Deleting Old (Non-Boot) Windows Vista Directory From Command-Line

Question

Does anyone have a good script that will delete an old, non-booting, inactive Windows directory from the command-line?

Evan Anderson · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-08 19:39:56Z

up vote 5 down vote accepted

Umm...

rd /s /q <directory name>

From a CMD command prompt.

How's that work for you?

Edit:

Okay-- how about:

takeown /F <directory name> /R /D Y
cacls <directory name> /T /G Everyone:F
rd /s /q <directory name>

Should be run from an elevated command-prompt.

edited Jul 8 '09 at 19:39

answered Jul 8 '09 at 17:16

Evan Anderson
87.9k887194

	It doesn't work because it doesn't address the various permissions and results in access denied on many files. I was playing around with something with taking ownership, then changing the permissions, and then deleting, but it doesn't seem to always work. – NoahD Jul 8 '09 at 18:27
	I had a switch wrong, thanks!! – NoahD Jul 8 '09 at 20:28

Sean Earp · Answer 2 · 2009-07-08 19:28:54Z

Not sure what OS you are running, but if it is Vista, instructions on deleting the windows.old directory can be found here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930527 or http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933212 (they pretty much say the same thing).

Edit: I see in the subject line that it is Vista... Those KB articles should do the trick.

2 Answers