Cannot remove git repository completely Cannot remove git repository completely windows windows

Cannot remove git repository completely


To remove a git repo, just do rm -rf ptp/. That's it.git rm is used to move items from the index [the staging area for changes / new files], not to delete git repositories.


To get rid of the git repository on Windows do this:

Win+R, Type cmd, Enter.

> cd c:/path/to/parent/of/ptp-repo> rmdir /S /Q ptp

Or if it fails then check who locks the directory and delete it by hands from Explore.

Most likely some process holds a lock on files/dirs in your repo.


I tried to remove GIT on my windows-XP, by means of the Windows/Configuration/Software menu. After some error message (which I cannot remember), it removed all files. I checked it, and there are no files with ptp in the name left on the entire system.

A problem remained however: each time I opened windows-explorer, a nasty error message came calling for a dll file that wasn't there anymore.

When checking the registry, there were many traces to GIT left in the registry. I removed them carefully by hand, which seems to have solved the problem. This is of course a dangerous path, but I had no choice. Perhaps it is a good idea to look into the Windows-deinstallation script very carefully.

Stef Joosten