Windows 7 - tell me how to delete System Volume Information on D:

It is a system file and it will stay there. Removal and reboot Windows will simply put it back .... disable for D: then set all system files back to hidden. It will disappear when you mark it hidden. as per default.

I have a similar problem. I'm trying delete the system volume information folder from a previous version of Windows 7.

I was running Windows 7 RC for the past 6+ months. I purchased a new HDD and installed Windows 7 Pro on it. When I first tried booting with both HDD SATA cables connected, Win 7 RC started up. I then powered down, disconnected this drive, and booted with only the new Win 7 Pro drive connected. I then connected the HDD with Win 7 RC on it. I know I should connect it while the system is on, but whatever. I was able to scan for the drive and then delete most of the Win 7 RC files from the drive, but System Volume Information refuses to be deleted. And now when I boot with both drives connected the system hangs.

I know I should just format the drive, but I have about 550GB of data on the drive and no where to store it during the formatting.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Had the identical problem with an external drive with a BETA Win 7 install I hosed a few months ago, but managed to fix it doing the following.
1. I read elsewhere to right-click and enable sharing on that folder with full permissions. (Tried to delete the folder right after doing this, but it didn't work.) I also installed the UNLOCKER program just prior to this attempt.
2. Created a new directory in the root of the drive aptly titled DELETE ME, then moved the stubborn System Volume Information into DELETE ME.
3. Delete the DELETE ME directory.

Worked without trouble using Windows 7 Home Premium. You might even try skipping step 1 and seeing if steps 2 and 3 solve it.

Best of luck

NEVER do this

if your goal is to simply erase a System Volume Information that is too big and have no use for,
get Parted Magic:
News

burn and boot with it and use the file/folder tool located in the bottom left icon.
delete the whole SVI folder and reboot to Win 7.

if you do that on your OS drive make sure you create a Restore point when you get back to your Win 7 desktop.

Is indexing enabled on the drive? That might be why it isn't empty. My J:\drive has System Restore turned off on it and the System Volume Information shows empty but Indexing is also
disabled.

Works well. Pity no one seems to have listened to you and I cannot rep you!

After emptying the recycle bin the System Volume Information folder is back with it's original contents. Crap...

This time for sure! Disable System Protection for the drive: Start, right click Computer, properties, System Protection, select the drive that contains the System Volume Information folder you want to delete, click Configure, turn off system protection, ok, ok, reboot, tap f8 repeatedly during boot, select repair computer, open command prompt, navigate to the offending folder and delete.

Old post I know but I've had this problem on several of my removeable HDs and finally I managed to remove the 'System Volume Information' folder:

DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR C: OR YOUR WINDOWS HARDDRIVE!!!!!

Right click desktop and click [New->Shortcut]
Write: cmd.exe

Click [Next] then [Finish]

Right click the cmd.exe icon and click 'Run As Adminstrator"
Now select the external hard drive (F: in my case)

C:\>f:

Now do the following (you can copy paste):
F:\>attrib -s -h /S /D
F:\>attrib -r /S /D
F:\>rd "System Volume Information" /S
System Volume Information, Are you sure (Y/N)? y

And you're DONE ;-)

Thanks for your post, Mattie,
I fought with this for many days, without being able to accomplish the removal of this annoying folder from my external or not monitored drives. I previously tried the removal through the command utility, but always received a reply of: "Directory not found". I don't know, if it is necessary to remove the attributes, but the most important aspect of your post is that the folder name has to be enclosed in quotation marks. After doing this, it worked like a charm. Thanks for posting

Thank you mattie I did that and could finally eliminate the "System Volume Information" folder on my external HD!!

I managed to get it down to containing 0 files and folders but it was still there and pissing me off, but with your information I could finally completely eliminate it.