How to delete a folder that won't delete. What to do if the folder is not deleted? Windows won't let me delete a folder

You can delete a folder by clicking on it right click mouse and selecting context menu delete. But sometimes this method does not help and I cannot delete the folder, so I will describe several ways to delete the folder.

Deleting a folder using the command line

To delete Windows folder we do the following. Click “Start” - “All Programs” - “Accessories” - “Command Prompt”. A window will appear in which if you add Help and press “Enter”, a list of commands and a description of each command will appear, the RMDIR command is deleting a folder via the command line. To find out how to write the command you need, for example deleting a folder, you need to add Help RMDIR. The system told us how to write a command to delete a folder. RMDIR [drive:]path. I want to delete the remains of the game paradise in the RAI folder and I got this command. RMDIR /S /Q C:\Games\RAI.

Delete a folder via command line

Press “Enter” and the folder will be deleted immediately.

Deleting a folder using the bat file command

So we found out what the command to delete a folder looks like. There are folders that appear again after some time. To remove them, you can create a BAT file on your desktop because this folder, which we do not need, will be deleted when you run the bat file.

How to make a bat file

Right-click on an empty space on the desktop and select “Create” - “Text Document” from the context menu. Let's open this Text Document, which appeared on the desktop. Enter the command RMDIR /S /Q C:\Games\RAI there, where C:\Games\RAI is the path to your folder. The entire path must be in English because bat file does not start if there are words in Russian in the written bat file. Now click “File” - “Save As”. In the window that appears, in the file name line, write 1.bat and click “Save”.

In 1.bat rename the file

An example bat file will appear on your desktop. Now run 1 bat file and bat delete the folder instantly.

Removing the Windows old folder

Some install the system without formatting the disk and they end up with a folder with old Windows system files, usually called this Windows old folder. Many people do not know that the Windows old folder can be deleted. Delete old folder windows, you can use Disk Cleanup in Windows 7. Click “Start” - “All Programs” - “Accessories” - “System Tools” - “Disk Cleanup”. A window will open in which you need to select the drive on which the Windows old folder is located and click “OK”. The disk will be scanned and a window will appear in which we click “Clean up system files.” In this window, put a tick in the “Previous Windows installations" and click "OK". A message will appear saying “Are you sure you want to permanently delete these files?” click “Delete files”.

Removing windows old

System files will be deleted from the Windows old folder and now you can simply delete the Windows old folder.

Delete a folder with administrator rights

Sometimes the folder is not deleted and the message “You need permission to perform this operation” appears. In order for the folder to be deleted, you need to allow full access in the folder properties. To do this, do the following. Right-click on the folder and select “Properties” from the context menu. Go to the “Security” tab and click “Advanced”. In the new window, go to the “Owner” tab and click “Change”.

We will change the owner of the folder

The owner window will open in which you need to select your administrator name (but not administrators), check the box “Replace owner of subcontainers and objects” and click “Apply”.

Changing the owner of a folder

In the message that appears, we confirm and become the owner of this object. From the “Owner” tab, go to the “Permissions” tab and click “Change Permissions”. In the window that opens, select the name of your administrator and click “Change”. A window will open in which we put a tick in the “ Full access" and click "OK" this window will close, and in the open window we will tick the following items:
"Add permissions inherited from parent objects."
“Replace all permissions of the child object with permissions inherited from this object” and click “OK”.

Allow full access to the folder

Again a message will appear with which we agree by clicking “OK” and close all windows by clicking “OK”. Now the folder can be deleted.

Deleting a folder in Total Commander

Permanently delete a folder in Total Commander very easy. You need to find the folder you want to delete and left-click on it, and then click the delete button at the bottom of Total Commander or press F8 on the keyboard and a message will appear in which we click “Yes” or “Delete”, depending on what empty folder or there is something in it.

Finding and deleting empty folders in total commander

The folder will be deleted along with all its contents.

Program to force folder deletion

I like the Unlocker folder deletion program.

Install and the program for deleting non-deletable folders will be in the context menu. Right-click on the folder to be deleted and select Unlocker from the context menu. A window will appear in which set the action to “Delete” and click “Unblock all”. The folder will be deleted.

