Cannot delete system volume information folder on windows 7 !?!

Question

I cannot delete system volume information folder in D:/ E:/ on windows 7

I took ownership as admin on the folder but I cannot delete it completely!

I run an elevated command prompt and deleted some files in it but cannot remove the folder!

In vista I could mange to delete it after taking ownership on the folder by pressing del the folder will go away!

any ideas?

don`t ask me why I am trying to remove the folder pls...i just need to

thank you

Answer 1

Old post I know but I've had this problem on several of my removeable HDs and finally I managed to remove the 'System Volume Information' folder:

DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR C: OR YOUR WINDOWS HARDDRIVE!!!!!

Right click desktop and click [New->Shortcut]

Write: cmd.exe

Click [Next] then [Finish]

Right click the cmd.exe icon and click 'Run As Adminstrator"

Now select the external hard drive (F: in my case)

C:>f:

Now do the following (you can copy paste):

F:>attrib -s -h /S /D

F:>attrib -r /S /D

F:>rd "System Volume Information" /S

System Volume Information, Are you sure (Y/N)? y

And you're DONE ;-)

Answer 2

Gerry CJ Cornell: I can't speak for others, but I want to delete it because my antivirus app found two worms in it that are in archives. The antivirus app cannot expand the archives, so I will delete it.

Now as for your commands, why do they affect all the files on the drive? My screen is running through tens of thousands of files changing the attributes. Is that really necessary or did you goof?

Assuming that this doesn't wreck my system by changing attributes of every file, I want to ask about directory names with spaces. How does your "rd "System Volume Information" /S" work without telling the shell that the spaces are part of the directory name? Oh, wait... the " " marks do that, right?

Hi ans666

It's not a good idea to use those commands, since they effect the entire drive. You can see what each command will do by opening a command prompt, typing:  attrib /?   and pressing Enter. Here is a brief summary.

F:>attrib -s -h /S /D

F:>attrib -r /S /D

These 2 commands remove the System, Hidden, and Read Only attributes from all Files and Folders on the F: drive.

F:>rd "System Volume Information" /S

This command removes the SVI folder.

There is a much easier way to remove the contents of the SVI folder.

Open Control Panel / System.

On the left side menu, select System Protection.

In the System Protection Properties dialog, look in the Protection Settings section and select the drive you want to configure.

Click the Configure Button. In the configure window, click the Delete Button at the bottom.

You can also Turn System Restore off for that drive, in that same window.

Regards,

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Ronnie Vernon MVP – Windows Desktop Experience

Answer 3

You do understand what files are in there, right?

Your system restore points (that can save you from many problems are stored in there.)

It is easy enough to move them to another drive, and there is a much easier way to clean them up (cleanmgr.exe)

Generally, not a good idea to delete system files with brute force.

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VP Tech Services

Answer 4

OK i successfully deleted the SVI folder on non system volumes! It was easy!

I pressed F8, selected repair computer, than opened the command prompt and removed the SVI folders without hassle!!

Thank you

Kenneth

Answer 5

The files in your Active Directory are in use by the system. You could delete them from a boot to the command prompt of the recovery menu (F8 on restart)

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Rating posts helps other usersMark L. Ferguson MS-MVP