I deleted user profile with files, but:
C:\users\username\appdata\roaming\microsoft\windows\Libraries folder is still there.

I can't access it, I can't take ownership of it. I can't delete it.

How could I delete it.

Thanks for help in advance!

Hi,

May I know why you would delete the files?

Based on my research, I think the items in this folder are library files correspond to the items in Library. Therefore, in order to keep the Libraries settings, deleting them is not recommended. For more information about Library, please also see the following documents:

Library Description Schema
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd798389(v=vs.85).aspx

Libraries Under the Hood
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/developers/archive/2009/04/14/libraries-under-the-hood.aspx

Hope this helps.

Thanks.

I have the same issue.
The user account is already deleted. After that all user files are to be deleted, but the "Libraries" is preventing the removal of user directory. All the real library folders are already deleted under the user's directory.
The correct place to delete this file should be inside windows system code, when the user account is deleted. When there is no user account, there is no point to keep user's library definitions.
Maybe if i had forcefully logged in into user's account *before deleting it* and manually deleted all library definitions, the Libraries file might be deleteable.
Just another complication for admins...

I have this too - deleted user account using the compmgmt.msc but cannot delete the user's profile directory.  This is annoying as I want to recreate the user but Windows cannot use the same profile directory and calls it UserName_001, for example.

If this was my thread I would unmark Nicholas's answer as it is not really he

Try to delete and take ownership of these files in Safe Mode. More options can be found this post:

Can't delete URL shorcuts in user profile - http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16447&p=25999#p25999

Thanks - I too worked it out..

It happens when you delete a user account though something like Computer Management, not the traditional control panel applet.  If you DO use the cpanel then the profile is removed properly, if you don't then I have found a solution:

Go to PC Settings, General, Advanced Startup - then go through the options until you see Command Prompt.  Once there you can delete the directory with 'rd /s /q'.

Matt

Thank you, Matt. I tested it and it works.

Thank you Matt!

I deleted a user through User Accounts in the Control Panel, but the Libraries directory was the only directory that it did not delete when I selected Delete Files. I tried changing ownership of the directory using an administrator, but alas it failed. Using the Advanced Startup worked perfectly.

• Edited by davidgvh Thursday, November 08, 2012 5:53 PM typo

Thank you Matt!

I deleted a user through User Accounts in the Control Panel, but the Libraries directory was the only directory that it did not delete when I selected Delete Files. I tried changing ownership of the directory using an administrator, but alas it failed. Using the Advanced Startup worked perfectly.

• Edited by davidgvh Thursday, November 08, 2012 5:53 PM typo

Help!!

When I launch the Advanced Startup Command prompt; I am able to see only drive X; it does not allow me to navigate in C

What could be the problem?

Thanks

Giuseppe

Search through each drive letter until you find your C drive. For me, it was E.

Hi everybody

I've the same problem with a temporary user profile (for windows installation purpose only) - even after deleting the account, I had two weird problems :

• All "Temp" user folders and files except "Users\Temp\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries" could be deleted. Any attemp taking ownership failed
• Browsing "Networks" two "Windows Media Player"-devices showed - one for my libraries and one for the none-existing Temp-user libraries
  

The solution was to turn off "Windows Media Player" and reboot - deleting the remaining "Temp"-user folders no problem!

Probably I won't even enable it again, as I don't stream to other devices, or probably will use VLC / Foobar2000

Se here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/turn-windows-features-on-or-off

And: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/what-happens-if-i-turn-off-windows-media-player

Hope this will help explain and remedy this weird "Windows Ghost Player"-problem

Greetings Christen

 

• Edited by Christen Møller Thursday, February 28, 2013 8:27 AM

Hi everybody

I've the same problem with a temporary user profile (for windows installation purpose only) - even after deleting the account, I had two weird problems :

• All "Temp" user folders and files except "Users\Temp\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries" could be deleted. Any attemp taking ownership failed
• Browsing "Networks" two "Windows Media Player"-devices showed - one for my libraries and one for the none-existing Temp-user libraries
  

The solution was to turn off "Windows Media Player" and reboot - deleting the remaining "Temp"-user folders no problem!

