How do I delete an access denied folder?

Question

I've tried safe mode and that program that is supposed to let you delete folders and they didn't work. I've also tried through the command window, but I can't navigate to the folder. For some reason, when I open the Documents and Settings folder, I have a folder 'Owner' that I can't open. (This is the one I want to delete) It tells me access denied. I also have another folder 'Owner.LEON' that has all of my documents and I am able to open. I need to open the 'Owner' File so I can delete a .rar file that is taking up too much room on my drive or just delete the whole folder altogether.

Answer 1

There are 2 programs which working together can delete stubborn files and/or folders. I first heard of it through PC World Magazine. Below, I included the article and link. I should also caution you that deleting the folder could harm your computer. So, you should make sure it is safe to delete it.


Tool of The Month: Exterminate Stubborn Files (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,120782-page,1/article.html)

"Have you ever tried to delete a file or folder, only to get a Windows error message saying no can do? Maybe you're having a bad hair day, but more likely some program is using the file. Try downloading ForceDel, a utility that works with all Windows versions to force-delete the stubborn file. Still stuck? If you're using Windows 2000 or XP, download and install WhoLockMe. This tool shows which Windows process is locking the file. One click kills the process--a virus, a Trojan horse, spyware, or (as in my case) a dialog box enhancer--after which you can delete the tenacious hanger-on. Download both files here" -- written by Steve Bass, pcworld.com

1. WhoLockMe download link (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/collection/collid,1362-order,1-c,downloads/files.html?findid=47728)

2. ForceDel download link (http://www.technipages.com/downloadview-details-32-ForceDel.html)


For instructions on how to use them. Read this article - also from pcworld.com.


WhoLockMe and ForceDel

Some of you had trouble using WhoLockMe and ForceDel, the pair of tools I mention in the cleverly titled "Tool of the Month" sidebar in my "Hassle-Free PC" column for the July PC World magazine. These tools give you a way to delete files or folders that refuse to go into the bit bucket.

The problem is that with just 120 words to work with in print, there's no way I can provide detailed instructions. So below are longish step-by-steps.

ForceDel. This program needs to run from a Command window. Here's how to use it.

1. Using Window Explorer, navigate to the C: drive and create a new folder named Tools.
2. Unzip ForceDel to that folder. If you know what you're doing, you can stick the program anywhere you want, but you'll need to navigate to that folder later on.
3. You need to know the full pathway to the folder where the files you want to delete reside. (Hey, I didn't say this was going to be fast, or even fun.) You can find that out in Windows Explorer by right-clicking on the file name and choosing Properties.
4. Copy everything in the Target field. If a portion of the data is in quotes, copy just the part within the quotes (but not the quotes). For example, you may see "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /p /noload; in this case, you'd just copy C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe.
5. ForceDel runs from a DOS command window, so you'll need to go to the Start menu, choose Run, and type in CMD.
6. Now you need to navigate to the folder where ForceDel resides. If you put it in Tools, type CD \Tools.
7. In the CMD box, type ForceDel, add a space, and paste the location of the target file. For instance, ForceDel C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe

If you did everything correctly, ForceDel will tell you the file's been deleted. If the file is locked and not deletable, you'll need to use WhoLockMe.

WhoLockMe: Sometimes a file is locked by Windows. It could be because it's a Word doc that's open (as in my example below), a file that's part of an uninstall routine, or perhaps a virus or Trojan horse.

1. Unzip WhoLockMe into a handy folder (say, uh, Tools, or C:\Program Files\WhoLockMe). Make sure all these files are in that folder: WhoLockMe.dll, WhoLockMe.exe, Install.bat, and Uninstall.bat.
2. From Windows Explorer, double-click on Install.bat and let it do what it needs to do. (If you ever need to uninstall the program, double-click Uninstall.bat.)
3. In Windows Explorer, right-click on the locked file and choose WhoLockMe. (The tool works only on files that are locked. Nothing will happen if you click on an unlocked file.)
4. To delete the locked file, you'll need to kill the program (called a process) that's locking the file. In my example, it's Word, so in the WhoLockMe dialog box I'd highlight Word and click Kill Process.

Answer 2

Click on Tools , then Folder Options , then the View TAB, check the box that says Show hidden Files and Folders. Now Browse for your folder and try deleting it. Some times you need to first be in Safe Mode to delete

Answer 3

Try changing the permissions on the folder (right click, choose properties) while you are in Safe Mode. Also, make sure you are logged in under the administrator account.

Answer 4

Download File Shredder from StompSoft and it should do the job.

Answer 5

Just use unlocker. Unlocker is free and does not contain viruses or spyware. Get it here: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/

I hope this helps!