Cannot delete system volume information folder on windows 7 !?!

Anonymous
2009-10-13T17:09:49+00:00

I cannot delete system volume information folder in D:/ E:/ on windows 7

I took ownership as admin on the folder but I cannot delete it completely!

I run an elevated command prompt and deleted some files in it but cannot remove the folder!

In vista I could mange to delete it after taking ownership on the folder by pressing del the folder will go away!

any ideas?

don`t ask me why I am trying to remove the folder pls...i just need to

thank you

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-12-12T23:38:51+00:00

Old post I know but I've had this problem on several of my removeable HDs and finally I managed to remove the 'System Volume Information' folder:

DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR C: OR YOUR WINDOWS HARDDRIVE!!!!!

Right click desktop and click [New->Shortcut]

Write: cmd.exe

Click [Next] then [Finish]

Right click the cmd.exe icon and click 'Run As Adminstrator"

Now select the external hard drive (F: in my case)

C:>f:

Now do the following (you can copy paste):

F:>attrib -s -h /S /D

F:>attrib -r /S /D

F:>rd "System Volume Information" /S

System Volume Information, Are you sure (Y/N)? y

And you're DONE ;-)

Was this answer helpful?

40+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

53 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-01-14T23:46:32+00:00

    Why try to delete the System Volume Information?  The simpler solution is to ensure that system restore does not monitor partitions other than the partition containing Windows, usually C. The System Volume Information folder contains files other than those used by system restore which occupy minimal disk space and which should not be deleted.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-01-14T15:08:11+00:00

    I cannot delete system volume information folder in D:/ E:/ on windows 7

    I took ownership as admin on the folder but I cannot delete it completely!

    I run an elevated command prompt and deleted some files in it but cannot remove the folder!

    In vista I could mange to delete it after taking ownership on the folder by pressing del the folder will go away!

    any ideas?

    don`t ask me why I am trying to remove the folder pls...i just need to

    thank you

    Good solution by MattiEinars (http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/profile/78e77349-6ef7-4ee6-94b9-b485a6232e36) that I have also tried but in following easy way

    WinKey+R

    in Run dialog type "cmd /administrator" (don't use commas)

    now follow same procedure giveng by MattiEinars

    F:>attrib -s -h /S /D

    F:>attrib -r /S /D

    F:>rd "System Volume Information" /S

    System Volume Information, Are you sure (Y/N)? y

    And you're DONE ;-)

    Don't worry if you don't need system restore you can remove SVI folder too

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-12-07T02:47:49+00:00

    thanks...

    you resolved my problem it works... thanks...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-04-19T00:20:50+00:00

    Thanks for that Ronnie Vernon, just got rid of my old system restore points, which took ~20GB of disk space and which weren't actually even being recognized by the system, i.e. if I would open System Restore it'd tell me there are no restore points! :]

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments