Folders Not Deleting

[joelandsonja]

I have researched this topic for some time now, and I still don't have a good answer. I am trying to delete some of the folders on my harddrive, but Windows won't let me. I already figured out the fact that it is a problem with permissions, but everytime I research this problem I get led down a path that does not help me in any way. Usually the typical advice is to right click on the folder you want to delete and select the security tab to access the settings, but the security tab in the folder I am trying to delete gives me an error message that says 'The requested security information is either unavailable or can't be displayed'

This is when I pull my hair out ...

Can someone please explain to me a simple way for me to delete these folders? Is deleting a folder to difficult for Windows to handle?

 

[derekimo]

You can try using this to take ownership of them first,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html?ltr=T

 

[Delphin]

I have researched this topic for some time now, and I still don't have a good answer. I am trying to delete some of the folders on my harddrive, but Windows won't let me. I already figured out the fact that it is a problem with permissions, but everytime I research this problem I get led down a path that does not help me in any way. Usually the typical advice is to right click on the folder you want to delete and select the security tab to access the settings, but the security tab in the folder I am trying to delete gives me an error message that says 'The requested security information is either unavailable or can't be displayed'

This is when I pull my hair out ...

Can someone please explain to me a simple way for me to delete these folders? Is deleting a folder to difficult for Windows to handle?

Tell us the location and names of the folder you are trying to delete...

 

[Harvey Meale]

Hi, joelandsonja.

It'll help a whole lot if you can specify as much information about the issue as possible. As Delphin said, the name and location of the folder will be very helpful. It will enable us to create a solution dependent on the result.

Furthermore, I'd like to confirm that you're running as an administrator. Is this correct?

And lastly, there are some applications that will forcefully delete folders, but this isn't recommended as the folder you're concerned with may be legitimate and necessary.

Thanks,
Harvey Meale
http://www.sevenforums.com/member.php?u=82542http://www.sevenforums.com/member.php?u=82542

 

[WindowsStar]

Hi, joelandsonja.

It'll help a whole lot if you can specify as much information about the issue as possible. As Delphin said, the name and location of the folder will be very helpful. It will enable us to create a solution dependent on the result.

Furthermore, I'd like to confirm that you're running as an administrator. Is this correct?

And lastly, there are some applications that will forcefully delete folders, but this isn't recommended as the folder you're concerned with may be legitimate and necessary.

Thanks,
Harvey Meale

+1

 

[joelandsonja]

Sorry for the wait folks, I've been away the last few days.

The folder is located on one of my storage drives found on drive E:

It is not an important file at all, it is simply an old tv show folder that I can't delete. I think the problem could stem from the fact that I recently switched over from Ubuntu to Windows and there are a few folders that won't delete.

At any rate, I tried the 'Take Ownership' suggestion, (thanks) but it didn't work.

I'm not sure what else there is to do because I've been searching to fix this problem for a while, and there only seems to be one or two suggestions on how to fix the problem, and unfortunately they never work.

Although any suggestions would be helpful at this point.

* I am running as an administrator.

 

[Brink]

Hello Joel and Sonja,

Starting at step 2 in the tutorial below, you might see if booting to a "command prompt at startup", then try to delete the file may work for you instead. This way you will bypass the usual "In Use" restrictions.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/55728-file-delete-command-prompt.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[joelandsonja]

That looks like it might work, but I tried to delete it several ways through the command prompt and it didn't work. If you are certain this would work, what could should I type in?

I simply want to delete a folder on my E: that is labaled 'Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, The'

 

[derekimo]

That looks like it might work, but I tried to delete it several ways through the command prompt and it didn't work. If you are certain this would work, what could should I type in?

I simply want to delete a folder on my E: that is labaled 'Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, The'

Hi joelandsonja,

If you could post back a screenshot of the location of the folder, we could help

you with what you need to type in.

 

[whs]

Try Unlocker.

 

[motc7]

Try Unlocker.

That's a good one.

also, I would be interested if he logged in with a different windows user profile and tried to delete if it would work?

 

[Brink]

Hello Joel and Sonja,

Starting at step 2 in the tutorial below, you might see if booting to a "command prompt at startup", then try to delete the file may work for you instead. This way you will bypass the usual "In Use" restrictions.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/55728-file-delete-command-prompt.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

That looks like it might work, but I tried to delete it several ways through the command prompt and it didn't work. If you are certain this would work, what could should I type in?

I simply want to delete a folder on my E: that is labaled 'Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, The'

This would be doing it from a command prompt at boot instead, before Windows 7 starts up. This may allow you to delete it if it was just one of those "In use" issues that wasn't letting you delete it from within Windows 7. You might give it a try to see.

 

[skydiver123]

[...] I simply want to delete a folder on my E: that is labaled 'Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, The'

Hi
You mentioned you were doing this at the command level.
Are you enclosing the full folder with quotes, like this:

rmdir "Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, The" ?

because the command prompt will trip up over the comma being part of the name. You need the quotes.

If that doesn't work, what error or message do you get if you just drag and drop to the recycle bin?

- Sky

 

[WindowsStar]

Sorry for the wait folks, I've been away the last few days.

The folder is located on one of my storage drives found on drive E:

It is not an important file at all, it is simply an old tv show folder that I can't delete. I think the problem could stem from the fact that I recently switched over from Ubuntu to Windows and there are a few folders that won't delete.

At any rate, I tried the 'Take Ownership' suggestion, (thanks) but it didn't work.

I'm not sure what else there is to do because I've been searching to fix this problem for a while, and there only seems to be one or two suggestions on how to fix the problem, and unfortunately they never work.

Although any suggestions would be helpful at this point.

* I am running as an administrator.

Since you are familiar with Ubuntu, just boot your Ubuntu CD in live mode and delete the file from Ubuntu. It should be simple.

 

[joelandsonja]

Here's a screenshot ...

 

[joelandsonja]

Nevermind, Unlocker worked, thanks for the help folks!

 

[whs]

Nevermind, Unlocker worked, thanks for the help folks!

That's good.