Deleting directories

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krosenstein · #1 Post by **krosenstein** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 4:05 pm

I have several directories that I suspect are empty, but I can't verify that, nor can I delete them. They have 24-character alphanumeric names and a sub-dir called update. I've run out of ideas about how to get rid of them. I've booted in safe mode, killed explorer.exe and tried to delete from a DOS window, and I've tried using programs that will delete on boot (you have to name a file and I can't see any files).

Any ideas??

s0larian · #2 Post by **s0larian** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 4:46 pm

easy workaround: boot with a linux live cd with ntfs support (there should be many out there). Works defintely.

krosenstein · #3 Post by **krosenstein** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 6:50 pm

Duh. Why didn't I think of that?

#4 Post by **jdhurst** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:10 pm

A Linux boot disk will surely do it, but I have not seen any file or directory (save for the system restore folder) that I could not delete with one userid or another. Part of it depends on how you set explorer (make sure all files are visible). ... JD Hurst

krosenstein · #5 Post by **krosenstein** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:30 pm

I can see everything, but access is denied.

#6 Post by **jdhurst** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:54 pm

krosenstein wrote:I can see everything, but access is denied.

Then sign on as Adminstrator and delete the files that way. Or make another admin user to delete the files.

I always find out why files have access denied *before* I delete them. They could come from another user's documents or from system files that should not be deleted.
... JD Hurst

krosenstein · #7 Post by **krosenstein** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 10:30 pm

I am an administrator and also signed on as the Administrator - access denied. (There are no other users) And it's not the files I'm having trouble deleting; it's the directories.

The directories look like they might have been used temporarily to expand an archive before the files were installed wherever they went. I was able to delete the files but not the directories. They're not in my c: partition (whatever that's worth). This is driving me nuts.

egibbs · #8 Post by **egibbs** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:15 am

If they were created by a system process then they have ownership of "System" and you have to take ownership under your admin account before you can delete them.

Open Explorer in any folder. Click Tools:Folder Options. Select the View pane and scroll to the bottom of the list. De-select Use Simple File Sharing (Recommended). Click Ok. Note: This step is required to enable access to the Security tab on the folders you want to delete.

Reboot and come up in safe mode. Open Explorer and right click on one of the folders you want to delete and select Properties. Then select the Security tab and click Advanced. On the Advanced properties box select the Owner tab. Clcik on your account name in the list. Also check Replace Owner on Subcontainers and Objects. Ok out and you should now be able to delete the file.

When you are done deleting all the folders you can re-enable SImple FIle Sharing if you want.

Honestly - I don't know why you couldn't come up with this solution by yourself - it's perfectly intuitive.

Ed Gibbs

Kenn · #9 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:08 pm

I would second deleting them from within safe mode.

Also, you probably have done so already, but make sure you've chosen to not hide system/hidden files from Folder Options (someone always forgets).

krosenstein · #10 Post by **krosenstein** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:47 am

egibbs wrote:Honestly - I don't know why you couldn't come up with this solution by yourself - it's perfectly intuitive.

Well, I had gone as far as the security tab, but the advance properties and owner tab were not all that intuitive, at least not for me.

In any event (and despite the sarcasm), it did the trick. Thanks.

egibbs · #11 Post by **egibbs** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:16 am

krosenstein wrote:Well, I had gone as far as the security tab, but the advance properties and owner tab were not all that intuitive, at least not for me.

My sarcasm was aimed at the MS interface, not at you. Sorry.

Airplane is flying into Seattle in dense fog. Pilot can't find the airport, is totally lost. He sees a tall building sticking out of the mist, so he flys by and shouts out the window "Hey - where am I?"

A voice comes back and says "You're in an airplane!" Pilot says "Thanks," makes a sharp left turn and lands at the airport.

The co-pilot looks at him in amazement. "How did you do that?" he asks.

The pilot explains... "Well, the answer he gave me was technically correct but totally useless. Therefore I knew he worked for Microsoft. And the Microsoft campus is exactly 5.2 miles south of the airport on a heading of 135 degrees."

Ed Gibbs

dvorak · #12 Post by **dvorak** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 10:26 am

krosenstein wrote:I have several directories that I suspect are empty, but I can't verify that, nor can I delete them. They have 24-character alphanumeric names and a sub-dir called update. I've run out of ideas about how to get rid of them. I've booted in safe mode, killed explorer.exe and tried to delete from a DOS window, and I've tried using programs that will delete on boot (you have to name a file and I can't see any files).

Any ideas??

Try closing the handles, with some program, then deleting them.
www.sysinternals.com may help you with Handle management programs.
It also helps me when I wish to delete some .avi's etc. than just don't want to go :)

Deleting directories

Deleting directories

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