I can't delete pagefile.sys and System Volume Information

ccdan · 17 May 2012

I had an additional Windows installation for testing purposes, on a different partition and now I want to delete everything associated with it because I need some free space.

Although I managed to take ownership and delete the Windows folder and few others, I can't delete System Volume Information and the pagefile.sys file.

System Volume Information - I can't get "ownership" of the files in the directory. Although I'm listed as an "owner" of the directory with "full control", when I check "Replace owner on subcontainer and objectes" I get "Access is denied" and then "Stopping propagation of the owner leads to an inconsistent state..." I think I came across this before, but I have no idea what to do. I also get "access denied" when I try to change the read-only attribute of the directory.

pagefile.sys - when I right click on it, the security tab says "The requested security information is wither unavailable or can't be displayed"

note: I can't format the partition

Any ideas? Thanks!

ignatzatsonic · 17 May 2012

Have you attempted to format or delete the partition when outside of Windows, from a tool such as Diskpart?

ccdan · 17 May 2012

ignatzatsonic said:

Have you attempted to format or delete the partition when outside of Windows, from a tool such as Diskpart?

I have important data on that partition so I can't delete it.

I just noticed that the pagefile.sys file is from he current OS, although I can't remember to have moved it. I can't find it on C:, where my current OS is installed, only on D: where the former OS resided.
I suspected that System Volume Information is protected by the current OS as well, although I have another SVI folder on C: that is being used by the current OS.