Un-deletable folder in Windows partition

[Shirasaki]

Recently I have upgraded Windows Insider Preview from an older build to a newer one, and performed a previous installation removal.

Then there are several folders left. I try to delete them under Finder, but it shows me the error saying "directory is not empty". I then try to delete them using Terminal, and it gives me the same error saying "directory is not empty".

I try to delete this folder under Windows PE, but the result is the same.

Here is the list of those folders:

Spoiler: folder list

aaas-MacBook-Air:BOOTCAMP aaa$ rm -r Windows.old\(1\)/
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Application Shortcuts/7HohjPfsEMtnX1: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Application Shortcuts/Microsoft.BingSports_8wekyb3d8bbwe: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Application Shortcuts/Microsoft.BingFinance_8wekyb3d8bbwe: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Application Shortcuts: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /Links: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa : Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/spool/drivers/x64/3: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/spool/drivers/x64: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/spool/drivers: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/spool: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/WDI/LogFiles/StartupInfo: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/WDI/LogFiles: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/WDI: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)/: Directory not empty

I have no idea except formatting the disk. By the way, disk is NTFS format, not HFS+, so recovery partition cannot be used for deletion.

Any input would be great. Thanks first.

 

[charlyham]

Recently I have upgraded Windows Insider Preview from an older build to a newer one, and performed a previous installation removal.

Then there are several folders left. I try to delete them under Finder, but it shows me the error saying "directory is not empty". I then try to delete them using Terminal, and it gives me the same error saying "directory is not empty".

I try to delete this folder under Windows PE, but the result is the same.

Here is the list of those folders:

Spoiler: folder list

aaas-MacBook-Air:BOOTCAMP aaa$ rm -r Windows.old\(1\)/
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Application Shortcuts/7HohjPfsEMtnX1: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Application Shortcuts/Microsoft.BingSports_8wekyb3d8bbwe: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Application Shortcuts/Microsoft.BingFinance_8wekyb3d8bbwe: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Application Shortcuts: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local/Microsoft: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData/Local: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /AppData: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa /Links: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users/aaa : Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//Users: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/spool/drivers/x64/3: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/spool/drivers/x64: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/spool/drivers: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/spool: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/WDI/LogFiles/StartupInfo: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/WDI/LogFiles: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32/WDI: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS/System32: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)//WINDOWS: Directory not empty
rm: Windows.old(1)/: Directory not empty

I have no idea except formatting the disk. By the way, disk is NTFS format, not HFS+, so recovery partition cannot be used for deletion.

Any input would be great. Thanks first.

Use the Windows cleanup tool to remove the older windows folders. Here is a link to a site that gives instructions for that.
http://www.ghacks.net/2014/10/27/run-disk-cleanup-after-the-windows-10-upgrade-to-free-space/

 

[Shirasaki]

Use the Windows cleanup tool to remove the older windows folders. Here is a link to a site that gives instructions for that.
http://www.ghacks.net/2014/10/27/run-disk-cleanup-after-the-windows-10-upgrade-to-free-space/

Well, these folders are the leftover after using this tool. Now I cannot find this option anymore.

 

[charlyham]

Well, these folders are the leftover after using this tool. Now I cannot find this option anymore.

Did you reboot Windows after the cleanup? Sometimes files seem to still be on the hard drive until a reboot and Windows can finish removing files marked for deletion.

 

[Shirasaki]

Did you reboot Windows after the cleanup? Sometimes files seem to still be on the hard drive until a reboot and Windows can finish removing files marked for deletion.

Rebooted, right after cleaning. And they are still there.

I wonder why even Mac cannot delete that folder, saying it is under use?