If you ever run across a folder with files that you simply cannot delete, try this


This only works for files protected by system or hidden attributes.

It doesn't work if files are owned by TrustedInstaller, which is deliberately done to block casual users from tampering with critical Windows files.
 

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Not being a Robocopy user, I didn't see how copying nothing could delete locked files.
The answer lay in the purge aspect of the MIR switch.
Quite a clever solution.(y)
 

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That sounds more like a security hole. But apparently it's supposed to be a "performance optimization".

Does it fail when you throw in "/sec /secfix"?
 

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Scott said:
..

rmdir /s “\\?\C:\Temp\scratch

will permanently remove the scratch directory+sub-directories+any files within those directories,
which doesn't really matter since they "didn't exist" in the first place.
Click to expand...
Well. That would be an odd situation. Never came across such a situation. The first thing that comes to mind is; How can it exist in the first place?
As the GUID Partition Table (GPT) and Master Boot Record (MBR) table is pointing to every file or directory on disk I would check first if the structure doesn't not contain errors. So I would check that first with chkdsk /f /r
 

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    Win 11 Pro 26H2 Build 26300.9550, Zorin OS Pro
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hsehestedt said:
Robocopy gets around all of that because it has special permissions, so it does not matter who owns the files.
Click to expand...
I'm surprised by this. Robocopy has a /b option that will use backup and restore privileges to enable copying and deleting of files where you don't have permissions, but you don't seem to be using that option.

A different problem is very long (more that 260 characters) path names. Windows file explorer can't deal with this. Cmd can, putting \\?\ in front of a file path converts it to a Win32 device name which can enable access to very long path names. (this is explained here: Long filenames - Windows CMD).

However, using robocopy as you suggest also deals with this problem. Robocopy always uses the functions that support very long path names unless specifically turned off,
 

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Skeptic Mike said:
I'm surprised by this. Robocopy has a /b option that will use backup and restore privileges to enable copying and deleting of files where you don't have permissions, but you don't seem to be using that option.

A different problem is very long (more that 260 characters) path names. Windows file explorer can't deal with this. Cmd can, putting \\?\ in front of a file path converts it to a Win32 device name which can enable access to very long path names. (this is explained here: Long filenames - Windows CMD).

However, using robocopy as you suggest also deals with this problem. Robocopy always uses the functions that support very long path names unless specifically turned off,
Click to expand...
On this subject of long paths. Came across an issue by RoboCopy-ing my Users folder. In the log files I saw errors and at the destination I came across a flaw with RoboCopy. A certain Windows directory was nesting itself until it gave up. 15 directory's deep all with the same name. It was a not accessible hidden directory called "Application Data". Other directory's had this issue also like "History" and "Temporary Internet Files" Those not accessible directory's weren't meant to be backup up. In order to exclude those directory's I had to use the following switches for RoboCopy: /XA:SH /XJD and /XD
 

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    OS
    Win 11 Pro 26H2 Build 26300.9550, Zorin OS Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self built
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-12700KF 12th Gen. (S1700)
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    ASUS Prime Z690-A, BIOS v4505 (Z690 Intel Chipset)
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    32GB DDR5 5600-36 Vengeance (2x16)
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    PCIe4.0 Asus NVIDIA RTX3060Ti
    Sound Card
    Onboard; Realtek
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    34" LG 34UC79G-B Curved 21:9 144Hz
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    2560x1080 (No HDR)
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    250Gb Samsung 870PRO NVMe (Win 11 Pro)
    1Tb Samsung 980PRO NVMe
    1Tb Samsung 970EVO NVMe
    2Tb Samsung 990PRO NVMe with heatsink.
    4Tb WDC WD40EZRZ Blue SATA (Int.)
    4Tb WDC WD40EZRZ Blue SATA (Int.)
    3Tb WDC WD30EFRZ Red SATA (Int.)
    256Gb Samsung 840PRO SSD (RHEL 9,5)
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    Coolermaster 850W V2 Gold with internal 12cm exaust fan
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    Be-Quiet Pure Base 600.
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    2Tb WD USB 3.0 Passport drive.
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    External USB 3.0 C.A. CD/DVD* burner.

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    Windows 11 Pro 26H2Intel® Core™ i7-6700K 6th Gen. (S1151)32Gb DDR4 2400 Corsair Vengeance (4x8)ASUS GeForce GTX1080
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 26H2
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Selfbuild
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-6700K 6th Gen. (S1151)
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    ASUS Maximus VIII Ranger (Intel Chipset Z170)
    Memory
    32Gb DDR4 2400 Corsair Vengeance (4x8)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS GeForce GTX1080
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    Onboard; Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG IPS277L 27" WideLED, IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro SSD
    PSU
    Zalman ZM600-HP with internal exhaust fan. Heatpipes & Modular cables.
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    Cooler Master Aero
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Ever have files / folders you could not delete? Try this.
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