Hi folks hope someone can help me with this small problem, I have some memory (data) sticks and also a 500 GB external drive, my problem is that when I delete files from these my Mac puts them in an invisible trash folder and it still registers that my data stick and external has the same amount of used space, when I use my data stick on a PC I can see the Trash folder and delete it. How can I make space on these drives.

Thanks for all the help.

The only way I can see this happening is if you put files in the trash and don't empty the trash. They don't go into an invisible trash folder, they go into the trash on your hard drive. Make sure it's emptied before you remove the stick.

i agree with groon, also,if you move files to the trash then mount you drive again they will show up, so always empty the trash after moving items there, you can go into Disk Utility select erase--> erase free space, this this is only for freeing up unused space. if you have trouble emptying the trash, hold down the command key then click empty trash

thanks I knew the Darkside would have the answers, thanks again folks.