G
Guest
Ok, by the looks of it, everyone and their dogs have files or folders they cannot delete. I was stuck in a similar situation until I got really mad and tried this. The error message I was getting was "Cannot delete [folder name]: The directory is not empty" or something to that effect. By the looks of it, the directory was empty. I tried everything. I logged on as the admin. under the original windows "administrator" account and low and behold, there were files in there (none of them were hidden, I might add). If you do have mysteriously appearing files in your "bad" folder, you will have to do the procedure described below for each file. I tried selecting all the files at the same time, and it didn't work; so do it one at a time. Then again, it really may be empty and if this is the case, it should still work.
The problem, for me at least, was there was a user account that I had removed that was the "owner" of the folder. No one else had permissions to do anything but rename the folder. I should make a disclaimer before I go any further. If you really do not have permissions to delete files (such as at work or what-not) you should seek assistance from someone that is authorized to perform these types of actions. In any event, here is what to do...
Log on as the actual "administrator" using the original windows administrator account (simply loggin on as someone that has administrator priveliges will not work). Open windows explorer, and click tools -> folder options -> view. At the end of this list, make sure the "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" box is UNCHECKED. Also check to make sure you are displaying hidden files and folders.
Now navigate your way to your STUPID FREAKING FOLDER (or file) that you cannot delete. Right click on the folder (or file) and click properties. Now, make sure the read only box is unchecked and then click on security tab. You may get an error message that states something like, "You don't have permissions to change...BUT you can take ownership of the file" and if you do, just click ok.
After you click the security tab, you will see a window with a list of groups or users that have some kind of permissions limitation on them. In my case, there were users that were represented by a long string of numbers (the microsoft identity number for the user account I had deleted). In any regard, click the button at the bottom of the window titled "Advanced."
After doing this, you can now take "ownership" of the file or folder in issue. In this Advanced securities settings window, at the bottom there is a check box titled, "Inherit from parent the permission..." Uncheck it. Now click the "Owner" tab at the top of the window. Here, you should be able to add or replace the owner of the folder. You will want to change the original administrator account as the owner and give yourself full permissions to the file. During this change, you will want to make sure the box that states "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" is checked. Once this is done, click on the tab "Permissions." Here you are back to the list of accounts that have permissions. Highlight the account that is listed as "Administrator" and click edit. This will bring up a box that lists permissions; make sure full control is checked and the box at the bottom, "Apply these permissions to objects and/or..." is check and click ok.
Now you are back to the list of accounts that have permission entries; remove all except the Administrator by highlighting them and clicking remove.
Click ok (or apply, then ok) on all open windows, AND DELETE THE FREAKING FOLDER (or file).
I sure hope this works for you. It did for me, but I will feel extremely bad if you read all of this and it did not work.
Good luck.
The problem, for me at least, was there was a user account that I had removed that was the "owner" of the folder. No one else had permissions to do anything but rename the folder. I should make a disclaimer before I go any further. If you really do not have permissions to delete files (such as at work or what-not) you should seek assistance from someone that is authorized to perform these types of actions. In any event, here is what to do...
Log on as the actual "administrator" using the original windows administrator account (simply loggin on as someone that has administrator priveliges will not work). Open windows explorer, and click tools -> folder options -> view. At the end of this list, make sure the "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)" box is UNCHECKED. Also check to make sure you are displaying hidden files and folders.
Now navigate your way to your STUPID FREAKING FOLDER (or file) that you cannot delete. Right click on the folder (or file) and click properties. Now, make sure the read only box is unchecked and then click on security tab. You may get an error message that states something like, "You don't have permissions to change...BUT you can take ownership of the file" and if you do, just click ok.
After you click the security tab, you will see a window with a list of groups or users that have some kind of permissions limitation on them. In my case, there were users that were represented by a long string of numbers (the microsoft identity number for the user account I had deleted). In any regard, click the button at the bottom of the window titled "Advanced."
After doing this, you can now take "ownership" of the file or folder in issue. In this Advanced securities settings window, at the bottom there is a check box titled, "Inherit from parent the permission..." Uncheck it. Now click the "Owner" tab at the top of the window. Here, you should be able to add or replace the owner of the folder. You will want to change the original administrator account as the owner and give yourself full permissions to the file. During this change, you will want to make sure the box that states "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" is checked. Once this is done, click on the tab "Permissions." Here you are back to the list of accounts that have permissions. Highlight the account that is listed as "Administrator" and click edit. This will bring up a box that lists permissions; make sure full control is checked and the box at the bottom, "Apply these permissions to objects and/or..." is check and click ok.
Now you are back to the list of accounts that have permission entries; remove all except the Administrator by highlighting them and clicking remove.
Click ok (or apply, then ok) on all open windows, AND DELETE THE FREAKING FOLDER (or file).
I sure hope this works for you. It did for me, but I will feel extremely bad if you read all of this and it did not work.
Good luck.