Deleting Old Disk Structure on C:/ can I do it?

Torpan · 21-11-2008, 08:29 AM

I have seen many threads asking why they cannot delete the old disk structure stored on the C:/ after they do a reinstall on their system. It seems that an old disc structure folder is made and placed on the C:/ so that you can reinstall programs etc. However, it hoggs space and after some time you need to delete it. The difficulty is that it seems next to impossible to delete it by simply right clicking or dragging it to the recycling. You get an error saying you do not have the authority to delete this file.

However, I believe it is because when it is created you don't inherit the ownership of the file. When I enter safe mode and right click on the properties of the folder and then "Advanced" and check the status of the file it says "uninherited." I have transferred the ownership back to myself the " administrator" and now I believe I will be able to delete the file as the administrator. Can anyone tell me, is it safe to delete the folder now that I have transferred the ownership?

T

**Digerati** · 21-11-2008, 02:27 PM

Hi Torpan and Welcome to D-A-L. I am afraid there is some mix up in termonology that we need to get straightened out so I can understand what you are asking - I don't want to give you bad advice.

I need to understand what you mean by "disk structure". You don't delete "disk structure", it is not placed on a drive, nor does it consume more or less space as time goes by. When the "platters" that make up a disk drive are brand new, there is no "structure" at all, just blank space. The basic function of all operating systems is to manipulate and use the data stored on the disk (remember DOS - disk operating system?). In order for the OS to know how to read and write to the disk, the disk has to be "structured" or formatted - that is, divided up into specific tracks and sectors using a specific "file system", typically NTFS, or FAT32 for older systems.

Disk structures don't "hoggs space and after some time you need to delete it". In fact, I know of nothing in Windows that behaves that way, unless something is seriously wrong. So please describe what you mean by disk structure, so we don't lead you astray.

Quote:

Can anyone tell me, is it safe to delete the folder now that I have transferred the ownership?

No, it is not safe! Since we do not know what specific folder we are talking about, nor to we know what files and subfolders are contained within in, there is no way of saying at this time if it is safe or not. It is very possible it contains critical system files. You need to be more specific, precise in fact, about what it is you are trying to delete. And perhaps if you said why you feel you need to delete it - and perhaps we can get to the root of any problems you might be having.