If you need to automatically delete files and folders when disk space on your drive falls below a certain threshold, you can use a PowerShell script to accomplish this task. Here’s how you can set it up.
PowerShell Script
This script will delete files and directories under a specified path when the available disk space is less than 5 GB.
# Define the path to the directory
$directoryPath = "C:\DeleteFilesFolder\
# Set the threshold for disk space (in bytes)
$threshold = 5GB
# Get the drive information
$drive = Get-PSDrive -PSProvider FileSystem | Where-Object { $_.Root -eq "C:\" }
# Check the available free space on the drive
if ($drive.Free -lt $threshold) {
# Get all files in the specified directory and subdirectories
$files = Get-ChildItem -Path $directoryPath -Recurse -File
# Loop through and delete each file
foreach ($file in $files) {
Remove-Item -Path $file.FullName -Force
Write-Output "Deleted file: $($file.FullName)"
}
# Get all directories in the specified directory and subdirectories
$directories = Get-ChildItem -Path $directoryPath -Recurse -Directory | Sort-Object -Property FullName -Descending
# Loop through and delete each directory if it is empty
foreach ($directory in $directories) {
Remove-Item -Path $directory.FullName -Recurse -Force
Write-Output "Deleted directory: $($directory.FullName)"
}
Write-Output "All files and directories in $directoryPath and its subdirectories have been deleted due to low disk space."
} else {
Write-Output "Sufficient disk space available: $($drive.Free / 1GB) GB free."
}
Explanation of the Script
- $directoryPath: Specifies the directory path where files and folders will be deleted.
- $threshold: Sets the disk space threshold to 5 GB.
- $drive: Checks the free space available on the C: drive.
- if ($drive.Free -lt $threshold): Checks if the available free space is less than 5 GB.
- Get-ChildItem -Path $directoryPath -Recurse -File: Gets all files in the specified directory and subdirectories.
- Remove-Item -Path $file.FullName -Force: Deletes each file without user interaction.
- Get-ChildItem -Path $directoryPath -Recurse -Directory | Sort-Object -Property FullName -Descending: Gets all directories in descending order to ensure deletion from the deepest level first.
- foreach ($directory in $directories): Deletes each directory and its contents without user interaction if it’s empty.
Running the Script Manually
- Open PowerShell as Administrator.
- Run the Script:
C:\Scripts\ClearIncomingQueue.ps1
Automating the Script with Task Scheduler
You can use Task Scheduler to automate the script.
- Open Task Scheduler: Open it by typing
taskschd.mscin the Run dialog. - Create a New Task:
- Right-click and select “Create Task”.
- General tab: Name your task (e.g., “Clear Files and Folders”).
- Triggers tab: Click “New” and choose the schedule (e.g., daily).
- Actions tab: Click “New” and select “Start a program”. Enter
powershell.exeas the program/script. - In the “Add arguments (optional)” field, enter:
-File "C:\Scripts\ClearIncomingQueue.ps1" - Conditions tab: Check “Start the task only if the computer is on AC power”.
- Settings tab: Check “If the task fails, restart every” and set an interval.
This setup ensures that files and directories under the specified path are automatically deleted when the available disk space falls below 5 GB, without any user interaction.
Simple , Easy, Useful
Have a nice day !
