# Command: deltree

      DELTREE deletes an entire directory tree, including subdirectories.

## Syntax:

      DELTREE [/Y] [/V] [/D] [/X] [/Z:SERIOUSLY] filespec [filespec...]
      DELTREE [/?]
              drive  The drive letter, e.g. C:
              path   The directory, e.g. \example

#### [Main menu] [top] (Syntax) [Options] [Comments] [Examples] [See also] [File]

## Options:

      /Y            Deletes specified directories without asking for
                    confirmation
      /V            Reports the number of files and subdirectories
                    deleted, and their total size
      /D            Displays the debug info
      /X            For testing; don't actually delete anything
      /Z:SERIOUSLY  Do not prompt when root directory is specified
      filespec      The directory tree to be deleted, e.g. C:\OLDTREE
                    Note that several directory trees can be deleted with
                    one command
      /?            Shows the help

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] (Options) [Comments] [Examples] [See also] [File]

## Comments:

      For performance reasons DELTREE overwrites the first letter of each
      filename/directory name by a '?'. It does not delete the file
      itself, but it deallocates the space where the content of the file is
      written. FreeDOS, as other DOSes, recognizes the renamed file/directory
      (myfile.txt becomes ?yfile.txt; pathname becomes ?athname) as deleted,
      no longer shows it and does not offer access to it. Programs like
      DEBUG which have sector access are able to read the contents of the
      file/directory. As long as you do not write on the drive you have a
      chance to restore the files/directories again with UNDELETE, only
      the first character of the filename/directory name will be lost
      (_yfile.txt /_athname). The only ways to delete the file CONTENTS FOR
      ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN are to fill the disk completely with other files or
      by using a wipeout tool. The only way to delete a file/directory
      NAME FOR ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN is to RENAME (REN) the file/directory
      first (e.g. "a."/"a") and to delete it later (only correct at 8.3 -
      not at long filenames/directory names!)
      Switches must be before filespecs on command line - MS compatible
      syntax! Otherwise they will be ignored.
      Filespecs may name files, subdirectories, or DR DOS-style file lists.
      DELTREE is a dangerous command!  Use at your own risk.
      DELTREE has the following EXITCODES (ERRORLEVEL):
        00  Success
        01  Something could not be deleted
        03  User abort (Q, control-C)
        16  General syntax error, or buffer overflow
        17  Not enough memory
        18  DOS 3.0 or better required
        19  Problem with list file
        20  Internal buffer overflow
        21  Error resolving directory name (dots_fix)

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] (Comments) [Examples] [See also] [File]

## Examples:

      deltree /y c:\oldtree
      deltree c:\test2\   asks for each subdirectory of \test2 if you really
                          want to delete it
      deltree c:\test2    deletes all subdirectory of \test2

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] [Comments] (Examples) [See also] [File]

## See also:

      del
      erase
      rd
      ren
      rename
      rmdir
      undelete

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] [Comments] [Examples] (See also) [File]

## File:

      Please read this command's lsm file also.
      You will find the updated version (internet) here and
      the version described in this manual page here.
      The lsm file contains information about the name of the programmer,
      the download site, and some other command related information.

#### [Main menu] [top] [Syntax] [Options] [Comments] [Examples] [See also] (File)

      Copyright © 1998 Jim Hall, updated 2007 by W. Spiegl.

      This file is derived from the FreeDOS Spec Command HOWTO.
      See the file H2Cpying for copying conditions.