How to force delete of "no-access" folders

[PeterPan]

I "repaired" my windows installation, and a lot of files remained in one of my old profiles, about 35 GB.

When I try to enter the folders, I get a "no access" error.

I have entered safe mode as administrator, and it is possible for me to change the status of a single folder so that it can be accessed.

The problem is that my old profile consists of about 60-70 folders, and the "unlock" procedure only applies to one and one folder, even though I select otherwise.

I don't have time to repeat this procedure 70 times.

Now all I want - if possible - is to delete these 35 GB of "non access" folders to regain space.

Can it be done by any program or routine, or do I really have to live with 35 GB of locked data or do I have to do a complete clean reinstall?

[Dencandy]

No, you can't delete these files without first taking ownership of them. Here's the link from Microsoft: TAKE OWNERSHIP.

Even if you re-install Windows, the procedure will try to save as many old files as possible which will still come up with "Access denied". In fact you might even end up with more of them! So far as I'm aware, the only way to prevent any files from being saved is to do a complete wipe of the hard disk at the time of uninstallation. Here's a guide about how to do that: ZDNET.

Reformatting alone might do the job, but I think the Windows Files & Settings Transfer Wizard might still try to save some old files.

I think that by the time you've done all that you might just as well as have done the take ownership procedure.

[PeterPan]

No, you can't delete these files without first taking ownership of them. Here's the link from Microsoft: TAKE OWNERSHIP.

Even if you re-install Windows, the procedure will try to save as many old files as possible which will still come up with "Access denied". In fact you might even end up with more of them! So far as I'm aware, the only way to prevent any files from being saved is to do a complete wipe of the hard disk at the time of uninstallation. Here's a guide about how to do that: ZDNET.

Reformatting alone might do the job, but I think the Windows Files & Settings Transfer Wizard might still try to save some old files.

I think that by the time you've done all that you might just as well as have done the take ownership procedure.

After some digging on the net, I found the "ulitmate" solution in terms of simplicty.

A small program called "Unlocker" (http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/) does the trick.

All you have to do is to right-click on the folders, and the select unlock. The program - in my case - tells me that the files are not locked, but offers me the possibility of deletion anyway.

It takes some time, but the program works. So far I have recovered 20 GB of my "lost" 35 GB, and the program continues to work in the background.

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