Batch files for deleting

The DELTREE command is not supported in windows 2000 or in windows xp.

You must use the RDIR command as RD. (remove directory)

You can use this in a batch file or a command file.

Below is my batch file called cleanup.bat. Instructions are in the file itself because these folders cannot be deleted when explorer.exe is running. Change the directory path to your folders.

@echo off
echo.
echo.
echo Instructions:
echo 1. Right click taskbar and select Task Manager.
echo 2. Click Process Tab.
echo 3. Right click EXPLORER.EXE and select End Process.
echo 4. Click this window.
echo 5. At prompt answer Y and press Enter key.
echo 6. Repeat step 5.
echo 7. Return to Task Manager, click File Menu and select New Task (Run...).
echo 8. In Create New Task window type EXPLORER.EXE.
echo 9. Press Enter key.
echo 10. Close Task manager.
@echo off
RD /S "L:\Documents and Settings\TonyT\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files "
RD /S "L:\Documents and Settings\TonyT\Cookies "

You can also use this in a command file (.CMD) as shown below. This is what I use now to delete these folders. It will auto kill explorer.exe, delete the folders and then restart explorer.exe. Note: If you have a running processes that is using the index.dat files then the folders will not get deleted. Some processes that hook into the index dat files are auto updates, scheduled tasks, and other apps that use the explorer shell, as well as some services like indexing service.

If this cmd does not work for you then you must isolate what processes are dependant upon the index.dat files and kill them using similar lines in teh cmd file and restart them as well.

Here's my cleanup.cmd file:

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
RD /S/q "L:\Documents and Settings\TonyT\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files "
RD /S/q "L:\Documents and Settings\TonyT\Cookies "
start explorer.exe

This works on my system because my running processes are minimal and my system has any unneeded services either disabled or set to manual.

re XP Supported Commands:
Go into help and support, search for command-line
Check out the command-line reference a-z

 

Keep in mind that using *.* only deletes the files in a folder and some folders are best to delete entirely along with the index.dat files in those folders. Cookies and Temp Internet Files are an example of such folders. These folders will get recreated by windows.

There has been much talk about index.dat files in these folders over the years. Most of it is hogwash, esp the stuff about ms spying on you etc etc. However, the index.dat files can grow very large and will often get corrupted, therefore it's good to delete them.

Because index.dat files are system files, they will not get deleted when explorer.exe is running, thus is best to use a bat file or cmd file at startup, before windows loads completely, or manually kill explorer.exe from within windows and then execute the bat file.

 

Make your bat file and plave it in a directory.

You can execute this file immediately after logon by entering the path in this regkey:

The Userinit entry—The Userinit entry, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit, can also initiate programs when the system boots. You'll usually see an entry for userinit.exe, but this subkey can accept multiple comma-separated values (CSVs), so other programs can tack themselves onto the end of the entry.

or these keys if exists on your system:

The RunServicesOnce subkey—The RunServicesOnce subkey is designed to start service programs before the user logs on and before the other registry autostart subkeys start their programs. You'll find the RunServicesOnce subkey at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce and at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce.

more about startup locations in the registry here:

http://www.win2000mag.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/27100/27100.html

 

Very well done!