Solved can not delete old restore points

[kpn]

Hello

here is my problem, an unwanted restore point folder:

-system protection is turned off for this drive and all restore points are deleted there
-cleaner and system restore explorer dont find any restore pionts!
-the folder is unreachable through windows explorer but not foldersizes still deleting them doesnt work no error but they are just there!
-i tried diskcleanup but theres no clean up system files option!(i run it as admin)
-they seem to be my very old files no viruses and etc. the size of it doesnt grow
-i renamed this drive letter long time ago and i think its somehow relevant ...
-formatting the drive is not an option
-windows 7 ultimate sp1 x64


thank you in advance

 

[whs]

Check whether there is really anything in the shadowstorage. The command is:

vssadmin list shadowstorage

If the Allocated space for that drive is zero, then you have no restore points on that drive. If not, post back and I tell you how to get rid of them.

 

[kpn]

Shadow Copy Storage association
   For volume: (K:)\\?\Volume{3c31232f-8366-11e2-a8b0-806e6f6e6963}\
   Shadow Copy Storage volume: (K:)\\?\Volume{3c31232f-8366-11e2-a8b0-806e6f6e69
63}\
   Used Shadow Copy Storage space: 0 B (0%)
   Allocated Shadow Copy Storage space: 0 B (0%)
   Maximum Shadow Copy Storage space: 2.25 GB (1%)

but i think there is actually data in that folder!
foldersizes detects more than 1 GB data and i can browse when i open the subfolder restore(which i cant access directly via windows explorer) and then windows explorer shows them :shock: :

how can i get rid of them please :huh:

 

[whs]

That is really strange. Run WinDirStat and right click on that folder. Maybe you can delete it there - if they really exist. A 1GB folder should be easy to id in the color picture.


http://windirstat.info/

 

[kpn]

yep its weird 0_0 windirstat shows system volume information folder is empty but as i said windows explorer and foldersizes detect data there (1.15 GB size 0.99 GB allocated) and i can browse the contents :shock:

 

[whs]

Looks like you are chasing a ghost.

 

[kpn]

its not a ghost for sure
i think its an old/corrupted restore point from an old OS which windows doesnt let me to delete! and the fix is format or force delete (i dont do it for 1 GB!)

thank you btw

ill check if theres any other solution for this ...

 

[whs]

One of the strange things is that it is in your K partition. Is that your OS partition.

 

[4wd]

they seem to be my very old files -\- i renamed this drive letter long time ago

Looks indeed very much like residues from a former windows installation. Probably safe to just go ahead and delete the whole folder, if it won't delete it's an ownership issue. So, how to delete... not showing up in Explorer with 'Show hidden files, folders' on, & 'Hide protected operation system files' off ?

 

[whs]

You probably can only delete those with a reformat of the disk.

 

[Ztruker]

Boot a live Linux flash drive or CD, see if you can delete from there.

See whs's tutorial here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/287439-emergency-kit-save-your-files-dead-os.html

 

[kpn]

One of the strange things is that it is in your K partition. Is that your OS partition.

yes its os partition but not win 7 its for win 8 which i recently installed this folder was there before

they seem to be my very old files -\- i renamed this drive letter long time ago

Looks indeed very much like residues from a former windows installation. Probably safe to just go ahead and delete the whole folder, if it won't delete it's an ownership issue. So, how to delete... not showing up in Explorer with 'Show hidden files, folders' on, & 'Hide protected operation system files' off ?

i take the ownership as admin (full access) and still when i delete them nothing happens

You probably can only delete those with a reformat of the disk.

maybe but its the last thing to do ...

Boot a live Linux flash drive or CD, see if you can delete from there.

See whs's tutorial here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/287439-emergency-kit-save-your-files-dead-os.html

i think this is the solution:

1. Delete all restore points. Self-explanatory.
2. Reboot into Safe Mode. Self-explanatory.
3. Log on as Administrator . Self-explanatory.
4. Click the Start button. Self-explanatory.
5. Type the three letters cmd . This is one way to start the Command Processor (the Command Console)
6. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter . This gives you the option to override the UAC restrictions.
7. Launch the Console session as an Administrator. Self-explanatory.
8. Type these commands and press Enter after each:
takeown /f "k:\System Volume Information" /a /r /d y . This command assigns ownership of the nominated folder to the Administrator. Type takeown /? to see the meaning of the various switches I used.
cacls "k:\System Volume Information" /e /t /c /g administrators:F . This command gives full access permissions of the nominated folder to the "administrators" security group (of which Administrator is a member). Type cacls /? to see the meaning of each switch.
rd /s /q "k:\System Volume Information" . This removes the nominated folder and all its subfolders.

i`ll try the live cd if it doesnt work or maybe format it later ...

i just wonder why windows explorer shows it empty and if its some kind of malware or something

-case closed !

thank you all