Removing failed install folders

After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
here?

Thanks.

Al

On Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:31:31 -0400, Allen Drake <>
wrote:

>After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
>were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
>logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
>administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
>here?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Al

I wanted to add that I have tried recommended fixes mentioned here:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...3-f96c1892250a

But still have not been able to remove several folders. I have
searched and found the same methods that just don't work for me.

I started out by doing a clean install of Win7 on a new HDD which
took several attempts until I got it right. I can rename the folders
but just can't remove them.

I thank anyone that can help me with a solution.

Regards.

Al.

On 30/07/2011 23:31, Allen Drake wrote:
> After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
> were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
> logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
> administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
> here?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Al

Right click on the folder, Properties, Security, Permissions.
Let us know how the permissions are set.

Ed

On 7/30/2011 5:31 PM, Allen Drake wrote:
> After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
> were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
> logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
> administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
> here?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Al
What are the names of these folders? That might help thr potential
helpers who know more than you and me.
Allen

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:41:53 +0100, Ed Cryer <>
wrote:

>On 30/07/2011 23:31, Allen Drake wrote:
>> After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
>> were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
>> logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
>> administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
>> here?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Al
>
>Right click on the folder, Properties, Security, Permissions.
>Let us know how the permissions are set.
>
>Ed
Hi Ed and thanks for the response. I read the instructions carefully
many times and changed ownership from System to Administrator and
everything looked fine. I even tried creating a new name logging on
with a password so I have ownership with full control. I always get to
the same point when trying to delete the folder with a report that I
can not delete.

On 31/07/2011 18:10, Allen Drake wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 13:41:53 +0100, Ed Cryer<>
> wrote:
>
>> On 30/07/2011 23:31, Allen Drake wrote:
>>> After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
>>> were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
>>> logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
>>> administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
>>> here?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> Al
>>
>> Right click on the folder, Properties, Security, Permissions.
>> Let us know how the permissions are set.
>>
>> Ed
> Hi Ed and thanks for the response. I read the instructions carefully
> many times and changed ownership from System to Administrator and
> everything looked fine. I even tried creating a new name logging on
> with a password so I have ownership with full control. I always get to
> the same point when trying to delete the folder with a report that I
> can not delete.
>

Try this; it looks hopeful.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...ows-old-folder

Ed

On 30/07/2011 6:31 PM, Allen Drake wrote:
> After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
> were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
> logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
> administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
> here?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Al

Usually you'll have to use Disk Cleanup to remove those old folders.
Somebody else seems to have posted the instructions for that here. Check
it out.

Yousuf Khan

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:40:14 -0400, Allen Drake <> wrote:

>On Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:31:31 -0400, Allen Drake <>
>wrote:
>
>>After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
>>were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
>>logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
>>administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
>>here?
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Al
>
> I wanted to add that I have tried recommended fixes mentioned here:
>
>http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...3-f96c1892250a
>
>But still have not been able to remove several folders. I have
>searched and found the same methods that just don't work for me.
>
> I started out by doing a clean install of Win7 on a new HDD which
>took several attempts until I got it right. I can rename the folders
>but just can't remove them.
>
> I thank anyone that can help me with a solution.
>
>Regards.
>
>Al.

Download and burn Hiren's BootCD
http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

Boot to it and select "Mini Windows". Delete the folders from there.

Unk

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:45:02 -0400, Yousuf Khan
<> wrote:

>On 30/07/2011 6:31 PM, Allen Drake wrote:
>> After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
>> were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
>> logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
>> administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
>> here?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Al
>
>Usually you'll have to use Disk Cleanup to remove those old folders.
>Somebody else seems to have posted the instructions for that here. Check
>it out.
>
> Yousuf Khan

Thank you Yousuf.

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:55:00 -0400, Unk <> wrote:

>On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:40:14 -0400, Allen Drake <> wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:31:31 -0400, Allen Drake <>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>After a few failed fresh win7 installs I have windows folders that
>>>were created and no longer used but I am unable to delete them. I am
>>>logged on as Administrator but get a message that I must have
>>>administrator rights which I do. Can anyone tell me what I am missing
>>>here?
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>Al
>>
>> I wanted to add that I have tried recommended fixes mentioned here:
>>
>>http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...3-f96c1892250a
>>
>>But still have not been able to remove several folders. I have
>>searched and found the same methods that just don't work for me.
>>
>> I started out by doing a clean install of Win7 on a new HDD which
>>took several attempts until I got it right. I can rename the folders
>>but just can't remove them.
>>
>> I thank anyone that can help me with a solution.
>>
>>Regards.
>>
>>Al.
>
>Download and burn Hiren's BootCD
>http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/
>
>Boot to it and select "Mini Windows". Delete the folders from there.
>
>Unk
>
>
Thank you Unk. I was thinking of trying it from safe mode but thought
it could have been done a bit easier.

Regards.

Al.