Delete folder and all subfolders plus files

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Recursive delete of files and directories in C#

I am trying to delete all files and folders in a root folder but my program keeps crashing because some files are over the 256 or something limit.

What I need to do is go to the last folder delete all the files and then delete that folder and work my way upto the root folder and then delete that.

I'm stuck on how to do this please can someone help with a simple way to do this?

many thanks for any help

I'm using C#, the code is:

    private void RemoveDirectory(DirectoryInfo directory)
    {
        RemoveReadOnly(directory);

        directory.Delete(true);

        bool directoryExists = true;

        while (directoryExists)
            directoryExists = Directory.Exists(directory.FullName);

        SendProgressMessage(string.Format("Removed {0}", directory.FullName));
    }

Post your code, post the exception details, post something that we can look at so we can start helping. See [Writing the perfect question](https://msmvps.com/blogs/jon_skeet/archive/2010/08/29/writing-the-perfect-question.aspx). — Oded, Mar 15 '12 at 13:47
Similar Question: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/925192/recursive-delete-of-files-and-directories-in-c-sharp — Robar, Mar 15 '12 at 13:47
@Robar: No, this is similar http://stackoverflow.com/q/2223007/284240 — Tim Schmelter, Mar 15 '12 at 14:07
SamWrighton: This can be an infinite loop `while (directoryExists)directoryExists = Directory.Exists(directory.FullName);` since `Directory.Exists` will not change anything. — Tim Schmelter, Mar 15 '12 at 14:09

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 21 '12 at 17:38

2

To delete your c:\temp directory:

Directory.Delete(@"c:\temp", true);

Is there a reason why you can't do this?

answered Mar 21 '12 at 17:38

Sam I am says Reinstate Monica

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Peter · Answer 2 · 2012-03-15T15:41:29.450

1

You should use the following function which goes around the shell api (if you error is that the path is longer as 256 chars):

[DllImport("kernel32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError=true)]
public static extern bool DeleteFile(string path);

And for directories:

[DllImport("kernel32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Unicode, SetLastError=true)]
public static extern bool RemoveDirectory(string path);

And make sure you have the CharSet.Unicode, ansi will limit your path on 260 (MAX_PATH).

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa363915%28VS.85%29.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365488%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

This functions can delete longer paths as 256 chars.

edited Mar 15 '12 at 15:41

answered Mar 15 '12 at 13:51

Peter

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If it fixes his problem, he should use unmanaged functions. Maybe he has chosen the wrong problem to start with. – Peter Mar 15 '12 at 13:57
1

Maybe you're right. http://stackoverflow.com/a/2223040/284240 – Tim Schmelter Mar 15 '12 at 14:01
i have tryed this and it did not delete the folder or any of its contents – Sam Wrighton Mar 15 '12 at 15:04

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 15 '12 at 19:47

this is very similar to a tree sort etc.

you need a recursive function to get down to each of the leaf nodes (a folder without subfolders) and remove all files in that leaf and then the leaf itself.

basic pseudo code is :

function main()
{
    deleteNode(first node);
}

function deleteNode(node)
{
    foreach(child in node.children)
    {
        deleteNode(child);
        delete the child which should now be empty
    }

    delete all files in this node
}

Delete folder and all subfolders plus files

3 Answers3