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First, we'll use the FOR command to create a text file

FOR /f %x in ("~*.*,*.bak,*.tmp,*.dmp") do @DIR E:\Files\%x /s /b >>deleteme.txt

In parentheses and quotes, add all the file extensions you want to find separated by commas. Change the DIR path accordingly. This command will recurse from this directory and record the full path of every file found in the deleteme.txt file. The command will append to deleteme.txt if it already exists, so delete the file before running the command again or use a different file name.

When the command finishes, review deleteme.txt to make sure there's nothing you want to keep. Edit the file as needed. To delete all the files, simply run:

FOR /f "tokens=*" %x in (deleteme.txt) do @DEL "%x"

In no time at all you've have your server cleaned up and you'll be able to go out and play.

I'll come back to these techniques in another column and exploit them further. 

Jeffery Hicks, MCSE, MCSA, is a Microsoft PowerShell MVP and scripting guru for SAPIEN Technologies. Jeff is a 16 year IT veteran who has co-authored and written several books, courseware and training videos on administrative scripting and automation. He is the co-author of Advanced VBScript for Microsoft Windows Administrators (Microsoft Press) and Windows PowerShell:TFM (SAPIEN Press). His latest is WSH and VBSCript Core:TFM (SAPIEN Press). You can contact Jeffery about "Clean Up Your Room" at jhicks@sapien.com.

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