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Windows del command not working?
Cygwin bash sed locks my filesMove files across computers with command line (Windows)Delete set of files using find commandHow can I delete this directory?Delete a file that could not be found by CMDWindows 10 Deleting Locked .ttf filesFind Location of File and Overwrite (Windows 10)Why does PowerShell behave differently than cmd.exe given the same command?Can delete a file through windows explorer but not through batch fileRunning python scripts in their directory with Notepad++
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
I'm trying to delete a large directory. I run the delete (del /f node_modules), and it appears to work, but then the directory is still there... (When I try to delete it from the file explorer, it usually gives me some flavor of "you need admin permissions" or "can't delete because file is in use" or it just takes forever.)
Here's my question: what causes the del command to appear to work, but not actually work? I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
Picture of the command used, and the result Another example
windows cmd.exe
asked 8 hours ago
JohnnyBlackJohnnyBlack
112 bronze badges
New contributor
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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|
show 5 more comments
I'm trying to delete a large directory. I run the delete (del /f node_modules), and it appears to work, but then the directory is still there... (When I try to delete it from the file explorer, it usually gives me some flavor of "you need admin permissions" or "can't delete because file is in use" or it just takes forever.)
Here's my question: what causes the del command to appear to work, but not actually work? I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
Picture of the command used, and the result Another example
windows cmd.exe
asked 8 hours ago
JohnnyBlackJohnnyBlack
112 bronze badges
New contributor
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Does Shift+Delete work? Try skipping the Recycle Bin.
– wrecclesham
8 hours ago
Provide a screenshot of the ACL for the folder in question. If you are getting an error indicating a permission problem it sounds like you don't have the required permissions to delete it. It does not matter if you are an Administrator, if you don't currently have the required permissions, you would get a permission error. Please do not submit a comment in response to this comment. Instead, edit your question with the information required to answer your question.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
There's no error in the output. The command appears to complete. Also thanks for that shift+delete tip, although I need to do this programmatically, as part of a script.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
@JohnnyKumpf - You said in your question there was an error. Please provide the exact error and that screenshot I requested. Your question cannot be answered without this information.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
My goal isn't to delete it from the file explorer. I want to force a delete from the command line. I'm not sure exactly which errors produce what behavior; what I really want to know is what are the possible causes for the behavior I'm observing in the cmd: namely that the del command appears to work, but the directory is still there afterwards.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
I'm trying to delete a large directory. I run the delete (del /f node_modules), and it appears to work, but then the directory is still there... (When I try to delete it from the file explorer, it usually gives me some flavor of "you need admin permissions" or "can't delete because file is in use" or it just takes forever.)
Here's my question: what causes the del command to appear to work, but not actually work? I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
Picture of the command used, and the result Another example
windows cmd.exe
asked 8 hours ago
JohnnyBlackJohnnyBlack
112 bronze badges
New contributor
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm trying to delete a large directory. I run the delete (del /f node_modules), and it appears to work, but then the directory is still there... (When I try to delete it from the file explorer, it usually gives me some flavor of "you need admin permissions" or "can't delete because file is in use" or it just takes forever.)
Here's my question: what causes the del command to appear to work, but not actually work? I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
Picture of the command used, and the result Another example
windows cmd.exe
windows cmd.exe
asked 8 hours ago
JohnnyBlackJohnnyBlack
112 bronze badges
New contributor
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
JohnnyBlackJohnnyBlack
112 bronze badges
New contributor
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 7 hours ago
JohnnyBlack
asked 8 hours ago
JohnnyBlackJohnnyBlack
112 bronze badges
New contributor
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 8 hours ago
JohnnyBlackJohnnyBlack
112 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
JohnnyBlackJohnnyBlack
112 bronze badges
112 bronze badges
New contributor
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Does Shift+Delete work? Try skipping the Recycle Bin.