When working at a computer, a huge amount of unnecessary information, which reduces PC performance by clogging RAM. It needs to be removed. Quite often, due to an operating system failure, a virus attack, the presence of hidden or system files, access blocking and a number of other reasons, when deleting an object, a message appears that the folder is not being deleted. What to do in this case? There are several ways to help solve this problem.

Restarting the computer

An operating system crash is often the reason why an empty folder is not deleted. In this case, a normal computer restart is enough - and the object can be deleted. If rebooting does not help, you will need:

Start your computer in safe mode.
. Delete the problematic folder.
. Return to normal mode.

Deleting folders involved in one of the running processes

If a folder or the file it contains is involved in any system process or used by an application, it cannot be deleted. First of all, you will need to stop the process and only then try to delete the directory again.

To do this you need to follow these steps:

Open the task manager using the key combination Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
. Switch to the Processes tab.
. Find in the list that opens required file.
. Select it with the mouse.
. Click on the “End process” button.
. Delete a folder via the context menu or Delete key.

How to delete a protected folder using the standard method

In some cases, the folder is protected and the user must have administrator rights to delete it. To do this you need:

Shut down your computer.
. Turn on PC.
. Login as administrator.
. Delete the folder in the usual way.

Unlocker utility and its capabilities

If this method does not help solve the problem of how to delete an unremovable folder, then you will need to install the additional Unlocker utility. This convenient program for removing various objects, occupying a small volume hard memory disk and has an easy-to-use interface. Moreover, it is completely free.

You can unlock and delete a folder using this utility as follows:

• Download the utility to your computer.
• Follow the standard installation procedure software, after which the program icon will appear in the system tray and in the context menu.
• Select the folder to be deleted.
• Right-click on it.
• Select Unlocker from the pop-up menu.
• A program window will open.
• At the bottom of the list of actions, select the line “Delete”.
• If the folder is blocked by some process (it will be displayed in the program window), first click on the “Unblock” or “Unblock all” line, and then apply the “Delete” action.

Unlocker may not always be able to remove an item immediately. In this case, a message will be displayed that the action will be performed the next time the system boots.

Deleting a folder via the command line

If a folder with a system name is not deleted, the command line can help. First you need to run the CMD program:

• Click on the “Start” button.
• Find the Run dialog box using search bar main menu.
• Launch the Run program.
• In the “Open” line, enter the CMD command.
• Run command line by pressing the Enter button.

To delete folders, use the command “RD \\.\Drive C or D:\Path\Folder Name”.

Sometimes when using this command you may be asked why the folder is not deleted. For an object with a long name, you must find out its short name before deleting it. You can do this as follows:

• Go to the drive where the undeletable folder is located using the command: cd /d drive name:\.
• Get a list of short names of objects contained on the disk: dir /x /n.
• Find short name desired folder.
• Delete a directory using the delete command.

Terminating the explorer.exe process

Sometimes in order to solve the problem of how to delete an unremovable folder, you need to stop the explorer.exe process. To do this you need:

• Leave the command line open.
• Launch the task manager by selecting this action from the pop-up menu on the system tray.
• In the “Processes” tab, find all processes named explorer.exe.
• Stop them by clicking on the “End process” button.
• If everything is done correctly, the desktop will be cleared of icons, the taskbar, and only open window command line.

After this, you can begin deleting the object via the command line. The explorer command will help return the desktop to its previous state, which should be entered into the command line and press Enter. You can also restore your desktop by simply restarting your computer.

Program for deleting folders FileASSASSIN

The FileASSASSIN utility will help you delete any object, including those occupied by some process or application. The principle of operation is similar to the Unlocker program. To use this utility, you must:

• Download and install it on your computer.
• After installation, the program is integrated into Explorer and becomes available in the context menu.
• To delete a folder, right-click on it.
• Find the FileASSASSIN item in the menu.
• Select a deletion method from the list provided.
• Click on the “Run” button.

Removing undeletable objects using LockHunter

The LockHunter utility allows you to clear your computer's memory of unnecessary objects and solve the problem of how to delete an undeletable folder. Unlike other similar software, it is equipped with functionality that can protect the operating system and user data from inappropriate use. In addition, deleted objects are stored in the system recycle bin for some time, and if deleted by mistake, they can always be restored.

