Massively Delete Folders & Files on Windows 7 Without Prompt

I was having so much troubles to delete a folder that contains huge amount of files. Recently, I started playing with Node.JS and MEAN.js. The mean stack installed lots files (over 120MB, 17000 files) on my computer running Windows 7.

Delete lots file on Windows takes a long time and sometimes break the process and hung my computer. It, by default, removes files and it's subfolder from the folder I want to delete to recycle bin. You then have to right click on the recycle bin to clean the files.

There gotta be a simpler ways to clean files without cleaning the recycle bin.

So here are the ways to make that happen.



Method 1: Permanently Bypass the Recycle Bin
You can permanently bypass the Recycle Bin by changing the configuration of the Recycle Bin:

1. Right-click the Recycle Bin, and then click Properties.
2. In the Recycle Bin Properties dialog box, click to select the Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted check box.
3. Click OK.

You can also configure Windows XP to skip the confirmation message whether or not you are using the Recycle Bin. In the Recycle Bin Properties dialog box, click to clear the Display delete confirmation dialog check box, and then click OK.

If you bypass the Recycle Bin, you receive the following confirmation-request message:

Are you sure you want to delete filename?

If you do not bypass the Recycle Bin, you receive the following confirmation-request message:

Are you sure you want to send to the Recycle Bin?

The confirmation message is a quick way to determine whether or not you are using the Recycle Bin.

The following deletion actions do not send files to the Recycle Bin, whether or not the Recycle Bin is active:

• Deletions from removable disks (CD-RWs, floppy disks, Zip drives, and other removable disks).
• Deletions from remote shares.
• Deletions from compressed (zipped) folders.
• Deletions at the command line.

Method 2: One Time By Pass Deletion
To bypass the Recycle Bin on a one-time basis, when you are deleting a file (or a group of selected files), press and hold down the SHIFT key while you press the DEL key (or use the Delete command). You receive the following confirmation-request message:

Are you sure you want to delete ?

Method 3: DOS Prompt RMDIR or RD command

You can also run a dos command to delete folders and files quickly and silently without moving file to recycle bin. It will remove the files immediately

Simply open DOS Prompt and CD to your destination folder's parent folder. Type the following command in DOS Prompt

rd /S /Q FolderName

This will remove the entire folder named FolderName completely without asking confirmation.

/S = Remove subfolder and files

/Q = Quiet Mode

Here you go. A life safer command to smooth your operation.