– wrecclesham
8 hours ago
Provide a screenshot of the ACL for the folder in question. If you are getting an error indicating a permission problem it sounds like you don't have the required permissions to delete it. It does not matter if you are an Administrator, if you don't currently have the required permissions, you would get a permission error. Please do not submit a comment in response to this comment. Instead, edit your question with the information required to answer your question.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
There's no error in the output. The command appears to complete. Also thanks for that shift+delete tip, although I need to do this programmatically, as part of a script.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
@JohnnyKumpf - You said in your question there was an error. Please provide the exact error and that screenshot I requested. Your question cannot be answered without this information.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
My goal isn't to delete it from the file explorer. I want to force a delete from the command line. I'm not sure exactly which errors produce what behavior; what I really want to know is what are the possible causes for the behavior I'm observing in the cmd: namely that the del command appears to work, but the directory is still there afterwards.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
Does Shift+Delete work? Try skipping the Recycle Bin.
– wrecclesham
8 hours ago
Provide a screenshot of the ACL for the folder in question. If you are getting an error indicating a permission problem it sounds like you don't have the required permissions to delete it. It does not matter if you are an Administrator, if you don't currently have the required permissions, you would get a permission error. Please do not submit a comment in response to this comment. Instead, edit your question with the information required to answer your question.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
There's no error in the output. The command appears to complete. Also thanks for that shift+delete tip, although I need to do this programmatically, as part of a script.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
@JohnnyKumpf - You said in your question there was an error. Please provide the exact error and that screenshot I requested. Your question cannot be answered without this information.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
My goal isn't to delete it from the file explorer. I want to force a delete from the command line. I'm not sure exactly which errors produce what behavior; what I really want to know is what are the possible causes for the behavior I'm observing in the cmd: namely that the del command appears to work, but the directory is still there afterwards.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
Does Shift+Delete work? Try skipping the Recycle Bin.
– wrecclesham
8 hours ago
Does Shift+Delete work? Try skipping the Recycle Bin.
– wrecclesham
8 hours ago
Provide a screenshot of the ACL for the folder in question. If you are getting an error indicating a permission problem it sounds like you don't have the required permissions to delete it. It does not matter if you are an Administrator, if you don't currently have the required permissions, you would get a permission error. Please do not submit a comment in response to this comment. Instead, edit your question with the information required to answer your question.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
Provide a screenshot of the ACL for the folder in question. If you are getting an error indicating a permission problem it sounds like you don't have the required permissions to delete it. It does not matter if you are an Administrator, if you don't currently have the required permissions, you would get a permission error. Please do not submit a comment in response to this comment. Instead, edit your question with the information required to answer your question.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
There's no error in the output. The command appears to complete. Also thanks for that shift+delete tip, although I need to do this programmatically, as part of a script.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
There's no error in the output. The command appears to complete. Also thanks for that shift+delete tip, although I need to do this programmatically, as part of a script.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
@JohnnyKumpf - You said in your question there was an error. Please provide the exact error and that screenshot I requested. Your question cannot be answered without this information.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
@JohnnyKumpf - You said in your question there was an error. Please provide the exact error and that screenshot I requested. Your question cannot be answered without this information.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
My goal isn't to delete it from the file explorer. I want to force a delete from the command line. I'm not sure exactly which errors produce what behavior; what I really want to know is what are the possible causes for the behavior I'm observing in the cmd: namely that the del command appears to work, but the directory is still there afterwards.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
My goal isn't to delete it from the file explorer. I want to force a delete from the command line. I'm not sure exactly which errors produce what behavior; what I really want to know is what are the possible causes for the behavior I'm observing in the cmd: namely that the del command appears to work, but the directory is still there afterwards.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
|
show 5 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
If I didn't have appropriate permissions, the cmd doesn't throw an access denied or something?
That's not how del is designed to work. If files are deleted, then del will inform you. If no files are deleted then del is silent.
