Windows 10: Can't Delete Windows.old because of leftover DriverStore folders

After waiting for some indication of what to do with my existing Windows 10.0.240 installation I decided to bite the bullet and just download the Media Creation Tool. I then allowed it to "upgrade" my existing Windows 10 install, a process that went smoothly until I tried to delete the Windows.old folder through Disk Cleanup. All but a few folders got deleted - specifically, 4 folders related to the Intel Atom z2760 chipset software which are hiding under the following folder:

C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

Not matter what I try, I can't seem to get rid of these few remaining folders, and by extension, Windows.old. Anyone have any advice on how to nuke this stuff once and for all?

RCK

:)

 

Can't delete windows.old

Hi All,

After I updated Surface Pro 2 to windows 8.1 and then to win 10 it can't delete windows.old folder.

I used cleanup, it can't do it. Neither I could do it manually. This is because some driver files are in use in system32/drivers:

SurfaceAccessoryDevice.sys

SurfaceIntegrationDriver.sys

SurfaceTypeCover.sys

And the same files in system32/DriverStore.

The names suggest these are drivers for surface type cover so I tried to disconnect it, reboot without a cover and try to delete he files - no luck.

The same is when I boot up in safe mode.

One of the posts suggests using this script:

takeown /F "%SystemDrive%\Windows.old" /R /A /D Y

icacls "%SystemDrive%\Windows.old" /grant Administrators:F /T /C

rd /s /q "%SystemDrive%\Windows.old"

but it doesn't wrk either (access denied).

Does anyone know how to delete the old folder?

Thanks!

Artem Kliachkine

 

Using Command Prompt to get rid of Old Installation of Windows doesn't work (neither does Disk Cleanup)

When I bought my (new) computer, it already had Windows 10 on it, but it had an old windows installation file on it.

My computer keeps notifying me that it's low on memory. I want to get rid of this useless file, but it won't go away.

Running disk cleanup as administrator and trying to delete this file doesn't work. It's still there. How do I get it off?

UPDATE: I realize that disk cleanup isn't working
at all.

I found some instructions for trying to use Command Prompt (again, running it as an administrator) to get rid of the old installation. It didn't work. Here are the steps I followed:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.14393]

(c) 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>CD/

C:\>DIR Windows.old

Volume in drive C is Windows

Volume Serial Number is 6AD4-9905

Directory of C:\Windows.old

09/16/2016 03:04 PM <DIR> .

09/16/2016 03:04 PM <DIR> ..

09/16/2016 03:05 PM <DIR> WINDOWS

0 File(s) 0 bytes

3 Dir(s) 11,980,173,312 bytes free

C:\>TAKEOWN /f Windows.old /a /r

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaiogpioe.inf_x86_e8244de89b1b260d" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaioi2ce.inf_x86_8fa8dabb9d357ed7" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaiogpioe.inf_x86_e8244de89b1b260d\iaiogpioe.sys" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaioi2ce.inf_x86_8fa8dabb9d357ed7\iaioi2ce.sys" now owned by the administrators group.

C:\>Attrib -r -a -s -h C:\Windows.old /S /D

C:\>RD /s Windows.old

Windows.old, Are you sure (Y/N)? Y

Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys - Access is denied.

Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys - Access is denied.

Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOGP~3.INF\iaiogpioe.sys - Access is denied.

Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOI2~2.INF\iaioi2ce.sys - Access is denied.

C:\>Takeown /f Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys" now owned by user [me]

C:\>takeown /f Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys" now owned by user [me]

C:\>takeown /f Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOGP~3.INF\iaiogpioe.sys

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOGP~3.INF\iaiogpioe.sys" now owned by user [me]

C:\>takeown /f Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOI2~2.INF\iaioi2ce.sys

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOI2~2.INF\iaioi2ce.sys" now owned by user [me]

C:\> Attrib -r -a -s -h C:\Windows.old /S /D

C:\>RD /s Windows.old

Windows.old, Are you sure (Y/N)? y

Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys - Access is denied.

Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys - Access is denied.

Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOGP~3.INF\iaiogpioe.sys - Access is denied.

Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOI2~2.INF\iaioi2ce.sys - Access is denied.

C:\>

C:\>RD /f Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys

Invalid switch - "f".

C:\>rmdir /S /Q C:\Windows.old\

C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys - Access is denied.

C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys - Access is denied.

C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOGP~3.INF\iaiogpioe.sys - Access is denied.

C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOI2~2.INF\iaioi2ce.sys - Access is denied.