The LockHunter program works as follows:

• After installation, you need to launch the utility by double-clicking on the icon on the desktop.
• The main program window will open.
• Find the button in the form of an ellipsis and click on it.
• In the window that appears, select the desired folder.
• The program will show the process that is preventing the object from being deleted.
• Click on the button with the red cross.
• The process will be completed.
• Delete the folder in the usual way.

Restoring access to a folder

Sometimes the reason why a folder is not deleted is because access to it is closed. You can restore access to the desired object as follows:

• Change access rights settings - to do this, you first need to go to the “My Computer” section.
• IN top menu Click on the “Service” subsection.
• Find the “Folder Options” block and open it.
• In the “View” tab, uncheck the checkbox next to the line “Use simple file sharing (recommended).”
• Click the “Ok” button.
• Then right-click on the folder you want to delete.
• In the functional menu, select the item “ General access and safety."
• Switch to the "Security" tab.
• If a warning appears about the lack of rights, click the “Ok” button.
• In the “Security” tab at the bottom, click on the “Advanced” button.
• In the additional settings window, find the “Owner” tab.
• Select the desired account from the list.
• Check the box next to the line “Replace owner of subcontainers and objects.”
• Click the “Apply” button.
• A warning about the change of ownership will appear.
• Allow changes to be made by clicking on the “Yes” button.
• Go to the “Permissions” tab.
• Click on the line “Change permissions”.
• In the window that opens, select the owner account and click the “Change” button.
• Check the box next to “Full access” and click the “Ok” button.
• In the next window, check the boxes next to the lines “Add permissions inherited from parent objects” and “Replace all permissions of a child object with permissions inherited from this object.”
• Confirm the changes with the “Ok” button.
• Close all windows.
• Delete a folder using the “Delete” function in the context menu or the Delete key.

Deleting an object using a bat file command

If the folder that appears again is not deleted, you need to create a bat file and destroy the directory by running it. This will require the following steps:

• Right-click on an empty area of ​​the desktop.
• In the pop-up menu, select the “Create” function and the “Text document” item.
• Open the document.
• Enter the command into it: RMDIR /S/Q Path to a folder like C:\folder name.
• In the top menu, go to the “File” section.
• Click on the “Save As” line.
• Set the file name to “1.bat” and click the “Save” button.
• Run the created bat file and the folder will be deleted.

Using the Total Commander file manager

You can permanently delete a folder using Total programs Commander. To do this you need:

• Launch file manager.
• Select a folder that cannot be deleted.
• Press the “F8” key.
• In the message that appears, click on the “Delete” button.

Folder not being deleted? What to do? There are many ways to solve this problem. The choice of deletion method depends on the type of folder and the reasons that prevent you from clearing your computer of unnecessary objects.

Creating, moving, deleting and other manipulations with files are routine actions that everyone has to perform. However, it happens that you cannot delete a folder that has become unnecessary. The system reports that the operation cannot be completed. If you still need to get rid of the extra folder, you will have to understand what causes such a reaction from the operating system and how to correct this situation.

Let's try to figure it out ourselves. Those for whom this may seem difficult can contact a specialist who performs customer service for computers in your office or home.

Causes and possible solutions to the problem

The inability to delete a particular folder may be due to the following reasons.

Folder corruption

Folder corruption. This may occur due to a software glitch, physical problems on the disk, or due to the destructive actions of a virus. Often it is quite enough to simply restart the computer or scan it with an antivirus.

File is busy

The file is occupied by some program or system process. To make sure of this, you should open Task Manager and stop required process, which uses this file or folder.

Situations often arise that a folder in Explorer appears empty, but it cannot be deleted. The reason may be hidden in the settings of the standard Windows Explorer. The “Do not show” mode can be activated hidden folders, files and disks”, so the folders only at first glance seem empty, but in fact service files are stored there. You should make sure of this, otherwise there is a risk of deleting important data.