Normally DEL will display a list of the files deleted, if Command Extensions are disabled; it will instead display a list of any files it cannot find.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
If no files are deleted then you do not have the appropriate permissions to remove them.
I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
If you use del with a directory name then it will delete the files in the directory. The directory specified is not deleted.
If a folder name is given instead of a file, all files in the folder will be deleted, but the folder itself will not be removed.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
To delete both directories and the files and subdirectories use rd:
Remove (or Delete) a Directory.
Syntax
RD pathname
RD /S pathname
RD /S /Q pathname
/S: Delete all files and subfolders in addition to the folder
itself. Use this to remove an entire folder tree.
Source - RD - Remove Directory - Windows CMD - SS64.com
answered 6 hours ago
DavidPostill♦DavidPostill
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
add a comment |
del will delete all contents, but (even with /f or /s) it never removes the directories themselves; that's just how it was written.
Use rmdir /s instead:
rd/s/q node_modules
answered 8 hours ago
grawitygrawity
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
when I cd into the directory, all the files are still there
– JohnnyBlack
7 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
2
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If I didn't have appropriate permissions, the cmd doesn't throw an access denied or something?
That's not how del is designed to work. If files are deleted, then del will inform you. If no files are deleted then del is silent.
Normally DEL will display a list of the files deleted, if Command Extensions are disabled; it will instead display a list of any files it cannot find.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
If no files are deleted then you do not have the appropriate permissions to remove them.
I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
If you use del with a directory name then it will delete the files in the directory. The directory specified is not deleted.
If a folder name is given instead of a file, all files in the folder will be deleted, but the folder itself will not be removed.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
To delete both directories and the files and subdirectories use rd:
Remove (or Delete) a Directory.
Syntax
RD pathname
RD /S pathname
RD /S /Q pathname
/S: Delete all files and subfolders in addition to the folder
itself. Use this to remove an entire folder tree.
Source - RD - Remove Directory - Windows CMD - SS64.com
answered 6 hours ago
DavidPostill♦DavidPostill
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
add a comment |
If I didn't have appropriate permissions, the cmd doesn't throw an access denied or something?
That's not how del is designed to work. If files are deleted, then del will inform you. If no files are deleted then del is silent.
Normally DEL will display a list of the files deleted, if Command Extensions are disabled; it will instead display a list of any files it cannot find.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
If no files are deleted then you do not have the appropriate permissions to remove them.
I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
If you use del with a directory name then it will delete the files in the directory. The directory specified is not deleted.
If a folder name is given instead of a file, all files in the folder will be deleted, but the folder itself will not be removed.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
To delete both directories and the files and subdirectories use rd:
Remove (or Delete) a Directory.
Syntax
RD pathname
RD /S pathname
RD /S /Q pathname
/S: Delete all files and subfolders in addition to the folder
itself. Use this to remove an entire folder tree.
Source - RD - Remove Directory - Windows CMD - SS64.com
answered 6 hours ago
DavidPostill♦DavidPostill
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
add a comment |
If I didn't have appropriate permissions, the cmd doesn't throw an access denied or something?
That's not how del is designed to work. If files are deleted, then del will inform you. If no files are deleted then del is silent.
Normally DEL will display a list of the files deleted, if Command Extensions are disabled; it will instead display a list of any files it cannot find.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
If no files are deleted then you do not have the appropriate permissions to remove them.
I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
If you use del with a directory name then it will delete the files in the directory. The directory specified is not deleted.
If a folder name is given instead of a file, all files in the folder will be deleted, but the folder itself will not be removed.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
To delete both directories and the files and subdirectories use rd:
Remove (or Delete) a Directory.
Syntax
RD pathname
RD /S pathname
RD /S /Q pathname
/S: Delete all files and subfolders in addition to the folder
itself. Use this to remove an entire folder tree.
Source - RD - Remove Directory - Windows CMD - SS64.com
answered 6 hours ago
DavidPostill♦DavidPostill
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
If I didn't have appropriate permissions, the cmd doesn't throw an access denied or something?
