List (and then delete) all folders with no files - cmd

Question

I'd like to find all the folders under a specific path (C:\main_folder) that have no files in it.
I've found a way with cmd for doing it:
#echo off
setlocal
set "folder=C:\main_folder"
for /r "%folder%" /d %%F in (.) do dir /b "%%F" | findstr "^" >nul || (echo %%~fF) > "C:\empty_folders_list.txt"
but if I have
C:\main_folder\folder_1 containing folder_2 and no files and
C:\main_folder\folder_1\folder_2 with no files, that code gives only
C:\main_folder\folder_1\folder_2, while I'd like to have also
C:\main_folder\folder_1 in it.
It shouldn't look only to the folders that have no files, cause I can have
C:\main_folder\folder_3 containing folder_4 and no files but if
C:\main_folder\folder_3\folder_4 contains file, folder_3 and folder_4 shouldn't be listed.
And after having the list I want to delete them (the list is only for checking/saving them).
How do I write it?
Thanks!

Answer 1

This worked for me:
#echo off
setlocal
set "folder=C:\temp\bob"
for /r "%folder%" /d %%F in (.) do dir /b /s /a-d "%%F" 2>nul | findstr "^" >nul || echo %%~fF
output:
C:\temp>test
C:\temp\bob\empty parent
C:\temp\bob\empty parent\empty subfolder
C:\temp\bob\not empty parent\empty subfolder

Answer 2

If you are a supported Windows system, it will have PowerShell. This requires PowerShell 3.0+, but can be done with 2.0 with some modifications.
This gathers the list of subdirectories and sorts the names descending. This is so that an empty directory that had empty subdirectories will be removed.
When you are satisfied that the correct directories will be removed, remove the -WhatIf from the Remove-Item command.
=== Remove-Empties.ps1
$baseDir = 'C:\main_folder'
$dirs = (Get-ChildItem -Directory -Recurse -Path $baseDir).FullName | Sort-Object -Descending
foreach ($dir in $dirs) {
if (((Get-ChildItem -Directory -Path $dir).Length -eq 0) -and
((Get-ChildItem -File -Path $dir | Measure-Object).Count -eq 0)) {
"Removing directory $($dir)"
Remove-Item -Path $dir -WhatIf
}
}
=== Invoke from cmd.exe command line or .bat file script
powershell -NoLogo -NoProfile -File ".\Remove-Empties.ps1" >"C:\empty_folders_list.txt"