Problem concerning deleting old windows 7 files after format !

FragMonsteR · Jan 22, 2011, 06:16 PM

I recently formated my PC, deleted everything and installed Windows 7 again. my problem is now that i cant delete my old windows 7 files for some reason, when i try delete the files it says i need admin rights to delete it, i have given myself full admin rights over the folder but yet i keeps saying the same thing ? I cant delete it normally and i cant format the harddisk either ??

Anyone able to help me out on this ?

i Run windows 7 home premium 64 Btw.

mkk · Jan 22, 2011, 07:44 PM

There are files in there that even the administrator accounts don't normally have control over. What you need to do is to first do a "take ownership" maneouver so that you can give that control to one of your accounts or the "administrators" group. Here is a guide that describes the standard procedure for that: Windows 7 Take Ownership & Grant Permissions to Access Files & Folder
There also seem to be some programs that makes things easier, but I haven't tried one. Getting familiar with the standard method can come in handy many times in the future.

Edit: The "disk cleanup" feature of Windows may also detect those old windows folders and included them as an optional removal. Worth trying because if they show up there it's an easier method.

FragMonsteR · Jan 22, 2011, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkk

There are files in there that even the administrator accounts don't normally have control over. What you need to do is to first do a "take ownership" maneouver so that you can give that control to one of your accounts or the "administrators" group. Here is a guide that describes the standard procedure for that: Windows 7 Take Ownership & Grant Permissions to Access Files & Folder
There also seem to be some programs that makes things easier, but I haven't tried one. Getting familiar with the standard method can come in handy many times in the future.

Edit: The "disk cleanup" feature of Windows may also detect those old windows folders and included them as an optional removal. Worth trying because if they show up there it's an easier method.

I have tried this aswell, and it still says the same thing for whatever reason ><" i have full ownership and admin acces to the folder, but it does not allow me to delete it ><" I even tried downloading that zip folder with Fullownership, thats being linked to in your link, still nothing ><"

In danish i know sorry i can post it in english if that Helps ?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 22, 2011, 09:16 PM

If you did a format and fresh install how can there be "old files"? Or was this a restore from a backup?

FragMonsteR · Jan 22, 2011, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

If you did a format and fresh install how can there be "old files"? Or was this a restore from a backup?

I installed OS on a new harddrive, and then when i decided to delete the old Windows file on the other harddrive i ran into this problem, i cant say if its a restore or not, as i cant remember, i left it for some time, but now i need the space and id love it to be removed now ?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 22, 2011, 10:09 PM

Almost sounds like an "upgrade" install but I don't think that's what you are looking at here. So there's two hard drives involved, I take it they are the two corsairs listed in your specs. The working windows install is on C:... what you want to get rid of is on E: correct?

Couldn't you temporarily copy what you want to keep from E: (and only what you want to keep) to a different drive and then wipe the partition, reformat E: and then put the files back?

FragMonsteR · Jan 22, 2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

Almost sounds like an "upgrade" install but I don't think that's what you are looking at here. So there's two hard drives involved, I take it they are the two corsairs listed in your specs. The working windows install is on C:... what you want to get rid of is on E: correct?

Couldn't you temporarily copy what you want to keep from E: (and only what you want to keep) to a different drive and then wipe the partition, reformat E: and then put the files back?

That is correct, i have tried to reformat, problem is that when i right click on the harddisk i cant click on Delete volume in the drop down ?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 22, 2011, 11:03 PM

It's showing as the system volume, in other words it's still looking at it upon boot as well as the C: drive which has your new install.

Wondering something..... If you disconnected that drive (E

it will probably not boot at all.... So then boot from your DVD and repair the boot files on C: This should free up E: so it can be partitioned again. (after you copy what you want to keep) Also make sure you are deleting the partition, not just formatting.

OldBuzzard · Jan 22, 2011, 11:19 PM

Odds ate that MKK is right.

Here's an easier way to "Take Ownership".

Add Take Ownership Option Shortcut in Right Click Menu of Windows 7

I've used it since VISTA, and it's a LOT easier/faster than the way MKK posted.

