Share via

System Volume information on external drive can't be deleted

Anonymous
2011-02-02T21:35:50+00:00

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

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-02T22:08:01+00:00

    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"

    Was this answer helpful?

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

8 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-10-22T14:49:39+00:00

    thanks worked great

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-09T16:29:11+00:00

    Thanks Forest Brook

    Steps 4,5,7 and 8 did the trick for me (no need to reboot into safe mode or set an admin password).

    This cleared 40gb of space on an external drive for me.

    Thanks again

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2013-06-21T15:34:37+00:00

    You may also use webroot eraser. However if the folder comes up again its probably the recycler virus.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-04-01T05:47:57+00:00

    thanks for the steps. i just skip step 1-3, just run CMD as Admistrator and enter the command at step 8.

    :D

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments