del command does nothing

[NewbieSupreme]

I tried to delete a large folder on the E: drive (an SATA drive, not
connected via IDE connector on Mobo) using the del command in the fake dos
window. I was asked if I was sure, responded yes, and was returned to the
command prompt (usually indicating it worked). However, folder and all
contents are still on the drive.

I looked at DOS's help on Del, and it seems just using the directory name
should work. I also tried with the /f switch to force deleting of Read Only
files. I recall a deltree command from a long time ago, but this command
apparently no longer exists, at least on this fresh install of XP Pro.

Anyone know why del did nothing, and returned no errors?

 

[Nepatsfan]

(e-mail address removed),

I tried to delete a large folder on the E: drive (an SATA
drive, not connected via IDE connector on Mobo) using the
del command in the fake dos window. I was asked if I was
sure, responded yes, and was returned to the command prompt
(usually indicating it worked). However, folder and all
contents are still on the drive.
I looked at DOS's help on Del, and it seems just using the
directory name should work. I also tried with the /f switch
to force deleting of Read Only files. I recall a deltree
command from a long time ago, but this command apparently no
longer exists, at least on this fresh install of XP Pro.
Anyone know why del did nothing, and returned no errors?

Go back to the command prompt window and enter rmdir /? or rd
/?

That's the command you should be using. RD as in remove
directory.

rd /s E:\Folder

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Squire]

Try using RD /S instead of Del.

 

[Squire]

Also Deltree.exe still works in XP, just copy it from Win98 into
C:\Windows\system32.
You may still have to use the Attrib -s -h -r to delete the read only part
of the files.

 

[NewbieSupreme]

Thanks all, appreciated. I used rd w/ the appropriate switch. It does say
in del's help, though, that it will remove all files and folders inside the
named folder with the appropriate switch, so I guess this is a documentatin
error.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[DanS]

Thanks all, appreciated. I used rd w/ the appropriate switch. It
does say in del's help, though, that it will remove all files and
folders inside the named folder with the appropriate switch, so I
guess this is a documentatin error.

Thanks again everyone.

I'd say it was a 'user error'. RD was always the command.

If from a CMD prompt I type: DEL /? , this is what it really says....

.....If a directory is specified, all files within the directory will be
deleted....

 

[Richard Urban]

It will delete all files within a folder, but not the main folder itself,
sub folders or files within sub folders.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Stan Brown]

Wed, 1 Feb 2006 19:10:33 -0500 from NewbieSupreme

I tried to delete a large folder on the E: drive (an SATA drive, not
connected via IDE connector on Mobo) using the del command in the fake dos
window. I was asked if I was sure, responded yes, and was returned to the
command prompt (usually indicating it worked). However, folder and all
contents are still on the drive.

Are you trying to delete the folder, or the files in the folder?

DEL deletes files, and RD deletes folders. The replacement for the
old DELTREE command is RD with the /s option. Type "RD /?" (no
quotes) to see the options.

 

[Stan Brown]

Also Deltree.exe still works in XP, just copy it from Win98 into
C:\Windows\system32.

Why bother, when RD /S is available?