Power Automate Desktop can't recurse my C:\ to get a list of files --Something about Recycle Permissions

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Posted on by sonisick

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Just not sure what to adjust to get my list of files from my C: Drive.

Error Message:

Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.SDK.ActionException: Can't retrieve list of files in folder C:\. ---> System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Access to the path 'C:\$Recycle.Bin\S-1-5-18' is denied.
at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
at System.IO.FileSystemEnumerableIterator`1.AddSearchableDirsToStack(SearchData localSearchData)
at System.IO.FileSystemEnumerableIterator`1.MoveNext()
at System.Collections.Generic.List`1..ctor(IEnumerable`1 collection)
at System.IO.DirectoryInfo.InternalGetFiles(String searchPattern, SearchOption searchOption)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Folder.Actions.FolderActions.GetFilesInFolder(Variant folder, Variant fileMask, Variant& listOfFiles, Boolean includeSubfolders, Boolean getResultInDataTable, String resultDataTableColumns, Boolean failOnAccessDenied)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Folder.Actions.GetFilesInFolder.Execute(ActionContext context)
at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.Engine.Execution.ActionRunner.Run(IActionStatement statement, Dictionary`2 inputArguments, Dictionary`2 outputArguments)

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Power Automate Desktop

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Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @sonisick

May i get more information on what you are trying to do ?

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sonisick 282 on at

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I was just trying to modify a sample program for removing empty files in a directory. I modified it to use subdirectories. Even though I'm the Admin on the machine, there may be special subdirectories you can't recurse like the Recycle Bin. I chose the C drive.

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momlo 1,527 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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There are some special folders that you can't enumerate - there is a thread on this forum about this where I OP listed what some of these are under user home folder, that's the same case.

So basically, what you need to do is:

1. Get folder list under C: but not subfodlers

2. Remove restricted folders

3. Use the list to enumarate subfolders

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sonisick 282 on at

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That makes sense because the first folder it hit the "Recycle Bin" is a special folder.

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sonisick 282 on at

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I'm assuming the folder that see when I go into explorer or get a listing from PowerShell are the non-restricted that I need to enumerate through?

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momlo 1,527 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Not really, some are visible but still protected. I did not investigate the reason why they are protected, if not OS natvie implementation, then maybe OneDrive backup redirection or AV malware protection.

This is the post. I suggested looking into xcopy to the OP as the purpose was to backup user's home folder, and xcopy imaho is much better solution and can be integrated with PAD too.

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Automate-Desktop/How-do-I-Filter-Out-Items-from-Get-subfolders-in-Folder-menus-in/m-p/2025337/highlight/true#M23385

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