Delprof2 - Unofficial successor to Microsoft’s Delprof user profile deletion tool

Arthur · May 5, 2011

New tool from the author of SetACL for deleting cached user profiles on Windows PCs.

Delprof2 is the unofficial successor to Microsoft’s Delprof which does not work with operating systems newer than Windows XP. Here are the main facts:

Delprof2 is free to use, commercially or otherwise

Delprof2 is syntax compatible to the original Delprof, but more powerful

Delprof2 bypasses file system security to delete profiles regardless of current permissions/owner (requires backup/restore privileges)

Delprof2 supports very long paths (longer than 260 characters)

What Does it Do?
Delprof2 deletes inactive user profiles. If you want to reclaim disk space just run it without parameters and it will delete all profiles except your own and some special profiles needed by the operating system (like “Default”).

Delprof2 has additional filtering options: you might want to delete locally cached copies of roaming profiles only or delete only those profiles that have not been used in a specified number of days. Delprof2 does it all, both on the local system and remotely.

Special Features

Bypassing Security
User profiles often have permissions set on them in such a way that not even administrators have access without prior ACL manipulation. Delprof2 circumvents this requirement by making use of backup and restore privileges to analyze and delete even the most tightly secured profiles.

Long Paths
Some programs store files in paths with more than 260 characters. Most tools cannot deal with such paths that are longer than the value of MAX_PATH (260). Windows Explorer is a prominent example. Delprof2, on the other hand, makes use of special APIs to be able to delete files in the remotest areas of your hard drive.

Edited May 5, 2011 by Arthur

helge · August 29, 2011

Thank you for writing about my tool! The download link is broken, though, because I have updated the tool in the meantime. Please do not link to a specific version but use the tool's URL instead.

randle · April 26, 2012

Hi helge

Cracking program thanks however appear to be having a problem but currently there seems to be a problem registering on your website so thought I'd post here.

I'm executing DelProf2 as a startup script through GPO using the following script

@echo off
pushd "%~dp0"
"[url="file://\\domainname\netlogon\DelProf2.exe"]\\domainname\netlogon\DelProf2.exe[/url]" /i /u /ed:CVS* /ed:RM* /ed:Default >c:\delprof2.log 2>&1
popd

I am using the /d and /ntuserini switches but for testing purposes I've removed these.

When rebooting the computer, no profiles are deleted and the log reads:

DelProf2 by Helge Klein (Helge Klein | Home of SetACL)
Listing inactive profiles on 'TESTSTATION_7'.
Excluding directories matching: CVS*, RM*, Default
Enumerating directories '\\TESTSTATION_7\C$\Users\*.*' failed with: The network name cannot be found.

The network name can be found and opens fine when manually browsing it from another computer and this one itself. Any ideas why this may be happening?

helge · April 26, 2012

Sorry about my forum. It had a problem sending out verification e-mails. You should be able to log in now.

plexer · April 26, 2012

Hi helge

Cracking program thanks however appear to be having a problem but currently there seems to be a problem registering on your website so thought I'd post here.

I'm executing DelProf2 as a startup script through GPO using the following script
@echo off
pushd "%~dp0"
"[url="file://\\domainname\netlogon\DelProf2.exe"]\\domainname\netlogon\DelProf2.exe[/url]" /i /u /ed:CVS* /ed:RM* /ed:Default >c:\delprof2.log 2>&1
popd
I am using the /d and /ntuserini switches but for testing purposes I've removed these.

When rebooting the computer, no profiles are deleted and the log reads:
The network name can be found and opens fine when manually browsing it from another computer and this one itself. Any ideas why this may be happening?

Can I suggest doing it as a shutdown script instead.

Ben

randle · April 27, 2012

@helge: No worries, I'm in now ta

@plexer: Seems to have done the trick. Not sure why I didn't try this previously as would be the obvious thing to try seeing as it isn't essential to run this script at startup . I was on a single track of thought...

chazzy2501 · April 27, 2012

Sorry to ask the obvious but if you delete someones profile in vista/7 by hand (i.e. go into the folder and delete the files) they can never loginto that machine again (as it breaks). I'm assuming delprof 2 deletes it in a way that doesn't do this?

Arthur · April 27, 2012

I'm assuming delprof 2 deletes it in a way that doesn't do this?

Yes.

busby · January 29, 2013

Hello im having an issue with Delprof2.

while executing delprof.bat containing the comand DELPROF2 /c:\\suite01-pc\c$ /i /u, i get the error "Privilege 'Restore files and directories' could not be enabled. DelProf2's powers are restricted. Better run DelProf2 with admin rights."

i run the .bat as administrator and also ive set delpro2.exe to run always as administrator. The account im logged into is the domain admin. Windows 7 pro environment banging my head against the wall

Thanks

hfnistelrooy · January 31, 2013

while executing delprof.bat containing the comand DELPROF2 /c:\\suite01-pc /i /u, i get the error "Privilege 'Restore files and directories' could not be enabled.

I believe it is because the syntax is wrong - you need to type DELPROF2 /c:suite01-pc /i /u - remove the \\ and it will work

Edited January 31, 2013 by hfnistelrooy
edit

busby · February 12, 2013

I believe it is because the syntax is wrong - you need to type DELPROF2 /c:suite01-pc /i /u - remove the \\ and it will work

Even if its a networked machine ? with your code i still get the same error.

Danp · February 13, 2013

This is what I use

For /f %%a in (dellist_all.txt) Do DelProf2.exe /C:%%a -d:7 -q

I have a txt file with my machine names listed, one per line. I have both files in the root of C: on a machine in the same domain as the machine I want to clean up and then run the bat file. Job done.