C:\>cacls C:\Windows.old\*.* /T /grant administrators:F

Are you sure (Y/N)?Y

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore

processed file: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys

processed file: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaiogpioe.inf_x86_e8244de89b1b260d

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaioi2ce.inf_x86_8fa8dabb9d357ed7

processed file: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaiogpioe.inf_x86_e8244de89b1b260d\iaiogpioe.sys

processed file: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaioi2ce.inf_x86_8fa8dabb9d357ed7\iaioi2ce.sys

C:\>takeown /F C:\Windows.old\* /R /A

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaiogpioe.inf_x86_e8244de89b1b260d" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaioi2ce.inf_x86_8fa8dabb9d357ed7" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaiogpioe.inf_x86_e8244de89b1b260d\iaiogpioe.sys" now owned by the administrators group.

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaioi2ce.inf_x86_8fa8dabb9d357ed7\iaioi2ce.sys" now owned by the administrators group.

C:\>cacls C:\Windows.old\*.* /T /grant administrators:F

Are you sure (Y/N)?

C:\>Y

'Y' is not recognized as an internal or external command,

operable program or batch file.

C:\>cacls C:\Windows.old\*.* /T /grant administrators:F

Are you sure (Y/N)?Y

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore

processed file: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys

processed file: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaiogpioe.inf_x86_e8244de89b1b260d

processed dir: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaioi2ce.inf_x86_8fa8dabb9d357ed7

processed file: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaiogpioe.inf_x86_e8244de89b1b260d\iaiogpioe.sys

processed file: C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\iaioi2ce.inf_x86_8fa8dabb9d357ed7\iaioi2ce.sys

C:\>rmdir /S /Q C:\Windows.old\

C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaiogpioe.sys - Access is denied.

C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\iaioi2ce.sys - Access is denied.

C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOGP~3.INF\iaiogpioe.sys - Access is denied.

C:\Windows.old\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\IAIOI2~2.INF\iaioi2ce.sys - Access is denied.

Thanks!

 

before you nuke them - verify they are in the Current windows folder

 

Yeah, I manually walked through each of the referenced drivers in Device Manager and uninstalled them/reinstalled them via "Have Disk" while pointing at a different source for the driver files. A check of the drivers shows them all now pointing at their associated .sys files in System32\Drivers, and I've also checked that the equivalent folders exist under the current (not Windows.old) DriverStore folder.

So I think it should be OK to nuke them, I'm just not sure how to convince Windows to let me do it. *Sad

RCK

 

I've had the same problem in each of my last two build updates. If I find a way to get rid of them I'll let you know, CCleaner did work once but not this time.

 

Well, it's not that much of a problem since I can confirm that all of my drivers are installed and working from the expected locations. But still, it's annoying to have that orphaned Windows.old folder lurking in my file system. I'm a disk "clean freak" and hate to see extraneous stuff floating around, especially in the root folder. *Sad

RCK

 

Update: Well I poked around a bit too much in my efforts to delete that stubborn Windows.old folder. After removing several related drivers from Device Manager I rendered my laptop unbootable. Then, when I went to do a "clean" install from my recently downloaded RTM ISO image (e.g. my way around creating a "Windows.old" folder in the first place), I discovered that Windows 10 would refuse to activate.

I'm guessing it was probably related to the fact that my laptop's embedded-in-the-BIOS product key was for Windows 8.x Home, and though I had since upgraded the machine to Windows 8.1 Pro, that somehow the activation servers never got the message. Long story short I had to do a clean install of Windows 8.1 - using my "Pro" product key - and then upgrade from there. Which, of course, left me with another...

...Windows.old folder that simply WON'T DIE!!! ARGHHHH!!!!! *Sad

RCK

 

Right click on the folder > properties > security tab > advanced >
Then at the top you'll see a blue "Change" link next to "Owner: ..." Click that.
Enter your user in the box > click "Check Names" and it should load your account > OK > OK > OK
Then you should have permission to edit the security settings since you're the owner of the folder now.

 

i use this to delete windows.old folders Download Unlocker 1.9.2 - FileHippo.com

 

I suggest you run Disk Cleanup and pick Clean Up System Files then old windows installs, that's what I did. There is installs, upgrade files and some error logs that can go. They all have the same icon.

 

The initial post said he did use Disk Cleanup.

 

i used disk clean up also and the old windows folder is still there.

 

Thanks, guess i'm blind.

 

There must be a solution to this. I'm clearly not alone - some aspect of the upgrade leaves the new install with open file handles to those Windows.old folder contents. Very annoying...

RCK