Removing directory containing unused "System Volume Information"

[Dan]

One of my hdd's had been partitioned into 3, using partition magic. I
merged one small, empty partition into one of the remaining 2. PM
placed the files on this small, now defunct partition (Recycler & System
Volume Information) into a folder in the partition to which the smaller
partition was merged. When I try to delete this folder, I get the
infuriating "access denied" (ever have your car tell you "access denied"
when you attempt to make a left turn or open the glove box? ;-). How
can I get rid of this file? I tried resetting its attributes to remove
"read only", but it keeps resetting them immediately. Also tried
deleting it from a safe mode command prompt (ever miss dos???), no dice.
It takes up no space, but just as a matter of principle I want to get
rid of it ;-)

TIA

Dan

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Dan,

Recycler is the Recycle Bin from the deleted partition.
System Volume Information is where System Restore stored it's files
for that partition.

You will have to take ownership of the folders to delete them.
How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

 

[Dan]

Bert-Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I knew what the files were, I was just
surprised that since they weren't the files for the current OS (actually
on another hdd altogether) that I could not access them. The process
you pointed out did the trick, but what a rigamaroll!!! I noticed when I
checked the "ownership" (What a concept! Silly me, I thought I had
"ownership" when I BOUGHT the damned machine! ;-) that it had it set as
"administrator", rather than the "name" I picked when installing the OS
(which I did just recently). I could have sworn I set my "name" as
having "administrator" privileges! How can I once and for all get ALL
access to ALL aspects of the PC under my default log in? I am the only
one using this box, frankly I've always found all this "name/login
id/administrator" stuff to be a real pita on a single user PC.

Thanks again!

Dan

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

Bert-Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I knew what the files were, I was just
surprised that since they weren't the files for the current OS (actually
on another hdd altogether) that I could not access them. The process
you pointed out did the trick, but what a rigamaroll!!! I noticed when I
checked the "ownership" (What a concept! Silly me, I thought I had
"ownership" when I BOUGHT the damned machine! ;-) that it had it set as
"administrator", rather than the "name" I picked when installing the OS
(which I did just recently). I could have sworn I set my "name" as
having "administrator" privileges! How can I once and for all get ALL
access to ALL aspects of the PC under my default log in? I am the only
one using this box, frankly I've always found all this "name/login
id/administrator" stuff to be a real pita on a single user PC.

Thanks again!

Dan

If the OS is WinXP, certain folders and files 'belong' to the operating
system, not to you. Not even to the Administrator.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Bert Kinney]

You're welcome Dan and thanks for the feed back.

Frank Saunders has answered you question concerning ownership.

 

[Dan]

Thanks Frank, I guess what confused me was that on this particular file,
the owner was said to be administrator. Under safe mode as Bert
explained I signed in as my log in (not administrator, since I thought I
had all those privileges, the log in name is listed as having such in
control panel/user accounts) yet still I had to add my log in to the
owner list, although it had administrator listed there already. If my
log in is named as administrator in cp/user accounts, does this mean I
have as much access as I am going to without taking "unusual" measures,
like the safe mode dodge? Is there a particularly good site for info on
all these access/privileges issues?

Dan