Meldrew · February 13, 2013

Thank you for writing about my tool!

Delprof2 is an amazing program that I've been using for a couple of year now I think. A must have utility. Well done @helge

Meldrew

busby · February 13, 2013

This is what I use
For /f %%a in (dellist_all.txt) Do DelProf2.exe /C:%%a -d:7 -q
I have a txt file with my machine names listed, one per line. I have both files in the root of C: on a machine in the same domain as the machine I want to clean up and then run the bat file. Job done.

Danp so you have a dellist_all.txt on root of c containing machine names, as well as delprof2.exe i take it then you have a run.bat file with the code you have shown on ?

busby · February 13, 2013

Danp, with your code im getting

"Privilege 'Back up files and directories' could not be enabled. DelProf2's powers are restricted. Better run DelProf2 with admin rights."

i have gone to properties and click run this as admin i am also domain admin

odd.

- - - Updated - - -

Danp, with your code im getting

"Privilege 'Back up files and directories' could not be enabled. DelProf2's powers are restricted. Better run DelProf2 with admin rights."

i have gone to properties and click run this as admin i am also domain admin

odd.

Danp · February 13, 2013

Yes, on the root of c: I have file call del.bat (can be any name) with the above code in. I also have DelProf2.exe in the same place.

Yes, I have a text file called dellist_all.txt with a list of machines in

e.g.

CC4-ARTS-01

CC4-ARTS-02

CC4-ARTS-03

CC4-ARTS-04

CC4-ARTS-05

CC4-ARTS-06

I have a few of these saved now, some without the 7 day retention.

tmcd35 · February 14, 2013

Does this also remove any mention of the profile from the Win7 registry? This as been a problem for us in the past and I'm thinking delprof2 might be part of a wider solution to our roaming profile woes. I'm also thinking of using redirected folders for AppData as I guess it's this folder causing most of the corruption problems, I'm just unsure how to go about it.

nashphil · March 29, 2013

Yes, on the root of c: I have file call del.bat (can be any name) with the above code in. I also have DelProf2.exe in the same place.

Yes, I have a text file called dellist_all.txt with a list of machines in

e.g.
CC4-ARTS-01
CC4-ARTS-02
CC4-ARTS-03
CC4-ARTS-04
CC4-ARTS-05
CC4-ARTS-06

I have a few of these saved now, some without the 7 day retention.

I want to follow your lead but need some code explaination.

Can I put the text file, Delprof2.exe and the *.bat in a folder (c:\profdel\***)?

What is /f (I can guess but..) and %%a ?

I want to run these on all our library machines from my machine, here is what I have so far DELPROF2 /i /u /d:60 /ed:admin* /ed:MyName /ed:default* I want to add a text file showing all our lib. machines (on domain, networked)

hs-lib-d01

hs-lib-d02

ect...to d30

Edited March 29, 2013 by nashphil
emoticon not wanted but added

plexer · March 29, 2013

Why not just run it as a shutdown script?

Ben

bonedog73 · April 11, 2013

I've found this batch script does a wonderful job at removing profiles...Win7. Just be sure to do it after a fresh restart. - User Profile Cleaning Script for Windows 7 – Version 3.1 « Mike's Thoughts

plexer · April 11, 2013

I've found this batch script does a wonderful job at removing profiles...Win7. Just be sure to do it after a fresh restart. - User Profile Cleaning Script for Windows 7 – Version 3.1 « Mike's Thoughts

Delprof2 as a shutdown script is one line.

Ben

Danp · April 12, 2013

I want to follow your lead but need some code explaination.
Can I put the text file, Delprof2.exe and the *.bat in a folder (c:\profdel\***)?

What is /f (I can guess but..) and %%a ?

I want to run these on all our library machines from my machine, here is what I have so far DELPROF2 /i /u /d:60 /ed:admin* /ed:MyName /ed:default* I want to add a text file showing all our lib. machines (on domain, networked)
hs-lib-d01
hs-lib-d02
ect...to d30

I don't see why you cant have them in their own folder, I just stuck them on the root of C because I am lazy. I also run this from a machine on the same domain as the machines I want clean up, otherwise I wont work. I dont know what the %%a is for, but it works

zbjsy · February 12, 2014

how are people using this at shutdown? as a gpo? Pointing to the exe? as mine doesnt seem to work ?

kapthree · October 8, 2014

Delprof2 is fantastic. However, I wonder if it can be run simultaneously on the same machine to speed up the deletion of profiles? We are collapsing a domain and rolling all the users into a new domain. Each machine can have upwards of 30 user profiles on them. I am running the command from a utility machine at the local site. It reads a file list of computer names to remove the profiles on those machines. I'd like to break that list of machines up into smaller chunks and run Delprof2 reading each file. Is that possible?

busby · October 21, 2014

Yes, on the root of c: I have file call del.bat (can be any name) with the above code in. I also have DelProf2.exe in the same place.

Yes, I have a text file called dellist_all.txt with a list of machines in

e.g.
CC4-ARTS-01
CC4-ARTS-02
CC4-ARTS-03
CC4-ARTS-04
CC4-ARTS-05
CC4-ARTS-06

I have a few of these saved now, some without the 7 day retention.

After a a lot of time trying to figure out my problem i managed to find out what was wrong. The remote registry was not enabled apparently in win7 is disabled by default.

You how ever can remotely enable this as long as you are an administrator using the cmd "sc \\computername start remoteregistry start= auto"

Delprof2 - Unofficial successor to Microsoft’s Delprof user profile deletion tool

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