New
#1
Can't delete a non-system Windows folder (I am owner)
From another thread:
I followed these instructions exactly. It took quite a while to apply the new ownership to everything on the drive, and I got "access denied" on a few files with odd names like system colume information\8en8r9figi9t. When it was all finished, I tried to delete an old Windows folder on that drive (not my current system folder--I double-checked) and it started deleting, appeared tp delete a lot of files, then it said You require permission from "user" to make changes to this profile (where "user" is the my actual username.) In other words, it's refusing to delete the file on the grounds that I need permission from myself. FWIW, the file is FXSEXT.ecf. I check "do this for all current items (12200 found)" and click try again, and try again, but it just repeats the same error on that file.
I notice that the folder is read-only. I try to remove that attribute, grant Admin permission when prompted, but it just comes back and says an error occurred applying attributes to the file FSXEXT.ecf, access is denied. I doubt there's anything specil about that file, I suspect it's just the first file in the folder.
Also, this folder now shows up with a tiny padlock icon on it. This is something I haven't seen before.
I did check and I am still the owner of this drive, and I am able to change attributes of and delete other folders on it.
I drilled down to individual files I can't delete and verifued that my application of myself as owner of the drive has completed, I am owner of these files. I need permission from myself to delete them.
I tried turning off Norton Antivirus Autoprotect because a Google search brought up some similar issues with it, but that didn't help.
Any ideas on how I can get rid of the Windows folders on a drive without erasing the whole drive?