delete D:\Windows

Pablo56 · 2025-06-09T13:04:56-0400

Hi. I have my windows 11 on my C:\ drive which is on an onboard nvme card on the motherboard. When I tried to re-install windows, I had an SSD (D:\) drive connected. This caused windows to get confused and atempt to install windows on the D:\ drive. all the files are dated november 2023. I have tried to delete all these windows files but they seem to be protected. Is there a way to force this deletion? This is taking up 3.4G.

It is also causing problems with SyncBackFree which is trying to copy these files even though these folders are not in my backup list.

I also have a folder called Recovery which is protected. This is a home computer and I am the administrator obviously.

gunrunnerjohn · 2025-06-09T13:12:11-0400

Format the drive.

Pablo56 · 2025-06-09T13:19:51-0400

Seriously. Format a drive with all my files on it. Thanks a lot.

gunrunnerjohn · 2025-06-09T13:21:20-0400

I'm presuming you have a backup!

Pablo56 · 2025-06-09T13:22:52-0400

Not of everything. There is too much.

bobkn · 2025-06-09T13:22:53-0400

Will the PC boot if D: is disconnected?

Pablo56 · 2025-06-09T13:30:15-0400

Yes it will.

dacrone · 2025-06-09T13:33:15-0400

if you really want it deleted, boot via recovery media or a linux live usb and delete it

Pablo56 · 2025-06-09T13:36:47-0400

I do have Macrum free but this is no longer supported. If I can get it to create a rescue flash drive!

dacrone · 2025-06-09T13:37:40-0400

download ubuntu and make a linux live... its free

garlin · 2025-06-09T15:01:26-0400

Download PowerRun, and open an elevated CMD window.

rd /s /q D:\Windows

JAM83 · 2025-06-09T15:14:42-0400

Pablo56 said:
Seriously. Format a drive with all my files on it. Thanks a lot.

You ASKED how to do it. They told you, and then you get peed off about it.

pseymour · 2025-06-09T15:18:45-0400

Well formatting a drive to delete one folder is a bit like putting a nail in with a sledgehammer. Sure you can do it, but then your wife says, "why are you always staring at my sister?!"

Oh, I think I might have mixed my metaphors.

bobkn · 2025-06-09T15:48:14-0400

Pablo56 said:
Yes it will.

That's good. It means that you should be able to get rid of the unwanted stuff safely, without extreme measures.

bobkn · 2025-06-09T15:51:35-0400

Pablo56 said:
I do have Macrum free but this is no longer supported. If I can get it to create a rescue flash drive!

As far as I know, Macrium Free continue to work. (I'm using the paid version X. Which was a disappointing upgrade from 8, IMHO.) It just isn't being updated any more.

Scott · 2025-06-09T16:10:21-0400

Pablo56 said:
Hi. I have my windows 11 on my C:\ drive which is on an onboard nvme card on the motherboard. When I tried to re-install windows, I had an SSD (D:\) drive connected. This caused windows to get confused and atempt to install windows on the D:\ drive. all the files are dated november 2023. I have tried to delete all these windows files but they seem to be protected. Is there a way to force this deletion? This is taking up 3.4G.

I recently went through this. I had Windows directories on two of my data drives. They were much larger than 3 GB.
I used "Take Ownership" from my context menu. Once that was done I had to delete each sub-directory one at a time
for some reason.

Add Take Ownership to Context Menu in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to add Take Ownership to the context menu of all files, folders, and drives for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11. This will allow you to be able to instantly take ownership of a file, folder (and all contents), or drive (and all contents) by changing the...

www.elevenforum.com

Dru2 · 2025-06-09T17:04:37-0400

pseymour said:
Well formatting a drive to delete one folder is a bit like putting a nail in with a sledgehammer. Sure you can do it, but then your wife says, "why are you always staring at my sister?!"

Oddly the sledgehammer first approach is usually the most recommended.

Anyway, this is odd....

Pablo56 said:
When I tried to re-install windows, I had an SSD (D:\) drive connected. This caused windows to get confused and atempt to install windows on the D:\ drive. all the files are dated november 2023. I have tried to delete all these windows files but they seem to be protected. Is there a way to force this deletion? This is taking up 3.4G.

Odd because I've installed Windows plenty of times, and its never gotten "confused" on were to install the OS. The only time that's happened was user error where I forgot to selected the correct install drive. And yes, I've installed Windows many a time with other drives installed. In fact I do it all the time.

Like Scott's suggestion if you can get it to work.

That said, this is why it's imperative to check that you have backups/images before doing any drive work cause if something happens you can also restore the backups or image; which if you haven't you can still do now before doing anything else.

Out of curiosity, which drive are you attempting to delete the files from? I assume you mean "D" drive, but

Winuser · 2025-06-09T18:11:31-0400

Pablo56 said:
Not of everything. There is too much.

IMO, that's a poor reason to not have a backup. What would you do if something happened to the drive with your files? Without a backup, a lost file is a lost file and there's nothing we can do to help you recover them.

Winuser · 2025-06-09T18:13:22-0400

Pablo56 said:
I do have Macrum free but this is no longer supported. If I can get it to create a rescue flash drive!

Even though it's no longer updated it still works and works great.

Winuser · 2025-06-09T18:28:17-0400

bobkn said:
As far as I know, Macrium Free continue to work. (I'm using the paid version X. Which was a disappointing upgrade from 8, IMHO.) It just isn't being updated any more.

I updated to Macrium X when the offer was a good deal. Even though I use it and like it, I feel that it's not worth being a subscription program. I prefer to pay for new version of a program if I feel the updates are worth me spending my money.

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