Lack of rights

The folder contains files, but it cannot be deleted due to insufficient rights to perform this action. The options for correcting this situation are as follows:

• Use an account that has sufficient rights. You need to re-login to the system under a different user who has administrative rights. After completing all the manipulations, you can log in again under your name.
• Get rights for your account to delete folders. There is a risk here that advanced rights will not only allow the user to gain greater control over the system, but also a virus that penetrates an account with administrative privileges can cause much more trouble.
• Use third-party programs to forcefully delete information that has become unnecessary.

Granting administrator rights

A user with normal rights already has sufficient ability to freely perform necessary actions with many folders, without having access to system information. This prevents damage, accidental or intentional, to folders and files that are important for the operation of the OS. Only accounts with administrator rights have these rights.

A good option is to have, in addition to the main account, a second one that has administrative privileges for situations where the rights of the main account are not enough.

If you need to grant extended rights to a user account, then only the system administrator can do this. Next, we will show several ways in which you can, using the administrator account, grant the user greater rights to manage computer resources.

Using system settings

The sequence of actions is as follows:

Using the command line

This method requires certain experience, and if you do not have confidence in your abilities and knowledge, then it is best to contact specialists, for example, a company that provides computer help in Balashikha, or another area closest to you. For the rest, let's continue:

This activated the administrator account, which was usually in an inactive state.

Disabling TrustedInstaller

Windows 7 has a user with even greater rights than the administrator. The TrustedInstaller account protects critical system components. Even the administrator will not be able to delete such information. When you try to do something, a window will appear with the message “Request permission from TrustedInstaller to change this file.”

To this protection to bypass, you will have to manually grant access to the required file to the administrator. Sequencing:

Now nothing should prevent you from deleting a folder or file. You should do the same if you need to move any folders to another location. This should not be abused. After completing all the steps, you should return it to the previous owner so that the system can continue to function correctly.

If uninstallation is prevented by a running program

In the event that deletion is impossible due to the fact that the file is occupied by some program, you must either stop this program, or, if this system process or a program that simply cannot be stopped and certain actions cannot be performed.

Editing the Startup list

In order to prevent the launch of a program that blocks the ability to delete the desired folder, you must:

Now, if the interfering application has been disabled, the removal will be successful. If you didn’t get it right with the program, you should repeat the steps and disable what you need.

Using Safe Mode

Another way to delete a folder that is used by some program, or that a virus cannot remove, is to boot the system in safe mode. For this:

The system will now boot into safe mode. After deleting the folders, you should go back to “System Configuration” and uncheck Safe Boot.

There is another way to get into safe mode. When you boot your computer until the initial screen appears Windows screensaver, you need to press the F8 button. A window with additional download options should appear.

You need to select the line " Safe mode" and press "Enter". After downloading, open Explorer and delete everything that is required.

Uninstall using the command line

You can use the command line by opening the MS-DOS terminal window that we mentioned earlier. To delete a file, you can use one of the commands:

• “del c:\BadFolder\BadFile.txt” – deletes the BadFile.txt file from the c:\BadFolder folder.
• “del/f c:\BadFolder\BadFile.txt” – the “/f” key allows you to delete a protected file.
• “del/a c:\BadFolder\BadFile.txt” – using the “/a” key, all files in the folder that contains the BadFile.txt file are deleted.

All names of folders and files must be entered without errors. It will be impossible to restore files deleted in this way, since they will not be placed in the Recycle Bin.

Removal using third-party programs

Get rid of unnecessary, but not amenable normal removal, folders are possible if you use third-party applications.

File managers

Most of these programs have built-in tools for deleting protected files and folders. For example, in the popular “Total Commander”, it is enough to highlight the desired file with the cursor, press F8 and, having answered in the affirmative when asked to confirm the deletion, perform this action.

This file manager can delete many protected files, but not all. In some cases, it is better to use specialized utilities.

Unlocker

It's convenient and simple program After installation, it creates the “Unlocker” line in the context menu. Having selected a file, just call up this menu by clicking the right mouse button.

The window that appears will show the program that is preventing the deletion of this file. This is convenient because you just need to close the specified program, and you no longer have to perform any “violent” actions to delete the file.

Lockhunter

Another program, very similar to the previous one in capabilities. After installation, a line in the context menu is also created.

All operations that can be performed with the file are presented in the form of large buttons.

