Create a batch file that deletes all user data folders except for All Users and Default User

batchscriptingwindows-xp

I am using Windows XP and would like to create a batch file that deletes all user data folders except for All Users and Default User. How can I achieve this?

Best Answer

First of all you don't want to delete the folders at OS level, instead you should be using delprof to accomplish this. Secondly, you can't delete the profile of a currently logged on user, so plan to run it as a computer startup script or run it remotely against a machine you know is switched on but doesn't have a user currently logged on.

So you need to have a look at this KB article which will provide you with all the info you need. The specific command you want will be something like:

delprof /q /i /c:computername

Related Solutions

Windows – Running a windows batch script in a separate process

Start LongProcess.exe

How do i create a bat file to create user directory with proper rights and a script to reset it if something goes wrong

To set the permissions on the folder you can use icacls.exe. In your example you can use:

icacls \\fileserve2\H$\Userhome\%1 /grant administrators:(oi)(ci)m /grant system:(oi)(ci)m /grant domain\security:(oi)(ci)m /grant domain\backup:(oi)(ci)m

Note that you can add multiple '/grants'. The '(oi)(ci)' ensures heritance to subdirectories and files. The 'm' stands for 'Modify'.

The follwowing script reads all direcories in \fileserve2\H$\Userhome and resets the permissions.

For /f %%a in ('dir \\fileserve2\H$\Userhome\ /b /a:d') do call :SetPermissions %%a
Goto :eof

:SetPermissions
icacls \\fileserve2\H$\Userhome\%1 /grant administrators:(oi)(ci)m /grant system:(oi)(ci)m /grant domain\security:(oi)(ci)m /grant domain\backup:(oi)(ci)m

For diseaster recovery, you can also use icacls /save to save the filepermissions to a file. This file can be used with icacls /restore to restore the permissions. Check http://zeda.nl/index.php/en/backup-file-permissions-en for a detailed explanation.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Windows – Running a windows batch script in a separate process

How do i create a bat file to create user directory with proper rights and a script to reset it if something goes wrong

Related Topic