Major Problem :Can't delete an inactive user folder in Windows

[jeff]

A month or two ago I experienced a major crash with Win
XP which totally messed up my computer. As a result I
reinstalled Win XP. Unfortunately the new install did not
remove my old profile and there was something like 2 gigs
of files in it. This is space I want to recover and
whenever I just try to delete the folder I get an error
message that I can't delete it and there is an error.

Additionally, Win XP shows the folder as being empty but
when I do a Norton speed disk check it shows it as having
2 gigs of memory.

Any help in getting rid of the files and recovering the
lost disk space would be appreciated.

 

[Malke]

A month or two ago I experienced a major crash with Win
XP which totally messed up my computer. As a result I
reinstalled Win XP. Unfortunately the new install did not
remove my old profile and there was something like 2 gigs
of files in it. This is space I want to recover and
whenever I just try to delete the folder I get an error
message that I can't delete it and there is an error.

Additionally, Win XP shows the folder as being empty but
when I do a Norton speed disk check it shows it as having
2 gigs of memory.

Any help in getting rid of the files and recovering the
lost disk space would be appreciated.

Try and delete it in Safe Mode. If that doesn't work, then while still
in Safe Mode run cmd.exe and cd to the directory that contains the
folder and delete it from the command line.

Malke

 

[Alex Nichol]

A month or two ago I experienced a major crash with Win
XP which totally messed up my computer. As a result I
reinstalled Win XP. Unfortunately the new install did not
remove my old profile and there was something like 2 gigs
of files in it. This is space I want to recover and
whenever I just try to delete the folder I get an error
message that I can't delete it and there is an error.

Additionally, Win XP shows the folder as being empty but
when I do a Norton speed disk check it shows it as having
2 gigs of memory.

1: Make sure that the Folder Options - View is set to 'show hidden
files'

2: Logon as the reserve 'Administrator' account (which will show on
Welcome if you boot to Safe Mode after hitting F8 as BIOS info goes to
black screen) and you should be able to access it and clean it up from
there. The trouble will probably be that it is 'private' to the old
account, so not seen by you under your new one. YOu *may* have to go to
the extent of 'taking ownership' of it - see Help and Support, and
search on Ownership

 

[Alex Nichol]

A month or two ago I experienced a major crash with Win
XP which totally messed up my computer. As a result I
reinstalled Win XP. Unfortunately the new install did not
remove my old profile and there was something like 2 gigs
of files in it. This is space I want to recover and
whenever I just try to delete the folder I get an error
message that I can't delete it and there is an error.

Additionally, Win XP shows the folder as being empty but
when I do a Norton speed disk check it shows it as having
2 gigs of memory.

1: Make sure that the Folder Options - View is set to 'show hidden
files'

2: Logon as the reserve 'Administrator' account (which will show on
Welcome if you boot to Safe Mode after hitting F8 as BIOS info goes to
black screen) and you should be able to access it and clean it up from
there. The trouble will probably be that it is 'private' to the old
account, so not seen by you under your new one. YOu *may* have to go to
the extent of 'taking ownership' of it - see Help and Support, and
search on Ownership