Remove system folders from external disk

Delete system folders on external disk using Windows 10

 Problem

• I got a hard disk from a broken portable and wanted to use that disk as an external disk to put my backups on
• Lot's of space was used by system folders on that disk e.g. Windows, Progam Files, Users ...
• I wanted to free up space on that external disk, but it was not so easy to delete these system folders

Solution

To delete the system folders on the external disk, I used the following procedure:

• Take ownership of these system folders

• In Windows Explorer > Select the folder you want to delete on the external disk e.g. D:\Windows
• Press Alt+Enter to view the Properties of the folder
• [Security] > [Advanced]
• Owner: specify the user with administrative permissions on your computer e.d. Administratror
  [x] Replace owner on sub containers and objects
  [OK]
  [OK]

Add the Administrator to the "Name of Groups of Users"

• In Windows Explorer > Select the folder you want to delete on the external disk e.g. D:\Windows
• Press Alt+Enter to view the Properties of the folder
• [Security]
• [Edit]
• [Add] > Administrator
• [x] Full Control
• [OK[
• [OK]

• Inheritance -> Convert to explicit privileges

• In Windows Explorer > Select the folder you want to delete on the external disk e.g. D:\Windows
• Press Alt+Enter to view the Properties of the folder
• [Security] > [Advanced]
• [Change privileges]
• [x] Replace privliges on sub objects ...
• [Enable inheritance]
• [Convert inhertited priviliges for this object into explicit privileges]
• [OK]
• Continue? [Yes]
• [OK]

Now you can delete the folder from the external disk