Question: Similar to [rm on cygwin, cannot unlink not owner](https://superuser.com/questions/61197/rm-on-cygwin-cannot-unlink-not-owner), but for MINGW32. I tried chmod u+w path but this did not help.

```
user@computer /d
$ rm dir -d
rm: cannot unlink `dir': Not owner

user@computer /d
$ chmod u+w dir

user@computer /d
$ rm dir -d
rm: cannot unlink `dir': Not owner

```

Answer: 
super-user (root) is the only account able to use `rm -d` flag

---

From the rm man page 

```
-d, --directory

      unlink FILE, even if it is  a  non-empty  directory  (super-user
      only; this works only if your system supports ‘unlink’ for 
          nonempty directories)

```

I don't think mingw supports `su root` or anything like it so using `rm -d` is unavailable.

Have you tried `rm -rf /full/path/to/dir` or (if empty) `rmdir /full/path/to/dir` ?
From the looks of it, it seems like you're trying to 'rm' a directory ("dir"). "rmdir" would rather do the trick.

Otherwise, other things that come to mind:

1. Can you remove the file from windows explorer or a dos prompt? If yes, then it could be a mingw bug.
2. If the file is marked as "read-only" then you can't rm it.