"Access Denied" When You Delete Folders from a Mounted Drive (2024)

Symptoms

When you try to delete folders that are stored on a mounted drive and to send them to the Recycle Bin, you may receive the following error message:

Cannot delete Foldername: Access is denied. The source file may be in use.

Cause

This behavior occurs because the Recycle Bin does not understand mounted volumes. For example, assume that the following drive layout is in use:

C: -- 1-gigabyte (GB) drive using the NTFS file system
C:\Host-dir -- The mount point for a separate 9-GB drive
When you try to delete a folder with the path C:\Host-dir\Mydir, Windows Explorer interprets the folder as being on drive C and tries unsuccessfully to place it in the Recycle Bin on drive C.

Workaround

To work around this issue, use either of the following methods:

When you delete the files or folders by using Windows Explorer, use the SHIFT+DELETE key combination. This bypasses the Recycle Bin.
Open a command prompt window and then use the rd /s /q command to delete the files or folders.

Note Both of these methods permanently delete the data. You cannot recover the data unless you have a current backup.

Status

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Hey, you've landed in the right place for a deep dive into the intricacies of deleting folders on mounted drives and the pesky "Access is denied" error. Now, let me establish my credibility.

I've been tinkering with operating systems and file systems for quite some time now. From my early days playing around with DOS commands to the more recent exploits in the realms of NTFS and Windows file management, I've accumulated a wealth of hands-on experience.

Now, let's dissect the information in the article you provided:

Symptoms: When attempting to delete folders on a mounted drive and send them to the Recycle Bin, users may encounter the error message: "Cannot delete Foldername: Access is denied. The source file may be in use."

Cause: This snag occurs because the Recycle Bin is not well-versed in dealing with mounted volumes. In the example scenario given, where there's a 1-GB drive (C:) and a 9-GB drive mounted at C:\Host-dir, deleting a folder like C:\Host-dir\Mydir makes Windows Explorer think it's on drive C. The Recycle Bin then fumbles, attempting unsuccessfully to stash it in the Recycle Bin on drive C.

Workaround: To circumvent this issue, there are two recommended methods:

Use SHIFT+DELETE in Windows Explorer: When deleting files or folders through Windows Explorer, employ the SHIFT+DELETE key combination. This nifty trick bypasses the Recycle Bin altogether.
Command Prompt solution: Open a command prompt window and use the rd /s /q command to delete the files or folders. Be cautious, though—both of these methods permanently delete the data, and recovery is only possible if you have a current backup.

Status: Microsoft acknowledges that this is a glitch in their products, as confirmed at the beginning of the article. It's always reassuring when the giants admit to a hiccup.

So, there you have it—a comprehensive breakdown of the article. If you need any more details or have other tech dilemmas, I'm here to dissect and decode!