Unable to delete folder in windows 7?
Try getting the ownership of the folder:
Right-Click the folder -> Properties -> Security tab -> Advanced button -> Owner tab -> Edit button -> Select your user account -> Activate Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
When done, close all properties windows and open Properties again -> Security tab -> Advanced button -> Permissons tab -> Change Permissons button -> Add your user account and select Replace all child object...
Then try again.
You could also try Unlocker. It unlocks or kills the process that is using the file/folder and deletes/renames it.
My husband had the same problem with his external drive. This is what I did to delete it. These are the steps I followed in windows 7 while logged on under administrator...not sure that part was necessary, but I wanted to include that bit of information.
Phase 1 - Taking ownership
- Right click folder
- Select "properties"
- Select the "security" tab
- Click the 'Advanced" button
- Select the "owner" tab
- Click the "Edit" button
- Under 'change owner to' highlight the user you wish to set as owner
- Check the 'replace owner on subcontainers and objects' box
- click the 'apply' button (this will take you back to the 'advanced security settings' window)
Phase 2 - Permissions
Once you are back in the 'advanced security settings' window follow these instructions (Note: You MAY have to close out the properties window altogether and then re-open it for the above changes to take effect before performing the next set of steps).
- Select the 'permissions' tab
- Click the "Change permissions" button
- Highlight the user you need to change permissions for
- click the 'edit' button
- Check "allow" box next to full control
- Click "Ok"
- Check the box next to "include inheritabl permissions from this object's parent"
- Check the box next to "replace all child object permissioms with inheritable permissions from this object"
- Click "apply"
- Click "yes" in the pop up box"
- Click "OK" to close permissions window
- Click "Ok" to close advanced security settings window
- Click "ok" to close the properties window
You should now be able to delete the un-deletable folder.
Phase 3 (it is a shared folder)
Be sure to do the following steps :
- Properties
- Sharing tab
- Share ... Be sure you have your user with read/write Permission level
- Come back, Advanced sharing
- Permissions be sure your user is here with Full Control