Some Windows System files cannot be deleted

Question

When I used to be a kid instead of formatting I used to delete everything in my hard-disk. When try to delete all the files from my Windows installed hard-drive some system files remains un-deleted. Even after installing another fresh copy of Windows (without formatting the drive) the files remain there un-deleted and when I try to manually delete them the system says "access denied" (don't remember the error message). How can I delete these system Files ?

Answer 1

Although formatting the hard drive before an installation of a new Operating System is best and I highly recommend it, you can delete files that windows doesn't want deleted by taking ownership of the file and then deleting it. This is how you take ownership of a file:

• Right click the file, select properties, and then the security tab.

• Select then Advanced at the bottom of the window and then the tab owner.

• Select Edit and then select the user you want to give permission to (either yourself or administrators)

• Select Apply and then ok. Select ok and everything else so that all dialog boxes are closed.

• Bring up the properties of the file again, and then select edit.

• Select either the Users group or the Adminstrators group according to what you selected earlier.

• Click the box below "Allow" and next to "Full Control"

You can then delete the files necessary.

Answer 2

I recommend booting from a different disk (CD/DVD or external drive) then you can access the internal hard drive and do as you see fit without windows complaining that files are in use or locked.