What is the Delete Command?
The delete command is a Recovery Console command used to delete a single file.
Note: "Delete" and "Del" may be used interchangeably.
A delete command is also available from the Command Prompt.
Delete Command Syntax
delete [drive:][path] filename
drive: = This is the drive letter containing the filename you want to delete.
path = This is the folder or folder/subfolders located on the drive:, containing the filename that you want to delete..
filename = This is the name of the file you want to delete.
Note: The delete command can only be used to delete files in the system folders of the current installation of Windows, in removable media, in the root folder of any partition, or in the local Windows installation source.
Delete Command Examples
delete c:\windows\twain_32.dll
In the above example, the delete command is used to delete the twain_32.dll file located in the C:\Windows folder.
delete io.sys
In this example, the delete command has no drive: or path information specified so the io.sys file is deleted from whatever directory you typed the delete command from.
For example, if you type delete io.sys from the C:\> prompt, the io.sys file will be deleted from C:\.
Delete Command Availability
The delete command is available from within the Recovery Console in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Delete Related Commands
The delete command is often used with many other Recovery Console commands.
