Can't Delete Non-Empty Folders

[jrizzo]

Ever since reformatting my C drive and reinstalling Windows 7 from the recovery partition on my hard drive, I've been having an intermittent problem. When I try to delete a folder that is not empty, Windows throws up an error message saying I need permission. However, I am the only user, I am an Admin and I created the folder. In every instance, the only thing in the folder is an empty folder which was created when I unzipped an archive I downloaded. I've deleted the contents of the folder, then tried deleting the parent folder, but get the error - see image below. The permissions of the folder within the parent are read only, but I can delete it. After doing so, I can then delete the parent.

Obviously this isn't a major problem, but it is annoying. I never had this problem before. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[grizzly]

I'm wondering if the folders that you're trying to delete are backed up and restored copies of folders from the computer before you reinstalled windows and might have some old security settings carried over on the folder from the previous install.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jrizzo,

You might see if taking ownership of the folder and set permissions of the folder to "Allow" your user account "Full control" may allow you to delete it afterwards.

If not, then you might see if you may be able to delete the folder in a command prompt at boot instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[whs]

When I stumbled on a problem like that, I have used 2 methods that worked for me:

1. I deleted all the individual items in the folder and then I was able to delete the folder too.
2. I deleted it in Safe mode. That worked most times too.

 

[Ztruker]

You could also install a program like LockHunter or Unlocker to see if they can tell you why you can't delete it.

 

[Ztruker]

Shawn, why did you change the link for Unlocker? It pointed to authors site before, now it points to Softpedia. I don't mind but am curious why. Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hi Rich,

The link to the author's site has been blocked here, so it would not have worked. It had thrown up red flags as a dangerous site with many people that tried to visit it in the past. It seems to be fine now, but we didn't want to take any chances.

 

[Ztruker]

Thanks Shawn. I'll try to remember that for the future.

 

[mickey megabyte]

When I stumbled on a problem like that, I have used 2 methods that worked for me:

1. I deleted all the individual items in the folder and then I was able to delete the folder too.
...

that's what i do too. always seems to work.