System Volume information on external drive can't be deleted

Question

A removable hard disk is shown in Computer Management on Windows 7, as primary partition (F) and logical disk (G). I tried to delete the folder "System Volume Information" including two sub-folders on the (F) partition. The folder, according to the date, was probably created by the System Restore utility in Windows XP.

It is not possible to delete this folder from within Windows Explorer. The command processor shows the folder, but entering the command F:>rmdir system volume information\ /S returns the error message "The system cannot find the specified file"

A further complication is that the Protection tab in the System Property Sheet -  only lists the logical disk (G).  The primary Partition (F) is missing.

Using the Folder option to hide system and hidden folders has no effect. BTW, drives (C), (D), (G) are formatted as NTFS, only the drive in question (F) is formatted as FAT.

Does anyone have a solution, other than reformatting the disk?

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Rolf

Answer 1

Here you go:

1. Enable the Administrator account and set its password.
2. Reboot into Safe Mode.
3. Log on as Administrator.
4. Click Start
5. Type the three letters cmd
6. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter
7. Run the process as Administrator.
8. Type the following commands and press Enter after each:

    takeown  /f   "F:\System Volume Information"   /a   /r   /d y

    icacls "F:\System Volume Information"  /t /c /grant administrators:F  System:F  everyone:F

    (Answer "yes" when prompted "Are you sure?")

    rd  /s  /q  "F:\System Volume Information"

Answer 2

Thanks, it worked for me.  All I had to do (in Win7) was:

1. START > Accessories > Command Prompt (right click run as Administrator)
2. From your step 8:

takeown  /f   "F:\System Volume Information"   /a   /r   /d y

rd  /s  /q  "F:\System Volume Information"

Thanks!

Terry D.

Answer 3

Pegasus

Thanks for the reply, alas no joy

I tried followed your instructions but could not remove the folder.  I don't understand the instructions you gave in paragraph 8, following the switch /d.....

I omitted the commands for taking ownership, since as I mentioned, the drive is formatted as FAT, which is not compatible with the ownership and or permission nonsense of XP or 7. I thought too, that running in safe mode may do the trick, but the result was the same when I tried to delete the folder with the rd command - "File not found", even though it was listed in the parent directory.

Thanks anyway

Rolf

Answer 4

Thanks Pegasus, will try the Ubuntu suggestion, since backing up the data will take to long.

dp

Answer 5

I assume you refer to the "TakeOwn" command in your feedback. It worked perfectly when I tested it exactly as I posted it but yes, my target drive used NTFS.

You could either format disk or boot the PC with an Ubuntu boot CD (http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/), then use its GUI to delete the folder, depending on which takes less time.