Unable to delete files when searching in explorer


  1. Posts : 2
    win10 64
       #1

    Unable to delete files when searching in explorer


    I cannot seem to delete files when I'm doing a regular search in windows. I can go to any folder and delete files, but I when I see the same files in a search result, pressing del does nothing and when I right click, I have no option to delete them like I do when I'm just viewing a folder.

    Am I missing something completely obvious here? Is this really a feature or a bug or what?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,773
    Windows 10 Home
       #2

    That's the way it is on my machine, you can't delete files from search results. You can do a Delete if, let's say you want to delete duplicate songs by an artist, you open the Music folder, click Search tab at top, enter artist name in Search box, Enter. When all the songs, no matter from which subfolder, show up, Select and Delete.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 298
    Win-10 Pro x64
       #3

    Hi bagel,

    I was curious, so I did some testing on my own system.

    I created a Notepad file on my Desktop and used the Windows 'Search' option to find it. I was able to right-click it and delete it. However, there was a slight lag time when I did this.

    When I deleted the file from the search results, I watched it leave my Desktop immediately, however the file was still showing in my search results for another couple of seconds. If I did not see the notepad file leave the Desktop, I would have assumed it had not been removed- unless I went back to confirm.

    I did have the option to delete however, and you're saying that you do not, so perhaps you do have something else going on, but I wanted to bring this to your attention.


    b1rd
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2
    win10 64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I realized that I can do this in most folders on this HD, but on certain ones (and their subfolders) I can't.

    Now here is the strange part: when I look at the properties of the problem folder, I see read-only ticked. However, when I go into the folder, I can delete any file. But when I search within that folder, I cannot delete anything, even the same exact file I could when not searching.

    When I try to untick "read only" in the properties, it starts applying it to the said folder, subfolders and files. However, when I go back to check the properties, it shows read only ticked again, so it seems like I can't turn it off. I can still delete files, but not when searching. is the folder corrupt or something?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 298
    Win-10 Pro x64
       #5

    I realized that I can do this in most folders on this HD, but on certain ones (and their subfolders) I can't.
    Are you getting any messages at all, such as 'permission' issues? IE: Your OS is telling you that you don't have the authority to delete these files?

    Have a look at the below link and see if this might be a possibility.
    How to take ownership and get full access to files and folders in Windows 10
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 247
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 bits
       #6

    I can't remember now, but it seems to me it was not an issue with other Windows versions. I know for sure I have deleted many files from search results before. Today I tried to delete a lot of old .EML files from a search result but I couldn't, so I googled and here I am.

    Then I remembered that those files I've deleted before were .JPG files. So I tried to do that again and I could delete the .JPG files in the search results. I tried the same with other image formats: .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP, and .TIF. Tried .DOC and .TXT files too. I could delete them all.

    But I tried again with .EML files without success. So my guess is that it depends on the file type.
      My Computer


 

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