Windows 10: Cannot delete files in OneDrive folders on my PC

I'm suddenly finding I can no longer delete any files in the OneDrive folders on my PC, even if OneDrive is no longer running. I've also tried deleting the files with the PC running in safe mode, but they still won't delete. Nothing whatsoever happens when I click on 'delete', no warning, no error message, nothing.


Looking in file properties I've also noticed that all the files in my OneDrive folders are set to read only, which refuses to unset. I can uncheck the setting and click 'OK', but if I look again it's back as read only. All the file and folder privileges are set as full control for everyone. Is this connected?


Does anyone have an answer to this extremely frustrating problem?

:)

 

Trouble deleting a folder

Thanks for the suggestion but it says "delete folder failed for E:\....." for each folder I try.

*Confused

Will I be forever stuck with these unnecessary folders? *Oh Well hwell:

 

Cannot delete folders or files on my PC in OneDrive folders

Hi Greg,



Thank you for your feedback so far.



I followed your guidance; however, sadly it did not have any effect.



That said, I believe that I have now tracked it back to 25 August; the date when the issue started.
This coincides with a windows update; from that point onward my OneDrive was dis-functional.



I did some trial and error and now have the files able to be deleted.
Here is what I did. I closed OneDrive and disabled the OneDrive service. Then I devised a command script to do the following;

1. copy every existing file in the OneDrive tree to the same folder and add the suffix " - copy"
2. move every existing file (excluding the newly copied files) to a non-OneDrive folder
3. rename every newly copied file (from 1 above) to remove the suffix " - copy"
4. delete every moved file from the non-OneDrive folder

There were close on 29,000 files to process totalling over 315Gb.



I then enabled OneDrive service and restarted OneDrive. The OneDrive client processed changes but saw the files as being the same; albeit that now the permissions were such that I can delete the files. The attributes of the files were the same;
I even ran FC command to ensure that the two versions of the same file were identical.
It is just one would not allow me to delete it when in the OneDrive folder.



Greg, this seems very weird but there it is. I have no idea what the issue was; however, I am very thankful that it is now working.



Thank you again for your assistance.



Regards,

Ed

 

Cannot delete folders or files on my PC in OneDrive folders

Hi,

I have never experienced a problem like this. It started in the last few weeks. I run Windows 10; fully up to date (incl. October 2018 update).

Problem: I am unable to delete any files or folders on my PC in the OneDrive folder (and sub-folders).

I can rename and move them on the PC; but I cannot delete them. When I delete them in Explorer, nothing happens.

I am logged in with Administrator permissions. Files on Demand is OFF. If I go to OneDrive online then I can delete the files and folders no problem. It is just the PC (i.e. client) that I have an issue with.

If I un-link the PC then I can delete the files or folders; when I then re-link OneDrive never stops processing changes and I am again unable to delete files / folders. I left it for a week and OneDrive just reported processing 4 changes - it never finishes.
I ensured all files on all platforms were closed so nothing on OneDrive was open - I even turned off my iPhone to be sure.

I have paused the sync and re-started; no joy. I have to un-link. I have un-installed OneDrive and re-installed several times.

I have also reset OneDrive with the Run command %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset. This resulted in it re-synchronising and approximately 170,000 changes being processed (I have about 320Gb in OneDrive)
and it took many hours. Afterwards; OneDrive was in sync and I could delete files / folders on the PC; however, within a few minutes I could not. I have done this five times now - it has spanned several days - and on only two of these occasions could I delete
the files / folders afterwards.

I am open to any fresh ideas you may have out there. Is anyone aware of any known / recent issues with OneDrive client? Perhaps, is there an application that causes havoc with OneDrive?

Here's hoping.

Thanks in advance.

Ed