Question can't delete a folder

[velocci]

Hi all, I'm logged into my PC with my own account that has admin rights. I have this folder on my desktop called windows.old. I'm trying to delete it but its saying I don't have access to delete it and I need permission from [my own account that i'm logged in as] to delete this folder. how do I delete it?

 

[USAFRet]

Right.
You can't delete Windows.old via a normal delete.

You have to go through Disk Cleanup

 

[velocci]

Right.
You can't delete Windows.old via a normal delete.

You have to go through Disk Cleanup

disk cleanup doesn't see that folder.

 

[dwd999]

disk cleanup doesn't see that folder.

A couple of things: activate and log in under the Super Administrator account and see if that works. Or as a last resort, boot from a usb stick containing a linux distro and use its file manager to delete it.

 

[VASIC]

If you tried Disk Cleanup and it didn't work, try this:

Step 1: Open elevated Command Prompt. To do so, type CMD in taskbar search box or Start search box and then simultaneously press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys to open Command Prompt as administrator. Click Yes button when you see the UAC dialog.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt, paste the following command and then press Enter key to delete Windows.old folder.
RD /S /Q %SystemDrive%\windows.old

Or to take ownership of a folder if that won't work.

In the elevated command prompt, type the command you want below, press Enter.
NOTE: Substitute full path of folder or drive with the full path of the folder or drive letter that you want to take ownership of within quotes.

(To grant currently logged on user ownership of)
takeown /F "full path of folder or drive" /R /D Y

(To grant administrators group ownership of)
takeown /F "full path of folder or drive" /A /R /D Y

And, if this didn't help you, this must work:

boot from a usb stick containing a linux distro and use its file manager to delete it.

 

[USAFRet]

Hi all, I'm logged into my PC with my own account that has admin rights. I have this folder on my desktop called windows.old. I'm trying to delete it but its saying I don't have access to delete it and I need permission from [my own account that i'm logged in as] to delete this folder. how do I delete it?

How did this end up on your desktop?
Is that the actual folder, or a shortcut to...

 

[velocci]

How did this end up on your desktop?
Is that the actual folder, or a shortcut to...

I must have seen it on the C: drive and moved it to my desktop to see if my PC would get screwed up without it. i must have forgotten it there.

 

[velocci]

none of the above work. i'll either get a USB key or delete my profile. thanks everyone.

 

[velocci]

boot from a usb stick containing a linux distro and use its file manager to delete it.

where can I get this?

 

[USAFRet]

I must have seen it on the C: drive and moved it to my desktop to see if my PC would get screwed up without it. i must have forgotten it there.

It would have originally appeared as a folder on the root of C.

Removable via Disk Cleanup.
Or, wait the 10 or 30 days, and Windows will automatically delete it.

Since you moved it, all bets are off.

 

[VASIC]

where can I get this?

You need to create a bootable USB drive with a Linux distro. I recommend Ubuntu since you can test the Ubuntu desktop experience without touching your PC configuration (a.k.a. Live boot).

https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#1-overview

 

[SkyNetRising]

I must have seen it on the C: drive and moved it to my desktop to see if my PC would get screwed up without it. i must have forgotten it there.

Then move it back to c:\
After that should be able to remove it with Disk Cleanup.

 

[USAFRet]

I must have seen it on the C: drive and moved it to my desktop to see if my PC would get screwed up without it. i must have forgotten it there.

Can you move it back to the root of C, and see if Disk Cleanup can do something with it?

 

[velocci]

Then move it back to c:\
After that should be able to remove it with Disk Cleanup.

that's a no brainer. I don't know why I didn't think of that. it worked. thanks!