Can't Delete OneDrive Folder On External Drive After Windows Downgrade

[DanTheTechMan]

Hi. After downgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 7, I can't seem to delete the OneDrive folder. I had it on an external hard drive, but forgot about it before I started the downgrade. Now I can't do anything with it (open it, delete it, change the properties/attributes, or anything else). It's just sitting there, useless and annoying me. Does anyone know of a way to remove it WITHOUT going back to Windows 10?

[Boggin]

It could be a Permissions thing.

Scroll down to the bottom of this article and click on the blue hyperlink for Take Ownership Menu Hacks to add Take Ownership to the right click context menu.

You can then right click on the folder and select Take Ownership and then try the delete.

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/add-take-ownership-to-explorer-right-click-menu-in-vista/

JFI - Why have you gone back to Win 7 ?

[DanTheTechMan]

Thanks, however it didn't work. I have taken screenshots of the security settings window of the folder in question and the error message I get when trying to delete that folder, and attached them to this post.

[Boggin]

So can you delete the files in the folder one by one and then the folder ?

You can try the Take Ownership of each file should that also become a block.

[DanTheTechMan]

Unfortunately, I can't open this folder, so, deleting the contents individually isn't an option, either.

[Boggin]

I don't know if renaming the folder would help but see if you can do anything with it in Safe Mode.

Do you have much else on the ext. drive that a format isn't practical ?

[DanTheTechMan]

I haven't tried safe mode yet (I will when I get the chance), however, a reformat isn't an option. I have too much on that particular external that I can't afford to lose.

[Boggin]

From what other solutions I've seen on this is that you have to be logged into your MS account, which could mean you will need to go back to Win 10.