Why can't I delete Vista system folders?

[gozu]

I've installed XP on my C: partition 6 months ago.

Recently, I installed Vista Beta 2 on my D: partition.

Today, I have used fixboot / fixmbr to remove Vista from the bootloader.

I'm back to using winXP on my C: partition and would like to remove the useless vista folders clogging my D:\ partition (WITHOUT FORMATTING IT! I have 200 Gb of data on there so backup/format is not practical).

The folders that I can't delete are named:

Windows

Program Files

Users

ProgramData

When I try to delete them, i get Access Denied. When I right click properties and try to remove the Read Only, I get another access denied. Using attrib -r -s d:\windows does not appear to help either.

What the heck? Why can't I delete folders on my HD? This is horribly frustrating. Help!

Edited June 9, 2006 by gozu

[Aegis]

Change the permissions. Normally you'll need to take ownership of the folder and all child objects. It becomes a pain at times...might want to consider using FAT32 instead.

[gozu]

Change the permissions. Normally you'll need to take ownership of the folder and all child objects.

How do I change the permissions? I hope you don't mean "go to properties and uncheck the Read Only box" because I've done that already (as mentionned in the OP).

[Veovis]

He says:

Go to the properties of the folders, then click on Advanced of the Security Tab.

Then take ownership with the second tab.

Close the properties then open again. Normally you can now change the ACL in the security tab to have a Full Control.

[gozu]

He says:

Go to the properties of the folders, then click on Advanced of the Security Tab.

Then take ownership with the second tab.

Close the properties then open again. Normally you can now change the ACL in the security tab to have a Full Control.

Ok, i did that and it helped some. The only thing you didn't mention was that I had to also check the inherit button before taking ownership, then change to full control, then remove the read only. Otherwise, it still wouldn't delete most of the files.

Merci beaucoup pour ton aide.

[janus zeal]

im sorry... what the hell?

i posted exact directions to delete the folders, i even reloaded the page to check for replys... and now my post is gone. >_<