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  1. tfwul
    Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
       New #1

    How to delete contents of a Linux formatted external disk?


    I have this USB disk that is formatted using Linux system (I believe it is ext2 or ext3).
    It is used to save TV-recordings. I use Linux Reader to copy these recordings onto my Windows pc.

    Am looking for a portable tool, similar to Linux Reader, that can also delete the contents of this external drive.

    Right now, I only know of 1 method: from USB using Paragon Harddisk Manager and format the external drive.

    Any alternatives ?

    Thanks
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  3. CountMike
    Posts : 19,518
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       New #2

    I like making a live Linux USB and that will have direct access to any Linux disk or partition. Than you can delete add or modify anything from it as you wish. Program like: LinuxLive USB Creator can download a selected Linux distro and make any USB drive bootable.
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  4. slicendice
    Posts : 4,666
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1 Build 19043.1151 (Branch: Release Preview)
       New #3

    I fully agree with @CountMike

    It is absolutely the best way to go. While there exist a lot of Linux FS driver and software implementations for Windowss, they are far from reliable and just overcomplicates things. If you have a bootable USB (or DVD) with a Linux distribution, you get easily access to most Linux FS formats (even the more exotic ones) and all simply just works without breaking anything on the HDD.
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  6. slicendice
    Posts : 4,666
    Windows 10 Pro x64 21H1 Build 19043.1151 (Branch: Release Preview)
       New #4

    If you can get the TV internet/local network connected, then it should be possible to do this over the network from any PC with any OS.

    You could then both copy and delete whatever you want, without ever having to remove the drive from your TV. But all this of course highly depend on what TV model you have and if it has support for local network sharing. (Most TVs only act as a media server, so only playback is supported but no delete operations are allowed)
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  7. lx07
    Posts : 5,478
    2004
       New #5

    Or if you are happy to delete everything you could re-format it FAT32 or ExFat (you could copy the data you want to save to your PC first).

    Most TV/Set-top boxes support FAT filesystems (mine always have anyway) but they don't support NTFS.
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  8. tfwul
    Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Thank you all for the comments. Please do consider that I have no knowledge at all of Linux commands. The only thing I want to do is to be able to simply delete what is on the disk. Quickly checked out LinuxLive USB Creator, but I am a little unsure how to proceed.
    Say, I downloaded a portable version, say I run this, it will then create a Linux bootable USB drive
    I reboot using the USB thumbdrive... then what?
    End up in some command line environment or something, totally different from Windows?

    Hm...
    sorry, but I just think of it... I can attach the drive to the tv setup box and can delete the contents there.
    yes, I admit... a bit dumb that I did not think of it...

    But then again basically the issue still exists.

    Gave LinuxLive USB Creator a try, after selecting the USB drive, I need to select my favourite Linux ... I can select from I guess some 100 entries. Huh..? No idea...
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  9. CountMike
    Posts : 19,518
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       New #7

    Most Linux distros have graphical interface and all hove some kind of File manager so no need for any console commands. Works same way as windows do. Puppy Linux is probably smallest and easiest and Slacko variant looks almost like windows.
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  10. tfwul
    Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Thank you. I checked around, specifically for 'beginners' and found following site
    Which Is The Best Linux Distro For Beginners? — 2017 Edition

    Somewhere in the beginning it says "
    Well, the answer lies in the fact that Linux Mint was created with a goal to provide an out-of-the-box experience to the newbies.
    "
    Will try to reboot from that one ... see what happens
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How to delete contents of a Linux formatted external disk?-snagit-16032018-152337.png  
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  12. CountMike
    Posts : 19,518
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       New #9

    Mint is my favorite too.
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  13. tfwul
    Posts : 868
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    I got it running etc. All drives were listed, also the contents of this "Linux" USB drive.
    Everything fine, except...
    delete, permissions, they were greyed out : owner is 'root' (?)
    Don't know, gave up. It seems not so straightforward after all.
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