Revisions to How can I delete a symbolic link in Windows?

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edit approved May 24 at 17:21

cottontail

129
2
10

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using deldel will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdirrmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using del will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using del will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

added links to documentation

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edited Sep 19, 2018 at 11:28

Cristian Ciupitu

5.6k
2
38
48

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using deldel will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdirrmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using del will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using del will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

added solution to make sure quick readers don't run the first command

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edit approved Sep 27, 2013 at 18:01

Oleg Vaskevich

103
4

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using del will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using del will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

rmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.

Be very careful.

If you have a symbolic link that is a directory (made with mklink /d) then using del will delete all of the files in the target directory (the directory that the link points to), rather than just the link.

SOLUTION: rmdir on the other hand will only delete the directory link, not what the link points to.