How to correctly remove all files from a directory in Windows7?

[PiotrMP006]

How to correctly remove all files from a directory in Windows7?

Without *

Code: Select all

del C:\Test

With *

Code: Select all

del C:\Test\*

[aGerman]

You might want to use option /F to remove read-only files, too. Also use /Q to suppress the confirmation message if you want to use the asterisk as wildcard. If you want to remove files in subdirectories you have to use option /S additionally.
Note that DEL deletes files only. If you want to remove subdirectories you would need RD (preferably with options /S and /Q).
FWIW We have a Command Index on DosTips where you could have read the usage of the commands. Also executing del /? and rd /? gives you the same informations.

Steffen