xp_delete_file doesn't work...

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Rob 2 asked May 25, '10

xp_delete_file doesn't work...

I want to delete files from backup activities using xp_delete_files, I created a new maintenance plan to delete *.bak and *.trn files.

Both doesn't work and no error message is generated.

The T-SQL statement being made is:
EXECUTE master.dbo.xp_delete_file 0,N'D:\Backup\iWMC',N'bak',N'2010-05-11T12:48:38'

When I run it in a query window using my own account it fails as well without a message.

I checked
- that the files to be deleted are a result of an backup (the first 0)
- the path is correct no trailing \ (i tried a trailing \ and that doesn't work either)
- file extension doesn't has a . in it (i tried a leading . and that doesn't work either)
- the date contains a T and is of nchar type

The instance is version 9.0.3080 SP2 standard edition on a 64 bit platform.

backup administration datafiles

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Rob 2 · May 27, 2010 at 10:33 AM

When I try to delete 1 specific file I get: Executed as user: admin-vos. xp_delete_file() returned error 5, 'Access is denied.' [SQLSTATE 42000] (Error 22049). But I can delete the file using the explorer.

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Answer 1 · 2010-05-25T09:27:53Z

Kev Riley answered May 25, '10

You need to have sysadmin privileges - can you confirm that you are running the maintenance plan with a user with those rights, and that when you try it in a query window you have the right privileges.

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Rob 2 · May 27, 2010 at 09:54 AM

Thanks for your responce but I checked it and I have sysadmin. I used: SELECT SSP.name AS [Login Name], SSP.type_desc AS [Login Type], UPPER(SSPS.name) AS [Server Role] FROM sys.server_principals SSP INNER JOIN sys.server_role_members SSRM ON SSP.principal_id=SSRM.member_principal_id INNER JOIN sys.server_principals SSPS ON SSRM.role_principal_id = SSPS.principal_id; to check my server role, and is is sysadmin. Sorry for the mess but I can''t change it.

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Answer 2 · 2010-05-28T11:42:13Z

ThomasRushton answered May 28, '10

The joys of using undocumented commands.

https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=124708&wa=wsignin1.0

However, there is some useful information here: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/andy_leonard/archive/2009/03/11/xp-delete-file.aspx - this link shows a further parameter that your code doesn't have. Perhaps this is the problem?

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