Windows 10: windows keep deleting files says unwanted/virus.

why the heck is windows keep deleting a file im downloading. i uninstalled defender yet this keep happening. when maybe 2 or 3 weeks ago it never did. i just updated today of course. i do not have any other virus or similar app running. i gave C drive full access. absolutely infuriating especially when defender is a paywall app now so i cant add an exception.

:)

 

Delete unwanted files

Hi,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



For better clarity, please help us with the details requested below:

• When you say, “SYSTEM DRIVE” are you referring to System Reserved Partition or the drive where windows is installed?
  
• Which unwanted files are you referring?
  

If you are running out of space on your computer, you may want to refer the suggestions mentioned in the article

Free up drive space in Windows 10.



Please reply with more information to assist you with the appropriate troubleshooting steps.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Cannot delete Windows Apps files

Suggested options for undeletable items:
1. Delete when Windows is not running
a. from a command prompt via SHIFT + left click Restart and navigate to a command prompt
- if you are very confident in using it.
b. boot your system from a boot disk such as Kyhi's availabel from the top of the Software and Apps section. Familiar file explorer

2. Use a 3rd party utility which can be set to delete on reboot (outside Windows).
e.g.
EMCO Moveonboot
Fileassassin (files only)

Note: radical steps to remove all those saves relatively little space.
Much safer to use the tutorials here to remove unwanted apps using Powershell.

 

Problem with unwanted folder deletion

I have a rather large HDD with multiple directories and sub-directories. I've recently discovered that each of these directories contains an unwanted .metadata folder, which itself contains a number of unwanted files. I'd like to delete all these .metadata folders and their contents (all identical) in one fell swoop, rather than have to laboriously wade through maybe 300 separate directories to delete them individually.

Suggestions?