On my home computer, I have a C:\Windows.old dir where i can read files but i get access denied when i try deleting or if i try claiming ownership. how do i get permission to delete? I've also tried running cmd.exe as admin but I still get Access is denied. I would like to easily replace ownership and permissions of all files in C:\windows.old When I look at a random file in C:\windows.old, the permission is: SYSTEM,Administrators,Users, -Allow: Read & Execute and Read TrustedInstaller - Full control

I've had the same issue with different folders under windows, what I usually do is open the command prompt (with admin privileges) navigate my way into the offending folder/folders and type the following line "attrib -r -a -s -h *.*" this will remove any read only, archive, system file and hidden attributes of files within the offending folder. I then start deleting items starting inside the folders and moving back out towards the main root directory, deleting as I go. Good luck, and I hope this helps! P.S. an easy way to get admin privileges is to go into start menu/accessories/ find the command prompt menu item right click and select open as administrator.

no this wont help dirty... as you see i did not have full access. i also stated that i ran cmd.exe as admin. I tried running cmd.exe /c takeown /f "C:\Windows.old" /r /d y && icacls "C:\Windows.old" /grant users:F /t which kinda helped, but windows still complained about some files so i had to manually delete them over and over again until they disappeared..

Have you tried using Disk Cleanup? http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/How-do-I-remove-the-Windows-old-folder