Probably I won't even enable it again, as I don't stream to other devices, or probably will use VLC / Foobar2000

Se here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/turn-windows-features-on-or-off

And: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/what-happens-if-i-turn-off-windows-media-player

Hope this will help explain and remedy this weird "Windows Ghost Player"-problem

Greetings Christen

 

• Edited by Christen Møller Thursday, February 28, 2013 8:27 AM

If you stop the Windows Search service, then you can delete it

• Proposed as answer by Oliver Lohkamp Wednesday, May 22, 2013 4:24 AM
• Marked as answer by Pan ZhangMicrosoft contingent staff Saturday, December 28, 2013 5:11 AM

If you stop the Windows Search service, then you can delete it

• Proposed as answer by Oliver Lohkamp Wednesday, May 22, 2013 4:24 AM
• Marked as answer by Pan ZhangMicrosoft contingent staff Saturday, December 28, 2013 5:11 AM

Superb - thanks rob4crow - correct answer above folks!!!!

• Edited by Andy Blackman Tuesday, September 03, 2013 6:59 AM

Superb - thanks rob4crow - correct answer above folks!!!!

• Edited by Andy Blackman Tuesday, September 03, 2013 6:59 AM

If I understand you, the answer is much simpler than these suggestions.  You're trying to get rid of Libraries for users that are no longer present or used. 

With the File Manager/Explorer go to This PC > Libraries > Documents (if it's a Document Library you're looking to get rid of... otherwise, Pictures or Music or Video).select the Library you're trying to remove.    Then at the top menu, click Manage and click Manage Library.  A pop up menu appears that allows you to add or remove Library locations.  Just select and remove the Library. 

I think this is what you were trying to do... remove the user directory entries.  Hope this made it easier. 

Hello !

This problem is caused by Windows Media Player. It'a obnoxious but there's a simple solution: stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service from the Task Manager and Windows will let you delete those folders; then you can start the service again. No need to disable the Windows Media Player itself nor to stop Windows Search indexing.) 

(Just in case, you may previously delete the old user-accounts "Media Devices" from the Network and Internet section of the Control Panel.)

Hello !

This problem is caused by Windows Media Player. It'a obnoxious but there's a simple solution: stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service from the Task Manager and Windows will let you delete those folders; then you can start the service again. No need to disable the Windows Media Player itself nor to stop Windows Search indexing.) 

(Just in case, you may previously delete the old user-accounts "Media Devices" from the Network and Internet section of the Control Panel.)

• Proposed as answer by pmdci 20 hours 11 minutes ago

Hello !

This problem is caused by Windows Media Player. It'a obnoxious but there's a simple solution: stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service from the Task Manager and Windows will let you delete those folders; then you can start the service again. No need to disable the Windows Media Player itself nor to stop Windows Search indexing.) 

(Just in case, you may previously delete the old user-accounts "Media Devices" from the Network and Internet section of the Control Panel.)

• Proposed as answer by pmdci Sunday, May 03, 2015 11:14 AM

Hello !

This problem is caused by Windows Media Player. It'a obnoxious but there's a simple solution: stop the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service from the Task Manager and Windows will let you delete those folders; then you can start the service again. No need to disable the Windows Media Player itself nor to stop Windows Search indexing.) 

(Just in case, you may previously delete the old user-accounts "Media Devices" from the Network and Internet section of the Control Panel.)

• Proposed as answer by pmdci Sunday, May 03, 2015 11:14 AM

Not necessarily.   I just rebooted 8.1, logged in as another admin, removed the profile, got message profile could not be removed completely, and the folder that wasn't removed was Libraries.

This (stopping media player network sharing service) is what worked for me. Thanks!

• Edited by pmdci 20 hours 10 minutes ago

This (stopping media player network sharing service) is what worked for me. Thanks!

• Edited by pmdci Sunday, May 03, 2015 11:15 AM

This (stopping media player network sharing service) is what worked for me. Thanks!

• Edited by pmdci Sunday, May 03, 2015 11:15 AM

this has been driving me nuts for ages, many thanks! :)