FragMonsteR · Jan 23, 2011, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

It's showing as the system volume, in other words it's still looking at it upon boot as well as the C: drive which has your new install.

Wondering something..... If you disconnected that drive (E

it will probably not boot at all.... So then boot from your DVD and repair the boot files on C: This should free up E: so it can be partitioned again. (after you copy what you want to keep) Also make sure you are deleting the partition, not just formatting.

From the looks of it im getting closer to a solution lol, thank you very much Tyrson for helping me out, now i tried to repair the files, but it just tells me theres nothing to repair and i should newly added equipment. ><"

Would it be better, to simply unplug all the Harddrives, plug 1 in reinstall OS and the plug others in and then delete OS from the other ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBuzzard

Odds ate that MKK is right.

Here's an easier way to "Take Ownership".

Add Take Ownership Option Shortcut in Right Click Menu of Windows 7

I've used it since VISTA, and it's a LOT easier/faster than the way MKK posted.

I have tried this one, as i wrote in 1 of my replies, still says i need admin rights to delete it.

Tyrsonswood · Jan 23, 2011, 01:02 AM

So, will it boot with just the C: drive attached, or the C: and the WD 640?

Tipstaff · Jan 23, 2011, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FragMonsteR

....
Would it be better, to simply unplug all the Harddrives, plug 1 in reinstall OS and the plug others in and then delete OS from the other ?

This is something I usually recommend to people. Having only the drive you want to install to hooked up keeps things straight and simple. Not so much because of user error while installing, but because of cable connections. Say, for instance, you have 4 SATA ports, 1-4, and you've been running your main drive on port 2 all this time. If you hook up a new drive to port 1, and do a fresh install, the installer "might" still use the bootloader on the drive on port 2. Remove the old drive, and you can forget about booting up the OS without doing some sort of repair. Disconnecting all drives but the drive you are intending to install the OS on helps to keep this problem from ever occurring.

Edit: I also wanted to point out that even if you have the connections correct to the motherboard that sometimes the OS installer, if it sees another boot loader such as another install of Windows on a different hard drive, will decide to use that loader (more likely to happen when doing a fresh install of the same OS on the other drive), and then we're right back in the same situation as above. With just the one drive attached you remove this problem from occurring.

On the same note, be sure double check your bios, and make sure that the boot order is correct. By this I mean that the new drive you are using is the first to boot, not the old one.

Also, if you have any memory card readers, disconnect those too. It has more to do with the drive lettering. Not so much a problem with Windows 7, but I have seen other operating systems "sometimes" put the memory card readers first in the lettering scheme. It can really mess things up for you.

FragMonsteR · Jan 23, 2011, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

So, will it boot with just the C: drive attached, or the C: and the WD 640?

When i only have the E: hooked up it says to choice a new boot media or CD. no startup screen or anything.

When i have C: hooked up it gives me the choice between 2 OS systems both Windows 7, when i pick the top 1 i get a error screen, when i pick the bottom 1 it goes straight into the startrepair mode, and starts the repair.

But with or without the Disc in, it says that it cant repair it and gives me the send errorpage to Microsoft,

I did notice that on the 10 line in the log, it says NoOSinstalled ?

Tyrsonswood · Jan 23, 2011, 02:19 AM

Go with what Tipstaff said and do a fresh install with just the C: drive hooked up...... Make sure you have any data copied off first, let install wipe the drive (partition and format) and start fresh.

FragMonsteR · Jan 23, 2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyrsonswood

Go with what Tipstaff said and do a fresh install with just the C: drive hooked up...... Make sure you have any data copied off first, let install wipe the drive (partition and format) and start fresh.

Ok big thanks for the help everyone, at least i have learned my lesson from this =D

EDIT:

Alright now i have everything deleted from my other Harddisk and only OS installed on 1 disk, but for some reason when i start up my pc i still get the choice between 2 windows 7 startups ? how is this possible when everything is completely clean except for my OS harddrive ?

FragMonsteR · Jan 23, 2011, 11:40 AM

Anyway to remove the 2nd windows 7 option in the startup ?

