• Article

Directory.Delete Method (String, Boolean)

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When it is called by trusted applications, deletes the specified directory and, if indicated, any subdirectories and files in the directory.

Namespace:  System.IO
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

'Declaration
<SecuritySafeCriticalAttribute> _
Public Shared Sub Delete ( _
    path As String, _
    recursive As Boolean _
)

[SecuritySafeCriticalAttribute]
public static void Delete(
    string path,
    bool recursive
)

Parameters

  • recursive
    Type: System.Boolean
    true to remove directories, subdirectories, and files in path; otherwise, false.

Exceptions

Exception Condition
IOException

A file with the same name and location specified by path exists.

-or-

The directory specified by path is read-only, or recursive is false and path is not an empty directory.

-or-

The directory is the application's current working directory.

-or-

There is an open handle on the directory or on one of its files, and the operating system is Windows XP or earlier. This open handle can result from enumerating directories and files.
UnauthorizedAccessException

The caller does not have the required permission.
ArgumentException

path is a zero-length string, contains only white space, or contains one or more invalid characters.
ArgumentNullException

path is nulla null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic).
PathTooLongException

The specified path, file name, or both exceed the system-defined maximum length. For example, on Windows-based platforms, paths must be less than 248 characters and file names must be less than 260 characters.
DirectoryNotFoundException

The specified path does not exist or could not be found.

-or-

The specified path is invalid (for example, it is on an unmapped drive).

Remarks

Platform Notes

Silverlight for Windows Phone Silverlight for Windows Phone

 This member has a SecurityCriticalAttribute attribute on Silverlight for Windows Phone, because the attribute was present in Silverlight 3. This attribute restricts this member to internal use. Application code that uses this member throws a MethodAccessException.

Version Information

Silverlight

Supported in: 5, 4, 3

Silverlight for Windows Phone

Supported in: Windows Phone OS 7.1, Windows Phone OS 7.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: Xbox 360, Windows Phone OS 7.0

Platforms

For a list of the operating systems and browsers that are supported by Silverlight, see Supported Operating Systems and Browsers.