DOS - Simple DEL command

Dr Pepper

What command will delete all files and folders below the current working directory with no prompts or questions?
Here's what I have but it doesn't seem to delete the actual directories themselves (just the files):
del /s/q/f *.*

dahamsta

Don't use the prompt much in Windows, but this looks promising.

adam

Nuttzz

AFAIK you cant use a wildcard to delete a directory you have to name it

see del /?

ColmOT [MSFT]

del /s /q *.*

Dr Pepper

Thanks guys,
Yeh, I nearly had it. Seems like the 'del' command only deletes files and I have to use the 'rmdir' command with /s (include subdirs) to delete all directories aswell.

So, to whom it may concern.. to delete all files and folders in c:\test..

[C:\ prompt]... rmdir c:\test /s/q

/s - include subdirectories
/q - quiet mode, do not ask 'Are you sure you want to yada yada yada?'


<edit>According to that site, the commands are a little different in 2000 and XP which is probably why 'del...' didn't work fully!

Capt'n Midnight

Remember good old DELTREE /Y filename
from DOS - may still work on FAT32 volumes in XP cmd prompt.

Yes M$ keep changing commands and switches, this makes a lot of your intellectual property worthless.

ColmOT [MSFT]

Yeah, it's a pity Deltree has been retired. It's one of the commands that I used to find very useful.

As far as I remember, deltree was only available in MS-DOS.
(The command interpreter in Windows NT, W2K, XP & WS03 is not MS-DOS.)

But a del /s /q does the same thing.

Capt'n Midnight

not quite - DEL /Q /S *.*
deletes all files - but does not remove folders

Deltree.exe (win98se) works at the command prompt in XP


Also have a look at lcopy - long filename name utils for FAT 16/32 in "DOS MODE" ie will work off a boot disk - see stickies.

ColmOT [MSFT]

You're right.

it's RD /s /q <folderName> that delete folders & subfolders.

Capt'n Midnight

RD /S /Q
- and it works in NT4 too
- ya learn something new every day