That's not how del is designed to work. If files are deleted, then del will inform you. If no files are deleted then del is silent.
Normally DEL will display a list of the files deleted, if Command Extensions are disabled; it will instead display a list of any files it cannot find.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
If no files are deleted then you do not have the appropriate permissions to remove them.
I'd expect some output indicating the directory wasn't deleted.
If you use del with a directory name then it will delete the files in the directory. The directory specified is not deleted.
If a folder name is given instead of a file, all files in the folder will be deleted, but the folder itself will not be removed.
Source Del - Delete Files - Windows CMD - SS64.com
To delete both directories and the files and subdirectories use rd:
Remove (or Delete) a Directory.
Syntax
RD pathname
RD /S pathname
RD /S /Q pathname
/S: Delete all files and subfolders in addition to the folder
itself. Use this to remove an entire folder tree.
Source - RD - Remove Directory - Windows CMD - SS64.com
answered 6 hours ago
DavidPostill♦DavidPostill
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
edited 6 hours ago
answered 6 hours ago
DavidPostill♦DavidPostill
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
answered 6 hours ago
DavidPostill♦DavidPostill
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
answered 6 hours ago
DavidPostill♦DavidPostill
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
113k27 gold badges250 silver badges283 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
del will delete all contents, but (even with /f or /s) it never removes the directories themselves; that's just how it was written.
Use rmdir /s instead:
rd/s/q node_modules
answered 8 hours ago
grawitygrawity
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
when I cd into the directory, all the files are still there
– JohnnyBlack
7 hours ago
add a comment |
del will delete all contents, but (even with /f or /s) it never removes the directories themselves; that's just how it was written.
Use rmdir /s instead:
rd/s/q node_modules
answered 8 hours ago
grawitygrawity
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
when I cd into the directory, all the files are still there
– JohnnyBlack
7 hours ago
add a comment |
del will delete all contents, but (even with /f or /s) it never removes the directories themselves; that's just how it was written.
Use rmdir /s instead:
rd/s/q node_modules
answered 8 hours ago
grawitygrawity
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
del will delete all contents, but (even with /f or /s) it never removes the directories themselves; that's just how it was written.
Use rmdir /s instead:
rd/s/q node_modules
answered 8 hours ago
grawitygrawity
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
grawitygrawity
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
grawitygrawity
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
grawitygrawity
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
258k38 gold badges542 silver badges607 bronze badges
when I cd into the directory, all the files are still there
– JohnnyBlack
7 hours ago
add a comment |
when I cd into the directory, all the files are still there
– JohnnyBlack
7 hours ago
when I cd into the directory, all the files are still there
– JohnnyBlack
7 hours ago
when I cd into the directory, all the files are still there
– JohnnyBlack
7 hours ago
add a comment |
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
JohnnyBlack is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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Does Shift+Delete work? Try skipping the Recycle Bin.
– wrecclesham
8 hours ago
Provide a screenshot of the ACL for the folder in question. If you are getting an error indicating a permission problem it sounds like you don't have the required permissions to delete it. It does not matter if you are an Administrator, if you don't currently have the required permissions, you would get a permission error. Please do not submit a comment in response to this comment. Instead, edit your question with the information required to answer your question.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
There's no error in the output. The command appears to complete. Also thanks for that shift+delete tip, although I need to do this programmatically, as part of a script.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago
@JohnnyKumpf - You said in your question there was an error. Please provide the exact error and that screenshot I requested. Your question cannot be answered without this information.
– Ramhound
8 hours ago
My goal isn't to delete it from the file explorer. I want to force a delete from the command line. I'm not sure exactly which errors produce what behavior; what I really want to know is what are the possible causes for the behavior I'm observing in the cmd: namely that the del command appears to work, but the directory is still there afterwards.
– JohnnyBlack
8 hours ago