# How to remove directory with subdirectories and files? **URL:** \ **Category:** UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers\ **Created:** [May 21, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380 "2007-05-21T04:39:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ppa108](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/ppa108/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@ppa108](https://community.unix.com/u/ppa108)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/1 "2007-05-21T04:39:53Z")
I'm trying to remove several directories which contains sun-dirs and files inside. I used the command rm -r \ But, it always ask "examine file in directory \ yes/no?" line by line. So, i need to write "y" for every line. How can i skip this step and remove all directories with asking confirmation? Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![encrypted](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/encrypted/32/114_2.png) [@encrypted](https://community.unix.com/u/encrypted)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/2 "2007-05-21T04:47:27Z")
\rm -rf \ ---
**Author:** ![the\_learner](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/the_learner/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@the\_learner](https://community.unix.com/u/the_learner)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/3 "2007-05-21T13:52:16Z")
I have a similar problem. I have a directory with \*LOTS\* of hidden files (beginning with a . ) In this case when I use rm -rf, I get the error: rm: Unable to remove directory dir0: File exists The thing is, I do not know where did all those files come from.. I think I did an nfs mount and something went wrong.. and these random files keep getting produced -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsD355\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsD455\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsD845\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsD945\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsDA45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsDB45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsDC45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsDD45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsDE45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsDF45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsE055\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsE155\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsE255\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsE355\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsE455\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsE845\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsE945\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsEA45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsEB45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsEC45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsED45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsEE45\* -rwxrwxrwx 1 root engr 8192 May 5 20:35 .nfsEF45\* even in dir0, rm .nfs\* does not work. ---
**Author:** ![ppa108](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/ppa108/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@ppa108](https://community.unix.com/u/ppa108)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/4 "2007-05-30T00:41:06Z")
I'm sorry to say that the suggestion from "encrypted" really doesn't work. ---
**Author:** ![milhan](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/milhan/32/80_2.png) [@milhan](https://community.unix.com/u/milhan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/5 "2007-05-30T19:45:49Z")
> [@the\_learner](#): > > I have a similar problem. I have a directory with \*LOTS\* of hidden files (beginning with a . ) > > In this case when I use rm -rf, I get the error: > > rm: Unable to remove directory dir0: File exists > > even in dir0, rm .nfs\* does not work. are you sure you have the necessary permissions to operate inside the directory? typically, rm -rf dir0 should work, even if there are hidden files inside dir0, as long as you have permissions to erase files in the current directory. ---
**Author:** ![ppa108](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/ppa108/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@ppa108](https://community.unix.com/u/ppa108)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/6 "2007-06-12T23:52:19Z")
I have all necessary permission. But i tried with rm -rf \, i got the following message. rm: examine files in directory BioDiversity (yes/no)? How to skip that questions? ---
**Author:** ![encrypted](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/encrypted/32/114_2.png) [@encrypted](https://community.unix.com/u/encrypted)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/7 "2007-06-13T00:03:47Z")
As stated previously, use the "\" before rm -rf \ ---
**Author:** ![ppa108](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/ppa108/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@ppa108](https://community.unix.com/u/ppa108)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/8 "2007-06-13T00:12:30Z")
Yes. It works when i put "\". I'm sorry that I did not put "\" before. Thanks a lot. ---
**Author:** ![prabhukirans](https://community.unix.com/letter_avatar/prabhukirans/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@prabhukirans](https://community.unix.com/u/prabhukirans)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/9 "2008-11-24T15:14:09Z")
Thanks. It worked..) ---
**Author:** ![Reboot](https://community.unix.com/user_avatar/community.unix.com/reboot/32/1122_2.png) [@Reboot](https://community.unix.com/u/Reboot)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://community.unix.com/t/how-to-remove-directory-with-subdirectories-and-files/171380/10 "2008-11-25T01:02:34Z")
> [@encrypted](#): > > As stated previously, use the "\" before rm -rf \ Hi encrypted, Could you explain the difference between "rm" and "\rm". "\rm" command is new to me...... Thanks...