/ Deleting Folders

Deleting Folders

I want to delete a folder that I somehow made two of the same. Celeste Stewart

Preparing to Delete Folders

It’s relatively easy to delete folders. Be aware that deleting folders also deletes the contents, including sub-folders, of the folders being deleted. Before you begin, make sure that you are logged on as the administrator or as the user who created the folder. Otherwise, you may not have permission to delete it. In addition, if a file within the folder is in use, you may not be able to delete the folder so close all programs.

In fact, it’s best to completely shut down your computer and reboot it before you begin. This ensures that all users are fully logged off. If any programs are set to automatically start when Windows starts, close those. The less interference you have, the less likely you’ll encounter a “file in use” error.

Deleting Folders

Right-click the Start button and choose Explore. Navigate to the folder that you want to delete. Confirm that it is the correct folder of the two that you had earlier created. Right-click the folder and choose Delete. Windows will prompt you to confirm that you want to send the folder to the Recycle Bin. Click Yes.

If the folder is exceptionally large, such as if it is filled with video or music files, you may be prompted by Windows that the folder is too large to send to the Recycle Bin. Before you click OK, take this opportunity to check the folder one last time to be sure that there’s nothing of value inside. Otherwise, the folder will be gone for good (though data recovery products may be able to recover it later).

Restoring a Deleted Folder

What if you accidentally delete the wrong folder? This happens more often than you’d believe. We receive questions all the time that start off with, “I accidentally deleted the wrong folder. . .” If the folder was sent to the Recycle Bin and the Recycle Bin hasn’t been emptied since then, all you need to do is open it, find the folder, right-click it, and chose Restore. This restores the folder and all of its contents to its previous location.

If the folder is no longer safely waiting for you in the Recycle Bin, a good data recovery product may be able to recover it. Hopefully you will never need such a product.