This amount may be incorrect if you are using a deletion tracking system which stores deleted files in a hidden directory, or if another program performs a file operation while the DEL command is executing.
It does so by comparing the amount of free disk space before and after the DEL command is executed. Use caution if you disable this option, as this will allow DEL /Q to delete an entire directory without prompting for confirmation.ĭEL displays the amount of disk space recovered, unless the /Q option is used (see below). If you want TCC to follow CMD 's approach and skip the confirmation prompt when /Q is used, set the Prompt on Wildcard Deletes configuration option.
NOTE: The Windows command processor, CMD, behaves the same way but does not ask for confirmation if you use /Q to delete files quietly. If you respond with a Y, DEL will delete all the files in that subdirectory (hidden, system, and read-only files are only deleted if you use the /Z option). If you enter a subdirectory name, or a filename composed only of wildcards (* and/or ?), DEL asks for confirmation (Y or N) unless you specified the /Y option. When using exclusion ranges or other more complex options you may want to use the /N switch first, to preview the effects of the DEL without actually deleting any files. For example, to delete all files in the current directory except those whose extension is. To exclude files from a DEL command, use a file exclusion range. When you use DEL on an LFN drive, you must quote any file names which contain white space or special characters. For example, to erase all the files in the current directory with a. You can also erase multiple files in a single command. To erase a single file, simply enter the file name: The files and subdirectories that you erase may be impossible to recover without specialized utilities and a lot of work. If you don't specify any arguments, DEL will display its command dialog. In the description below, every reference to DEL applies equally to ERASE. Use wildcards with caution on LFN volumes see LFN File Searches for details.ĭEL and ERASE are synonyms. Supports command dialog, attribute switches, extended wildcards, ranges, multiple file names, and include lists.