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
