Solved Del Defect

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

I use the "del" command in my Cleanup.bat file but I've discovered a defect in the command.

If I use it to delete a "temp" folder, it will delete all the files in that folder, but, if there are sub-folders it will not delete those.

I know that a folder does not take up a LOT of space on the HD, but it does occupy SPACE.

Using the "del" command does delete files but not folders.
So, my question: Is there maybe a newer command that I'm unaware of, that will delete not only files but their folders as well?

Merry Christmas everyone!
TM

dacrone · Dec 11, 2023

just tested and del \testlocation\* deleted everything inside "testlocation"

Brink · Dec 11, 2023

Hello mate,

The "rd" or "rmdir" command would also be good for this.

rd

Reference article for the rd command, which deletes a directory.

learn.microsoft.com

rmdir

Reference article for the rmdir command, which deletes a directory.

learn.microsoft.com

ex:
rd /s /q "full path of folder"

dacrone · Dec 11, 2023

can also use powershell:

Code:

remove-item testlocation\*

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

OK, the actual command would have to be:
PowerShell remove-item C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Temp\*

However, it requires a "Y" to get it to complete without asking me for keyboard input.
So, (a dumb question) where do I put the "Y" ?

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

If I use the rd command, it would remove the temp directory, but would fail to remove the files. Weird Science!

Brink · Dec 11, 2023

Odd. Did you use the command below?

Any error messages? Ex: "The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

rd /s /q "%LocalAppData%\Temp"

pseymour · Dec 11, 2023

In PowerShell, it would be

Powershell:

rm $env:Temp\* -Recurse -Force

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

The original Power Shell command I tried, worked, but stopped to ask me to index a Y or N before it would complete.
But my question is: Where do I put the Y in the command line?

pseymour · Dec 11, 2023

You don't put a Y. You use the command I posted.

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

OK, I guess I'm just not understanding that command.
It doesn't specify the exact path to the files that I want to delete.

pseymour · Dec 11, 2023

Ah...

Alias for Remove-Item

Powershell:

rm

Use the environment variable for the User's temp directory

Powershell:

$env:Temp\*

Process child items as well

Powershell:

-Recurse

Just do it, don't ask me questions

Powershell:

-Force

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

Just do it? I'm terribly sorry, but I just don't work that way.

See the path in the command line that I spoke of in my original post.
That's the only location that I want to work with, using the command.
That command, as I wrote it, works fine to delete all the files in that specific "Temp" folder, but it just doesn't remove the sub-folders that the files live in.
So I was just looking for a command, if there is one, that would clean out the folders as well as the files.
If that's not possible, that's OK. The folders don't take up all that much room.

dacrone · Dec 11, 2023

just create an elevated batch that runs the command i gave you

EDIT:
you can reference this thread for a template:

Powershell command in batch script

Good morning I am asking how to run a powershell command with administrator privileges in batch script. The command I am interested in is the one related to App restore. Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"...

www.elevenforum.com

garlin · Dec 11, 2023

To answer any PS prompt as always Yes.

Code:

Remove-Item .\Folder -Recurse -Confirm:$false

-Force implies forced override of default write protections, which implicitly grants you /y (if you have rights).

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

OK, I think I have it now:
I used this command:
PowerShell rm C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Temp\* -Recurse -Force

....and I got the desired result....all non-open files and folders are GONE, only four open files remain.

However, the command left me with a bunch of RED error lines, when it hit those open temp files.
Power Shell kind of goes nutso when it hits something it can't do! It's error messages are very VERBOSE!

Thanks for the help!

Merry Christmas
TM

Brink · Dec 11, 2023

You can run this below instead with the -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue parameter added at the end to have it ignore the errors.

PowerShell rm C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Temp\* -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

Thank you Brink! That got rid of half a screen of RED error messages.

OK, I think I have it now! I'll mark this question as 'Solved'.

pseymour · Dec 11, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
Just do it? I'm terribly sorry, but I just don't work that way.

See the path in the command line that I spoke of in my original post.
That's the only location that I want to work with, using the command.
That command, as I wrote it, works fine to delete all the files in that specific "Temp" folder, but it just doesn't remove the sub-folders that the files live in.
So I was just looking for a command, if there is one, that would clean out the folders as well as the files.
If that's not possible, that's OK. The folders don't take up all that much room.

I wasn't telling you to just do it. I was explaining what -Force does, in plain English.

And the path I gave, $env:Temp\*, is the same as yours, C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Temp\*, without the excess length.

TechnoMage2021 · Dec 11, 2023

I've been careful, in my batch file, to be very specific about what I delete, so no system files, etc., get accidentally deleted.
I never loose any of the important info stored for me, by my browsers, because I only delete the Temporary Internet Files.
I guess it's probably NOT for everyone, but it's worked for me, for years, since my first attempt, years ago.
And, it's worked for the hundreds of my customers who I've shared it with.

Merry Christmas, Everyone,
TM