Windows 10 Administrator can't delete unwanted folder on USB

Just recently got a new Lenovo Ideapad S340 with windows 10 built in and I have spotted a problem with my external 1Terabyte harddrive while using it on it for the first time on it on this machine.

The usb hard drive it has a folder stuck in it which wasn't there when it was purchased and it was only spotted recently. There's nothing in it but my own administrative account is unable to delete it.

I've already deactivated User Account Control and pressed confirmed "you'll need administrative access" to delete it but it's not a Windows or System file?
The folder is on top of the list called -

Boot the device into a Linux distro USB flash drive, and then connect the subject/target USB and do the delete.

Alternatively, copy everything else to another destination, and reformat. Although looking at the list of folders, I suspect a lot of large files. Could be a time consuming process. Could use Robocopy to run unattended overnight, maybe.

Give Everyone group full access to external HDD this way you should able to delete the folder.

Open the Command Prompt as a administrator and execute below command.

Code:

icacls D: /grant Everyone:F

idgat said:

Alternatively, copy everything else to another destination, and reformat. Although looking at the list of folders, I suspect a lot of large files. Could be a time consuming process. Could use Robocopy to run unattended overnight, maybe.

Might be the only viable option. A lot of my files are tv episodes series. Any programs for compressing large sizes into zip files before transfer.

Also there is only one user on the computer

nocruoro said:

Might be the only viable option. A lot of my files are tv episodes series. Any programs for compressing large sizes into zip files before transfer.
Also there is only one user on the computer

Wouldn't achieve much. Digital files don't result in much reduction when compressed. Length of time taken to compress might take as long to copy (both ways) anyway.

Alternatively, you could look at imaging, although that process is not faultless ... hate to think that an image could not be restored (if you don't have a backup).

Having said that, might be an ideal opportunity to backup - copy (not move) existing files to external drive, fix the current problem, and copy (not move) files back. then keep the external drive as an ongoing backup.
To run unattended copy, use Robocopy (copy and/or MIR commands) or setup a <> backup using SyncBackFree.

Try this for EACH file in the folder.
1.left click on the file
2.then right click on same file
3.left click on properties"
4.left click on "details" tab
5.at the bottom of the window,left click on"remove properties and personal information".
6.in the new window,left click on the second radio button"remove the following properties from the file".
7.in the same window,left click on"select all"
8.in the same window,left click "o.k."
9.in "details"tab window,left click "o.k."
That file should be deleted.If so,then repeat for each file in the folder.

joeandmarg0 said:

Try this for EACH file in the folder.
1.left click on the file
2.then right click on same file
3.left click on properties"
4.left click on "details" tab
5.at the bottom of the window,left click on"remove properties and personal information".
6.in the new window,left click on the second radio button"remove the following properties from the file".
7.in the same window,left click on"select all"
8.in the same window,left click "o.k."
9.in "details"tab window,left click "o.k."
That file should be deleted.If so,then repeat for each file in the folder.

Already completely emptied the folder before posting here. (all it had was a duplicate of a photo folder) which i already deleted. This one was named Trash 1000 after it was temporarily used on ubuntu which i dont have anymore) Its the folder itself that won't delete itself.

I have similar issues with the odd .mkv file that seems to lock up windows and refuses all attempts to delete even in safe mode (both on hard drives and usb sticks). I use a Windows 10 PE boot CD (plug flash drive/external drive in first before booting). I then use the WinPE file manager to delete offending files/folders easily.