The program should be used carefully so as not to accidentally delete files that Windows needs for normal operation.

Fileassassin

This program works a little differently. To delete a file, you need to launch the program and select the desired file in the window that opens.

After the object to be deleted is selected and the parameters for working with it are specified, you must click the “Execute” button.

System Restore

Another way to try to unlock folders or files is to roll back the system to one of the backup points. This method is applicable if such backup points are created regularly. This is a radical remedy, because all changes made to the system since the last point was created will be forgotten.

Procedure:

Using a different OS

An alternative way is to connect the drive that contains the non-deletable files to another computer running Windows or Linux running from its own drive. You can also use one launched from a flash drive or optical disk a special assembly of the system, the so-called “Live CD”, designed to restore and test the main operating system of the computer. You can use boot utilities from antivirus software developers.

From the system's point of view, folders and files of the operating system of someone else's disk are simply objects of the disk's file system that can be easily deleted, moved to another location, etc. It is important not to delete unnecessary things, otherwise, by returning the disk to its place, you can end up with an inoperable system.

other methods

If the files that cannot be deleted are located on a flash drive, external drive, or SD card, then you can use, for example, a smartphone. By connecting a memory card to it or external drive using an adapter and necessary applications, you will finally be able to get rid of unnecessary information.

Conclusion

Summarizing all of the above, we will briefly list all the methods for deleting locked files, ranking them from simple and safe to more labor-intensive and requiring caution when used:

• User level. Closing programs that “hold” a file or folder. Reboot your computer.
• Windows level. Making changes to startup, removing from safe mode.
• Changing access rights. Granting administrative rights to the user.
• Command line. Using low-level delete commands.
• Usage third party programs. Special utilities and opportunities file managers.
• System rollback. Restoring the OS state from a backup point.
• Using an external OS. Connecting a drive to a computer that is running an OS from another drive.

Deleting a folder in the operating room Windows system 10 – simple procedure. However, there are times when it is not possible to remove a directory. It is not deleted, blocked or given special rights. In this case, will advice help on how to delete a non-deletable folder in Windows 10?

Reasons why a folder cannot be deleted

If a directory is not deleted in Windows 10, there are many reasons for this. Let's consider only the main ones:

• The folder or file is blocked by the antivirus. Relevant if the directory has been quarantined or the file has been sent for treatment (waiting for an update of the anti-virus databases).
• The file is being used by the system.
• Only the administrator has rights to the file.
• The directory is in use by another program.
• Another user is using the folder or file by local network.
• The folder is write protected.

These are the most common reasons why a folder or file cannot be deleted in Windows 10.

Different ways to delete folders in Windows 10

Before using programs to delete folders and files, you should check standard methods for performance. The file or folder may be in use by the program. Therefore, we restart the PC and try to remove it again. If this method does not work, reboot into Safe Mode and delete the directory.

Method number 1. Using the free Unlocker program

The Unlocker program is designed to unlock and delete folders and programs. Its usage is as follows:

• Launch and install the software. Right-click on the file that cannot be deleted and select Unlocker.

• Then select the file and click “Delete”.

Method number 2. Via file manager

The most popular file manager, which is installed on almost every PC, is Total Commander. To delete a file through this manager, you should follow these steps:

• We launch the program and look for the file to delete. Press F8 or the special button on the toolbar.

• File deleted.

Method No. 3. Renaming the file

Often a folder cannot be deleted because it is being used by other programs. Therefore, you can right-click on it and select “Rename”. After assigning a new name, the folder or file will be available for deletion.

Method number 4. By stopping the process and services that are using the file or folder

If the system blocks deletion of a file or folder, it means that the item is being used by some program or service. Therefore, we call the “Task Manager” and remove all processes and services that are associated with the directory.

It's also worth checking the Startup tab to rule out the possibility of using the file from Windows 10 itself.

Method No. 5. Using bootable media

• Boot from the installation media.
• Press F10 to open the command line.
• Enter “del file path” or “rmdir /s folder_name”.

• Afterwards we boot in normal mode.

Method number 6. Granting permissions on a folder

• Right-click on the folder and select “Properties”.
• A new window will open. Go to the “Security” tab. Select your user. Click on the “Advanced” button.

