Old user files taking up alot of space. Can't delete them!!!

I was having alot of problems with my old user account so I deleted it and created a new one. But for some reason, using Folder Size, it shows that the "Documents and Settings" folder for the older username is taking up a 1.3 gigabytes!!! How do I get rid of it? If I try right clicking and deleting I get a message saying "Access denied".

I'm sure the solution is very simple, but I'd appreciate some help.

Thanks.

 

boot in safe mode
then delete it
i must warn you though that after deleting it, some of your programs might not work

some programs reside on the app data and roaming folder of the users folder

 

Don't delete the 'Documents and Settings' folder itself. You would witness very unpleasant things.

That space will be calculated from whatever you have in 'My Documents' and whatever you may have on your desktop. So make sure that isn't what you are looking at before you go deleting things in that folder because it may be a lot of your stuff, but if not......

What you need to to is go into the 'Documents and Settings' folder and find the old user account you want to rid of and delete it from there.

Where it bombards you with "Access denied" has to do with permissions. You will have to first go into 'Tools' and 'Folder options'. Under 'View' take off (deselect) 'Use simple file sharing (recommended)' so you will get the security tab when you click on a folder's properties.

Select the folder with the user account you want to delete and right click on it. Then click on 'Properties' and click on the 'Security' tab on the top.

Click on the 'Advanced' button and then click on the 'Owner' tab at the top of that window. Then select the account in which you want to give permissions to allow you access (to delete it) and select the box 'Replace owner on subcontainers and objects' and click 'OK'.

You may also have to go again under the 'Security' tab and make sure the account name or the 'Everyone' group is there too. If not click on the 'Add' button and type Everyone in the lower box, click the 'Check Names' button and click 'OK'. then select it in the 'Group or user names:' box and check 'Full control' in the lower panel.

That should allow you to do whatever you want to that folder. If it still gives you trouble, you may have to go into the folder and select some folders individually and do the same to them too.

 

Thanks very much. Yeah I refrained from the safe mode method. I'll do this when I get back home in a month or two.