i can't delete 'Program Files' directories -please

[r0sWell]

hi,

here's the problem i have, i can't remove some directories in Program Files. They are "in use by Windows".

at the end of my RunOnceEx.cmd i made this command :

REG ADD %KEY%\095 /VE /D "End of installation and reboot" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\095 /V 1 /D "%systemdrive%\Install\cleanup.cmd" /f

in cleanup.cmd here's the part that is problematic :

cmdow @ /HID

RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\Program Files\Common Files"   -> useless in French version of XP because there is a 'Fichiers Communs' directory, so i can delete it.
RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\Program Files\ComPlus Applications"
RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\Program Files\microsoft frontpage"
RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\Program Files\msn gaming zone"
RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\Program Files\netmeeting"
RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\Program Files\Services en ligne"
RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\Program Files\windows nt"
RD /S /Q "%systemdrive%\Program Files\xerox"

EXIT

my unattended XP CD in an original XP CD with the SP2 splitstreamed.

'Common Files'

'ComPlus Applications'

'Services en ligne'

--> these 3 directories delete themselves without problem

'microsoft frontpage'

'msn gaming zone'

'netmeeting'

'windows nt'

'xerox'

--> these 5 directories contains subdirectories, and cannot be deleted (still "in use").

here is a screenshot of the subdirectories for microsoft frontpage that i can't delete (it's empty, same as the others i want to delete):

I tried to delete them at the beginning of my RunOnceEx.cmd too, but it changed nothing.

Of course i use the patched SFC_OS.DL_ in the .\i386\ CD directory, plus a tweak to disable the Windows File Protection in my registry_tweaks.reg.

Maybe someone knows what is my pb. i really don't see the problem.

Note: one time before, using the same registry_tweaks.reg, the same cleanup.cmd, but in a SP1a splitstreamed XP CD, these 8 directories were successfully deleted by RunOnceEx.cmd.

Thank you.

[MHz]

If they are in use by windows. Then that would mean that invisible system files exist in there?

Where did the other files go btw?

Windows may make empty folders for its own use.

I would leave them if the os needs them.

Just an idea.

[SiMoNsAyS]

those folders are WFP protected and can be safetly deleted but WFP must be turned off until remove'em...

[RyanVM]

those folders are WFP protected and can be safetly deleted but WFP must be turned off until remove'em...

The problem is that when you turn WFP back on, the folders will reappear.

The way to permanantly remove these folders is to get a patched copy of sfcfiles.dll and add it to your Windows CD. The patcher can be downloaded here. Once sfcfiles.dll is patched, run modifype on it, makecab it, and replace it in the i386 folder of your Windows source CD and you're good to go.

[r0sWell]

thanks.

i think that the pb could be the consequence of WFP turned on too, but i replace SFC_OS.DL_ and disable WFP using reg_tweaks.

it doesn't work i think.

i'll try with the link posted by Ryan too.