Mr cairo · Jan 23, 2011, 01:15 PM

If i recall correctly its

start > Run > Msconfig > Boot

remove the one that's not needed and reboot

Tyrsonswood · Jan 23, 2011, 01:32 PM

... as above.

If it doesn't let you remove it, you can set the wait time to 0 seconds. I've one that had XP and the old OS wasn't listed there so I just set 0 seconds, you still see it flash by, but it's better than waiting.

I hope someone chimes in with a way to actually fix that. (not meaning to jack your thread)

FragMonsteR · Jan 23, 2011, 04:15 PM

Well finally i have my PC working like i should have been from the start, i would like you thank you guys for helping a guy like me out with my issues, amazing forum with some really helpfull guys on here....

The help is greatly appriciated Tyrson, Cairo, Buzz and Tips =D

Mr cairo · Jan 23, 2011, 06:56 PM

No problem glad to help

Tyrsonswood · Jan 23, 2011, 07:50 PM

Cool, man! Glad you got it sorted.....

Jan 22, 2011, 06:16 PM	#1
FragMonsteR The RocKz Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Denmark Posts: 41 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Problem concerning deleting old windows 7 files after format ! I recently formated my PC, deleted everything and installed Windows 7 again. my problem is now that i cant delete my old windows 7 files for some reason, when i try delete the files it says i need admin rights to delete it, i have given myself full admin rights over the folder but yet i keeps saying the same thing ? I cant delete it normally and i cant format the harddisk either ?? Anyone able to help me out on this ? i Run windows 7 home premium 64 Btw.

Jan 22, 2011, 07:44 PM	#2
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,495 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Problem concerning deleting old windows 7 files after format ! There are files in there that even the administrator accounts don't normally have control over. What you need to do is to first do a "take ownership" maneouver so that you can give that control to one of your accounts or the "administrators" group. Here is a guide that describes the standard procedure for that: Windows 7 Take Ownership & Grant Permissions to Access Files & Folder There also seem to be some programs that makes things easier, but I haven't tried one. Getting familiar with the standard method can come in handy many times in the future. Edit: The "disk cleanup" feature of Windows may also detect those old windows folders and included them as an optional removal. Worth trying because if they show up there it's an easier method. Last edited by mkk; Jan 22, 2011 at 08:02 PM.

Jan 22, 2011, 11:19 PM	#9
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	Re: Problem concerning deleting old windows 7 files after format ! Odds ate that MKK is right. Here's an easier way to "Take Ownership". Add Take Ownership Option Shortcut in Right Click Menu of Windows 7 I've used it since VISTA, and it's a LOT easier/faster than the way MKK posted. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Jan 23, 2011, 11:40 AM	Thread Starter #16
FragMonsteR The RocKz Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Denmark Posts: 41 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Problem concerning deleting old windows 7 files after format ! Anyway to remove the 2nd windows 7 option in the startup ?

Jan 23, 2011, 01:15 PM	#17
Mr cairo F0rum For Humans Only Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Slightly to the left Posts: 1,780 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	Re: Problem concerning deleting old windows 7 files after format ! If i recall correctly its start > Run > Msconfig > Boot remove the one that's not needed and reboot __________________ *Please consider Sponsoring my wife for the race for life*

Jan 23, 2011, 04:15 PM	Thread Starter #19
FragMonsteR The RocKz Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Denmark Posts: 41 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Problem concerning deleting old windows 7 files after format ! Well finally i have my PC working like i should have been from the start, i would like you thank you guys for helping a guy like me out with my issues, amazing forum with some really helpfull guys on here.... The help is greatly appriciated Tyrson, Cairo, Buzz and Tips =D Last edited by FragMonsteR; Jan 23, 2011 at 05:59 PM.

Jan 23, 2011, 06:56 PM	#20
Mr cairo F0rum For Humans Only Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Slightly to the left Posts: 1,780 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	Re: Problem concerning deleting old windows 7 files after format ! No problem glad to help __________________ *Please consider Sponsoring my wife for the race for life*