Deleting Microsoft OneCare Backup Files
I’ve been testing using Microsoft’s OneCare to backup files to both DVD+RW and external USB hard drives. The optical disc backup works fine but is slow and requires disc changes for large drives.
The external hard drive method worked a bit better. But, I found myself wanting to start over and change the backup scheme. This turned out to be a problem because Microsoft OneCare creates some kind of specially protected file named DO_NOT_DELETE_mediaID in each of the subdirectories. This file cannot be deleted, renamed, or otherwise changed using what most of us would consider to be the usual methods of taking care of such a problem. A bit of searching around found a solution in the Microsoft OneCare web forum though.
The trick turned out to be a command line command that I had never heard of: cacls. This command can modify the Access Control List. It should be used like this to make the files under the Windows OneCare Backup directory eraseable.
cacls “G:\Windows OneCare Backup” /t /g administrators:F
Here are a couple of things you should note:
- G is the external drive letter. Change it to what your external drive is assigned to.
- There must be a space between /t and /g.
- Note that administrators is the group name, not administrator which is an account name
- The F after the colon indicates Full Control. It is not a drive designation
February 9th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
“cacls” command will only work with NTFS formated disks.
February 11th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
THANK YOU!
You saved my posterior.
James S. Huggins
March 14th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Did not work - but redesignating the folder as shared under networks did allow deletion.
September 7th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Thank You!!!!
I had tried several other methods I found with no luck, yours worked great.
I think it nothing short of incredible that MS would make it such a PITA to delete these BU files.
September 29th, 2007 at 11:31 am
HELP
I have tried the cacls “G:\Windows OneCare Backup” /t /g administrators:F
I have tried to share with the network….I cannot delete these files.
Windows Live One Care won’t help me because my subscription has expired. They want me to buy a new one in order to help me…I already have a new McAfee free from my internet provider…why would I want to pay just to delete there locked up files. What a PITA
Any suggestion….maybe I’m doing something wrong.
Please HELP!!
November 26th, 2007 at 12:27 am
1) use an external USB hard drive
2) create a specific partition
3) use that partition for One Care backups
4) then, simply, format that partition when you need
to erase all backups and create a new one
5) that’s the way I like it
December 23rd, 2007 at 8:17 am
the CACLS cmd did not work for me. It would just kick up the help for the command. By enabling file sharing and sharing the backup folder, it changed security properties and allowed me to delete it. Don’t forget to disable file sharing again after.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:37 am
Hello. Thanks Todd! It worked for me! I deleted a portion (a specific user name folder in my backup). Now, I have a question. How do you enable this “specially protected file ” again. What is the CMD line that I will need to enter? I am guessing it has something to do with switching out one or both the letters of /t &/g for other letter(s). Please reply with the inverse. Thank you!
December 29th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Let me add to my last comment I posted. I have been to the Microsoft OneCare Forum regarding this issue and they give the user friendly way of changing the security settings. Unfortunately, I am using Windows XP Home that does not have the security tab available. That is why I am in need of the Command prompt method instead. Again, please provide the command prompt line for me to enable the protection or turn it on again. Thanks!
January 17th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I would have never figured this out. Thanks for your help. Of course Microsoft could not have been this helpful!
May 10th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I use an NTFS formatted external USB drive (Western Digital Passport) and this worked great. Thanks for the tip!!!
October 13th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Thank you so much. I hated that OneCare.