Deleting Excel Files

[RocW]

I have (literally) hundreds of ex-client excel files on my desktop. I have retired and, having checked with the ex-clients, want to delete all the files.  The hierarchy is: top level: name of my practice; subfolder: name of client; sub sub folder: year; lowest level: individual workbook with multiple pages.  I can delete individual pages but I would need to live until I am 187, working 10 hours a day, 7 days per week to delete them all using this method.  There must be a better way but if I even try to delete a workbook, excel tells me that either the file is locked or I don't have permission.  I am the only user of this computer and the creator of every one of these files.  Ideally, I would like to go to the highest level and delete all in one single operation but I doubt that is possible.  Are there any experts out there who could help?  Please keep it as simple as possible; I'm a number cruncher not a techie!

[PsalmEquipt]

If you are okay with deleting every Excel file on your desktop, try this method.

1. Restart the computer:
    Click the Start button
    Select the Power icon
    Choose "Restart"

2. After the computer restarts, open File Explorer:
    Click the folder icon on the taskbar
    Or press the Windows key + E on the keyboard

3. Navigate to the Excel files:
    In File Explorer, look for common locations like "Documents" or "Desktop" in the left sidebar
    Click through folders until you find where the Excel files are stored
    If unsure, use the search bar at the top right of File Explorer and type "*.xlsx" to find Excel files
    Once in the correct folder, you should see the Excel files listed

4. Select All Files:
    Click on any file in the folder
    Press Ctrl+A to select all files
    Alternatively, hold Shift and click to choose a range of files
5. Delete the Files:
    Press the Delete key on the keyboard
    Or right-click and select "Delete" from the context menu

6. Confirm Deletion: Click "Yes" to confirm the deletion of all selected

 

[Old_Geezer]

Perhaps you can do a search on the whole disk for files with Excel extensions ?

[RocW]

Hi people, Thanks for this but I don't want to delete ALL my Excel files, only the ones that are ex-clients.  I have many other Excel files covering personal and household subjects from finance to genealogy, gardening to wine storage. Some of these go back years and I would hate to lose them.  The trouble with being an accountant is that I have a mindset that anything can be recorded on a spreadsheet! 

[Old_Geezer]

Have to do one client directory at a time then.

Maybe back the drive up first in case you delete something you regret. Apart from that the control A option should select/highlight all files in the directory being viewed, ready for deletion. Double check there's none you'd prefer to leave out before hitting delete.

[ToraToraTora]

just delete the folder, end of!

[Peter Pedant]

because of the fol-de-rol about finding excel files - I make sure mine are kept in Documents ( save as etc ) - but I only have 5 or 6

[10ClarionSt]

I was just gonna say that, TTT! Grrr! 😄

[Peter Pedant]

he is saying that some are delete protected so that you have to get inside and toggle "you may now delete" icon

the other thing is - all windows does is rip off the identifier ( xls) and does nothing to the text

and so you should think about an eraser program ( prints random number over every entry) - like this one

https://eraser.heidi.ie/

which I use regularly and scream "Ha! no one is gonna read this now!"

[Radagast]

Here's a dangerous (if you get the path wrong) way of doing it:

Launch Windows Powershell as an administrator and type:

Remove-Item -Force -Recurse -Path "C:\Users\Thomas\Desktop\Unused"

Replace "Thomas" with your username and "Unused" with the folder to delete (assuming it's on your desktop).

Ref: https://www.sharepointdiary.com/2020/02/how-to-delete-a-folder-in-powershell.html

[Radagast]

The path should be:
"C:\Users\Thomas\Desktop\Unused"

DON'T type a return after C :

[RocW]

Thanks to everyone for your comments.  I didn't realise that the file still remained on the disk.  I was hoping to free up some space as well as complying with GDPR.  The "Eraser" mentioned by Peter above looks like it would fulfil my obligations under GDPR but it might be time consuming (again).

[netherfield]

If you are merely trying to make space, then don't worry about the comment 'left on the disk' any new files will overwrite the deleted ones. If you've only a small amount of files to save, drag and drop them to a new folder or dongle, delete the originals along with customer files, then drag back saved files to where they came from.