Hello Team. How could I remove several executables in different paths inside the c drive? Is it possible to perform a search and delete that executable? Can you give me some tips to get started?

Hi @Rafael Aguilar , maybe this helps. $exeFiles = "7z.exe", "putty.exe" $exeFiles | ForEach-Object { Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Program Files" -Recurse -Include $_ -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Force | Remove-Item -Force -WhatIf } If the result looks good for you just remove the -WhatIf in line 3. Depending on the -Path it might take a while to "find" all files in all folders. ---------- (If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer , thank you) Regards Andreas Baumgarten

Thank you very much. I will try it and let you know.

remove several executables in different paths inside the c drive

Accepted answer

Andreas Baumgarten 108.8K Reputation points MVP

2022-02-24T18:58:18.817+00:00
Hi @Rafael Aguilar ,

maybe this helps.

$exeFiles = "7z.exe", "putty.exe" $exeFiles | ForEach-Object { Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Program Files" -Recurse -Include $_ -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Force | Remove-Item -Force -WhatIf }

If the result looks good for you just remove the -WhatIf in line 3.
Depending on the -Path it might take a while to "find" all files in all folders.

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten
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Rafael Aguilar 496 Reputation points

2022-02-24T19:30:21.89+00:00

WhatIf operation performs a warning before executing an action?

Andreas Baumgarten 108.8K Reputation points MVP

2022-02-24T19:39:20.443+00:00

Hi @Rafael Aguilar ,

nope. -WhatIf shows "what will happen" but wont do anything.
With Remove-Item you get the details what will be removed but it wont remove the file.

it looks like this:

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten

Rafael Aguilar 496 Reputation points

2022-02-24T19:55:37.85+00:00

I understand, I tried it and it works.

When placing the search parameters:

$exeFiles = "rafa.txt", "leti.txt", "aguil.txt"

it deletes me those files in different paths of the disk c, now, what difference does it make if I place it like this?

$exeFiles = "*rafa.txt*", "*leti.txt*", "*aguil.txt*"

What difference does it make with the *?

Andreas Baumgarten 108.8K Reputation points MVP

2022-02-24T20:17:22.837+00:00

Hi @Rafael Aguilar ,

just give it a try using the -WhatIf ;-)

The first line (without the *) you posted will remove all files with exact name, for instance "rafa.txt".

Your second line will delete every file that "contains" rafa.txt ... for instance "rafa.txt" but also "1rafa.txt" or "rafa.txt1" or "123rafa.txt23a" ......

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten

Rafael Aguilar 496 Reputation points

2022-02-24T20:44:28.07+00:00

Thanks for the answer, to delete files inside a hidden folder the hidden parameter should work? I'm trying but it doesn't work, I will continue investigating.

Rafael Aguilar 496 Reputation points

2022-02-24T20:50:20.757+00:00

According to this link the -force command should remove it but in fact it does not.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.management/remove-item?view=powershell-7.2

Andreas Baumgarten 108.8K Reputation points MVP

2022-02-24T21:11:20.607+00:00

Hi @Rafael Aguilar ,

you need the -force with the Get-ChildItem command as well to find hidden files.

$exeFiles = "*rafa.txt*", "*leti.txt*", "*aguil.txt*" $exeFiles | ForEach-Object { Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Junk" -Recurse -Include $_ -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Force | Remove-Item -Force -WhatIf }

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten

Rafael Aguilar 496 Reputation points

2022-02-25T12:44:29.303+00:00

Great, thank you very much, it worked.

Regards
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