Windows 10: How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names?

Discus and support How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names? in Windows 10 Support to solve the problem; How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names? 78835 Discussion in 'Windows 10 Support' started by Hotsuma, Mar 6, 2017.

  1. HOTSUMA
    Hotsuma Win User

    How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names?


    How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names?

    :)
     
    Hotsuma, Mar 6, 2017
    #1
  2. KENNETH MON
    Kenneth Mon Win User

    How do i use the command prompt to access wireless in safe mode? - Thread moved to a more appropriate forum category.

    Hello Susan,

    To exit Safe Mode, follow the steps below:

    • Press Windows + R key.
    • On the text box, type msconfig and click OK.
    • Select Boot tab
    • Remove the check mark on Safe Boot.
    • Click OK and reboot your PC. Your PC should now boot in normal boot.
    You can also access Safe Mode with Networking using the Command Prompt. Just type
    bcdedit /copy {Current} /d "Windows 10 Safe Mode with Networking" then hit
    Enter.

    For more information about Safe Mode in Windows 10, click
    here    .

    Let us know how it goes.

    Thank you.

    *** Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category. ***

    I moved your post to a more appropriate forum category. This is to help other community members understand your concern better.


    It is now under Power on or off a device.
     
    Kenneth Mon, Mar 6, 2017
    #2
  3. SUSANEMMONS
    SusanEmmons Win User
    How do i use the command prompt to access wireless in safe mode? - Thread moved to a more appropriate forum category.

    Windows 10 is in safe mode. will not accept the password to sign in. Is there a way to use the command prompt to get back to regular mode or safe with internet?
     
    SusanEmmons, Mar 6, 2017
    #3
  4. ROLANDJS
    RolandJS Win User

    How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names?

    Are you meaning, for example:
    c:\[directory\subdirectory>DEL 12345*.*
    c:\...............ditto................ >DEL *.txt
    Things like that?
     
    RolandJS, Mar 6, 2017
    #4
  5. BREE
    Bree New Member
    Welcome to Tenforums @Hotsuma

    You use wildcards.

    The * character matches any character (in any number, including none), the ? character matches exactly one character. For example: A???B*.* will match all files starting with A (or a, it's not case-sensitive) followed by any three characters, then B then any number of characters and any extension.

    You can use the same wildcard with the DIR command first to see if you have narrowed it down to just the files you want. If you can't narrow it down enough, use DEL /P which will prompt for confirmation before deleting. Note that from a command prompt you are doing a permanent delete, it doesn't use the Recycle Bin, so be careful!
     
    Bree, Mar 6, 2017
    #5
  6. HOTSUMA
    Hotsuma Win User
    Yes. But it seems to be more trouble than it's worth. I have over 9,000 files and each file has about 6 other similarly named files. I just want to get rid of those similar files.
     
    Hotsuma, Mar 6, 2017
    #6
  7. BREE
    Bree New Member
    Perhaps you could give an example of the similar names (and say which you want to keep or delete).
     
    Bree, Mar 6, 2017
    #7
  8. HOTSUMA
    Hotsuma Win User

    How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names?

    They're game ROMs. Is it okay for me to post a few names?
     
    Hotsuma, Mar 6, 2017
    #8
  9. BREE
    Bree New Member
    Change the names to disguise them if you wish, but make sure they still demonstrate the similarities that are making it difficult for you to distinguish between them.
     
    Bree, Mar 6, 2017
    #9
  10. HOTSUMA
    Hotsuma Win User
    Ok. I now see what I need to do in order to delete all of the files that I don't need. I want to keep all files that has the "[!]" at the ends. These are the original files. The rest are hacks or Japanese versions.

    Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [!].gb
    Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b1].gb
    Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b2].gb
    Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b3].gb
    Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b4].gb
    Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b5].gb
    Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [T+Fre_Emulation-151].gb
    Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [T+Ger0.99_Star-trans].gb
     
    Hotsuma, Mar 6, 2017
    #10
  11. HOTSUMA
    Hotsuma Win User
    Yup. So, if I wanted to delete all files except for the ones that have the "[!]" at the end, how would I go about doing that? Actually, let me try and see if it works.
     
    Hotsuma, Mar 6, 2017
    #11
  12. HOTSUMA
    Hotsuma Win User
    How do I delete all files except for those who has the [!] in their file names?

    EDIT:

    Found a workaround. It's a free program called Bulk File Manager v1.6. I appreciate the help.
     
    Hotsuma, Mar 6, 2017
    #12
  13. ROLANDJS
    RolandJS Win User

    How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names?

    That might be trickier than it looks; let a few others weigh in before doing mass deletes.
     
    RolandJS, Mar 6, 2017
    #13
  14. BREE
    Bree New Member
    You need to use one or more wildcards that would match the ones you want to delete, but not match the one you want to keep like this (make sure there'a space between the two wildcards): del *[b*.gb *[t*.gb

    Just to be sure, you could first give all your [!] files the read-only attribute with attrib *[!].* +R
    You can make them read-write again later with attrib *[!].* -R

    Code: Directory of C:\TEMP\TEST 07/03/2017 20:34 <DIR> . 07/03/2017 20:34 <DIR> .. 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b2].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b3].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [!].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b1].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b4].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [b5].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [T+Fre_Emulation-151].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [T+Ger0.99_Star-trans].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 452 TEST.bat 9 File(s) 508 bytes 2 Dir(s) 181,137,719,296 bytes free C:\TEMP\TEST>del *[b*.gb *[t*.gb C:\TEMP\TEST>dir Volume in drive C is WINDOWS Volume Serial Number is 3440-777B Directory of C:\TEMP\TEST 07/03/2017 20:36 <DIR> . 07/03/2017 20:36 <DIR> .. 07/03/2017 20:34 7 Amazing Spider-Man, The (UE) [!].gb 07/03/2017 20:34 452 TEST.bat 2 File(s) 459 bytes 2 Dir(s) 181,137,735,680 bytes free[/quote]
     
    Bree, Apr 4, 2018
    #14
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How do I use the command prompt to delete files with similar names?

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