• In the new window, select the user to whom you need to grant rights to delete the directory.

• Check the “Replace owner of subcontainers and objects” checkbox.

• Next, we grant access to the rights to the folder. Click on the “Add” button.

• Then we put the marks that grant rights to the folder.

• Check the box “Replace all permission entries of the child object with those inherited from this object” and click on “Disable inheritance”.

• In the window that opens, click again on “Replace all permission entries of the child object with those inherited from this object.”

• Now we delete the directory.

This method is suitable if the rights to the object belong to another user and access is blocked.

If methods for deleting a folder that cannot be deleted in Windows 10 did not help solve the problem, you should check your PC for viruses and malware.

Also, see the video for ways to delete directories that are not deleted:

It happens that you simply need to delete a folder or file, but Windows does not allow you to do this and writes about errors like " this process busy" or "the folder is not empty" or something else. Maybe you found some folder or file that you "didn't like" and want to delete it. Maybe you know exactly what it is " unnecessary trash"which only takes up space, but Windows complains and doesn’t allow it. In general, it’s not so important Why can't I delete it?, How many How to delete and in this article you will find answers to this question.

Most often, such situations occur due to the fact that the files being deleted are occupied by other programs. But it also happens that it is impossible to delete a file even after closing all applications that can use this file. For example, a file or folder may become locked due to incorrect user actions and cannot be deleted in any way. These folders (files) remain “hanging” on the hard drive, take up space, and are not opened or deleted.

The file may not be deleted due to a failure that occurred during the process of writing or overwriting it. If you interrupt the recording process, the file is not completely saved, resulting in invalid entries in file system. And our beloved Windows, not knowing how to handle it, simply closes access to it, supposedly for security reasons.

So, let's start dancing with a tambourine!

Why is the file not deleted?

1) The file was blocked by an antivirus program. This often happens when an antivirus quarantines a file. Or the antivirus detected malware, but the treatment was postponed (waiting for its databases to be updated). In this case, in order to avoid infecting the computer, the user is blocked from accessing this file. Check quarantine antivirus program and delete the file using the antivirus itself, or disable the antivirus and delete the file manually.

2) The file is being used by another program. Think about what programs might use this file. Close them and try deleting the file again. If this doesn't help, use Task Manager to check the process list to see if the program is still running.

3) Administrator rights are required to delete a file. If you are running under a user account, log in again as an administrator and try deleting the file.

4) The file is being used by another user on the local network. Please wait and try deleting the file later.

5) The file is being used by the system. Try deleting the file after restarting your computer or in safe mode.

6) The device is write protected. For example, SD memory cards and some USB flash drives have a special switch to lock the device.

There are several removal methods, I will start with the simplest and most effective ones and gradually move on to more complex ones.

1. Method:

Reboot

We programmers have a saying: “7 troubles - one reset.” You can figure out what it means yourself

But the point of the method is that you need to restart the computer and try to delete the file/folder again.

2. Method:

Safe mode

You need to log in in Safe Mode.

What is the benefit of booting the system in safe mode? The thing is that Windows does not load its libraries to execute dialogs. To put it simply, if you have a virus on your computer (and this is possible), then in this safe mode it will not perform any actions. In this mode there is nothing superfluous, just a clean OS and a person.

In order to enter this mode, when you turn on the computer and after loading the BIOS (or in general you can from the very beginning of the “black screen” boot), press the key intensively without ceasing F8(no need to press and hold!!!). A black screen will appear in which you need to use the keys on the keyboard to select Additional boot options, and then Safe Mode (or just Safe Mode, you don’t need to select all sorts of things with command line support and so on. And that will do) and press Enter. If you did everything correctly, the system will boot and in the lower right corner there will be an inscription Safe Mode (it may also be in all corners). Don't be afraid of the black screen that will appear) without wallpaper and beauty.

Now you need to find the file that you just couldn’t delete and try to delete it. In any case (it worked or not), reboot.

3. Method:

Through the Unlocker program

It is precisely for such purposes that the good guys wrote such a program called Unlocker. It's very small free program to unlock files running in Windows. This utility allows you to close open file blockers, thereby making it possible to perform further actions on these files. Those. the program shows all processes blocking a file (folder) and can delete it, despite all the blockers.

