Deleting all data on drive

[daniel aristidou]

hi guys... i know since i've searched practically every where that you cant but i have to ask.

Is there anyway of deleting all the files on your system excluding the operating system and programs?

[Stang02GT]

boot to the command promt and use the fdisk command....


you might want to do a little research on it 1st before you do it.

[questionit]

fdisk will actually remove partitions, which will casue all the data to be deleted.

Not sure why Stang02G has stated that.

If someone wants all the files deleted except O/S, manually it can be done easily.

Windows O/S is stored in Windows (default folder name) and user's programs are stored usually in Program Files folder.

Manually delete all the folders except the above two.

Qi

[wassimdaccache]

It depend

since you aren't able to delete file that you are using on the OS running. You have to use the command boot (FDISK or FORMAT) or any program like DOS, or OS installation CD

If you want to delete all files including OS that you are not using. Use the format command on your OS. Here you must have 2 operating systems running on your computer or 2 Hard drives on a your computer.



REGARDS

WASSIM S DACCACHE

[Stang02GT]

It depend

since you aren't able to delete file that you are using on the OS running. You have to use the command boot (FDISK or FORMAT) or any program like DOS, or OS installation CD

Not sure why Stang02G has stated that.

Thats why i suggested using FDISk

[questionit]

Thats why i suggested using FDISk

but the questioner didn't say he wants to delete O/S files. So he doesn't need fdisk or format command at all.

[wassimdaccache]

but the questioner didn't say he wants to delete O/S files. So he doesn't need fdisk or format command at all.

No sir He sad it

Is there anyway of deleting all the files on your system excluding the operating system and programs?

cheers

Wassim S Daccache

[missinglinq]

Quote:
but the questioner didn't say he wants to delete O/S files. So he doesn't need fdisk or format command at all.


No sir He sad it


Quote:
Is there anyway of deleting all the files on your system ***excluding the operating system*** and programs?

If you look at the very quotes you cited, Wassim, you'll see that, indeed, the OP ***did not say*** he wanted to delete the O/S files! He said he wanted to delete all files ***excluding the operating system*** and program files.

You really should pay a little more attention to detail before accusing someone else of not doing so!

Linq ;0)>

Moderator/Access Forum

[daniel aristidou]

If you look at the very quotes you cited, Wassim, you'll see that, indeed, the OP ***did not say*** he wanted to delete the O/S files! He said he wanted to delete all files ***excluding the operating system*** and program files.

You really should pay a little more attention to detail before accusing someone else of not doing so!

Linq ;0)>

Moderator/Access Forum

ok thanks guys

so let me get this straight :P before i go ahead

If i go to my hard drive, and delete all folders except for the program and windows folders. it will remove all data apart from os and programs?

Will i then have to recreate the other folders?

Thanks guys Daniel

[questionit]

Daniel,

You have got it right now.

If you delete all the folders except "Windows" folder, your O/S will be safe.

If you want to keep your already installed programs, too, leave "Program files" also. Delete everything else you want.

"Program Files" can be deleted if you dont want any installed programs but if you try to delete the foldere itself, you might not be able to delete it all as some of the programs installed inside it may currently be running.

To delete them, you can choose any of these options:

1- goto Command Prompt and try deleting the files and then the folder.

2- Boot to Command Prompt and delete the folder (It will only work if your partition is FAT and not NTFS)

3- Close all the running programs and try deleting again.

Give it a try, let us know how it goes

Qi

ok thanks guys

so let me get this straight :P before i go ahead

If i go to my hard drive, and delete all folders except for the program and windows folders. it will remove all data apart from os and programs?

Will i then have to recreate the other folders?

Thanks guys Daniel

[NeoPa]

While all that has been said so far is mainly helpful information Daniel, I would guess, as you're asking this question, that you want to reset your system to its original state.

If that is the case then I would consider formatting your disk and starting again from scratch.

The main reason I say this is that while, in a perfect world, deleting everything other than "Windows" & "Program Files" (You would need also to exclude "Documents and Settings") should be safe, it is entirely possible that there are other folders used (and referred to in your registry) which are not contained in those three root folders. Essentially, following that path, without rebuilding everything from scratch, is risky. Be very careful before proceeding.

[NeoPa]

Further discussion on whether or not the approach recommended by QuestionIt is safe continues in the thread - Safety of Deleting Folders on System Drive.

It was not appropriate to include within this thread but any interested parties can visit and/or contribute.