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I'm administrator on my machine, but can't delete an user or profile folder. I have tried several options. I have found this page and tried to use the registry. But nothing really works.

Every time when I delete the user profile folder, it asks for permission from the administrator. And then it seems like it will work. But then a message will pop up that you don't have permission. Can someone please help me?

Bennpoes
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    Make sure the User Account is deleted first before trying to delete the Profile in the USERS folder. Once the Account is deleted, restart, go back and try to delete the folder. – John Feb 19 '22 at 16:36
  • The User Account was already deleted – Bennpoes Feb 19 '22 at 16:40
  • Make another Windows User Account, make it a Member of Administrators, log out, log into the new Account and delete the User Profile that way. – John Feb 19 '22 at 16:42
  • After doing that it still gives me this message: "You need permission to preform this action. You require permission from S-1-5-2021-xxx to make changes to this folder" And then gives me two buttons `retry` and `cancel` – Bennpoes Feb 19 '22 at 16:59
  • You probably need to Repair Windows using the Microsoft Media Creation link. – John Feb 19 '22 at 17:00
  • Try [taking ownership of the directory](https://superuser.com/questions/813878/how-would-i-use-takeown-to-take-ownership-of-all-folders-on-one-drive/813881#813881) – DavidPostill Feb 19 '22 at 17:38
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    Have you tried "the old way"? Run `systempropertiesadvanced` -> User profiles -> [Settings]. Delete from there. The new settings all suck. – Señor CMasMas Feb 19 '22 at 17:52
  • As suggested try the take ownership commands. If this doesn't help, set the necessary permissions - this is often enough to delete specific files/folders in System32 folder for example. Some protected files in SysWOW64 even requires to set the permissions in safe mode or you don't have access at all and sometimes you can only start a deletion process successfully within the console window of the command safe mode boot type. – atereou Feb 19 '22 at 19:49
  • @DavidPostill I have already tried that but it didn't work – Bennpoes Feb 19 '22 at 20:24
  • Hey @SeñorCMasMas, your solution helped! It's incredible how old option can do such good things! It was done with just one click! I'm so surprised that it works! Thanks man! – Bennpoes Feb 19 '22 at 20:43
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    @Bennpoes - You should submit a detailed answer to indicate exactly what worked for you. – Ramhound Feb 19 '22 at 22:23
  • Yes @Bennpoes :) Glad it helped. Please write up what worked as an answer and take the points so you can play here. I don't care about points. I only care about helping people. – Señor CMasMas Feb 19 '22 at 23:38

2 Answers2

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Fixed:

As Señor CMasMas said, I go to the system properties to fix it. First, press Windows key + R and run systempropertiesadvanced. Than go to User profiles -> [Settings]. Then a window will pop up. Select the user that you want to delete. After that the user will be deleted.

Bennpoes
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I had the same problem where I could not delete a left over user's folder after removing the user, and none of the various solutions found worked in my case.

Finally, I came across this answer, and that worked for me.

In a Command prompt (cmd.exe) started as Admin:

rd /s /q C:\Users\My_Deleted_User
mivk
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