In addition, the program allows you to rename files and their extensions or move a locked file to another location. This is also very convenient, because... Windows does not always allow you to do this quickly and calmly.

When installing, DO NOT agree to the proposed toolbar (or you really need it, then click Next) and uncheck Install Babylon Toolbar - RECOMMENDED. Otherwise, the installation is normal - everywhere Next I Accept Install and that’s it)

Just right-click on the file that is not deleted (not moved/renamed) in the usual way and select the program icon from the menu. A window should appear in which you select Delete from the list and press the button OK.

If the file or folder is blocked, another window will appear. First you need to press the button Unlock everything, and then Delete.

For those who don’t know what the bit depth is on the system, read

4. Method:

Through file managers

Of all the most popular and frequently used file managers, the most popular is Total Commander.

File managers have the ability to bypass some Windows bans, which we will use.

To delete a non-deletable file, we will need to download one of these file managers, FAR or Total Commander (I use Total Commander Podarok Edition). After downloading and installation, find your file in the list of directories and delete it by clicking either the right mouse button and selecting Delete, or pressing the Delete key on the keyboard.

These managers also have a good opportunity to see everything that is hidden and encrypted (especially in different colors, like mine). If your folder is not deleted, then go into it through the manager and see what’s there. If you see hidden file, that means he is interfering. Then launch Task Manager ( ctrl+shift+esc), go to the Processes tab and look for this file in the list (it’s also a good idea to click on the button at the bottom left of the Display the processes of all users manager), find and finish (del or RMB -> End process or the End process button in the lower right corner). The application is the same with files, we look for the file name and “kill”.

5. Method:

Another option with Unlocker

If your folder is not deleted, it says something like “folder is not empty,” then create new folder on the same disk, transfer undeletable folders to a new folder, delete the new folder using Unlocker

6. Method:

Using startup

Click “Start” => “Run” => In the “Run” line, enter msconfig => Click OK. You will see the System Setup window. Go to the “Startup” tab and in the list of downloadable items, find a name similar to your “not deleted” file.

If there is no such file in the list, then click on the “Disable all” button. Click on the “Apply” => “Close” button. The operating system will issue a warning that all changes made by the system setup program will take effect only after rebooting the computer. Click the "Reboot" button. The computer will restart. After downloading, try deleting the “undeletable” file again.

7. Method:

Using System Restore

In the “System Settings” window (which was the same as in the previous paragraph), select “General”. Click on the “Run System Restore” button. In the window that appears, select the option “Restore the computer to an earlier state”, click “Next”. In a new window, you will see a calendar in which you can select a system restore date. Select a date when the "not deleted" file was not on the computer. Click "Next". Don't worry, System Restore will not affect your personal files.

8. Method:

Lack of access rights to delete files

Right-click on the problematic object and select "Properties" from the drop-down list

In the window that opens, select the “Security” tab

Highlight your name in the list and select "Full Control"

- “Apply” and “OK”

Trying to delete

9. Method:

Use a different operating system.

Try booting from a removable disk (or CD/DVD) (LiveCD or LiveUSB) with another operating system. Then delete the file/folder.

10. Method:

Move somewhere.

Sometimes it helps to move (cut) the folder to an empty flash drive and then format it.

11. Method:

In the window, type the command chkdsk c: /f/r and click Enter, it should be taken into account that c: is the name of the disk that needs to be checked. If the drive you are checking has a different letter, then write it.

If the drive being checked is C:, then when you press Enter You will be prompted to check it the next time you reboot. When asked whether to check or not at the next reboot, enter Y and press Enter.

If the disk name is different, the scan will begin immediately. At the end of the check, the result of the check will appear. Type exit and click Enter.

Now you can delete a file that you did not want to delete. In the case of drive C, simply restart the computer and after checking, delete the non-deletable file.

12. Method:

If you open the command line via Start - All Programs...run the process as an administrator (RMB and Run as Administrator) and move to the folder with the non-deletable file (or folder) using the cd \ command in order to be in the root directory disk, and then cd folder_name to go to the desired folder.