Windows 10: Delete Windows.old Folder in Windows 10

It does indeed. That is Option 4 and the easiest option.

 

I'm going to have to give CCleaner a go I think as this ASUS Probe folder just won't go away.







Thing is I never installed ASUS probe, only the fan control option of AI Suite III. I suppose it can all be sorted through a clean install but why that's locked is really bugging me.

 

I had this problem, just used this to change ownership of it https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html

 

Much appreciated, I'm having the same problem in 10162 only it's the Windows Telemetry that's buggering things up this time. I'll give that a go.

 

Thanks for this tutorial, but this only seemed to partially delete this folder. I've tried all options, and only the first couple have made a difference. When I tried the second option, it would say 'access denied' for a lot of files. The third option would just say "This folder isn't empty." I've made a thread of this issue if you need more information, but how would I bypass this?

 

I ran Disk Cleanup a few times and finally my stubborn folders gave in and Windows.old disappeared without my even knowing, I checked this morning and it was gone (it had been there a while from when I upgraded to the RTM build from the last Insider build). A couple of reboots and another couple of rounds of Disk Cleanup may do the trick.

 

Hi,
I tried all the options but Windows.old wont go away.
It still contains a few folders which refuse to be deleted: Windows>System32>drivers and DriverStore both of which contain folders and/or files. Total size down to 1.10 MB from 24 GB.
Don't know if I need to be concerned or not!

Peter

 

Hello Peter, and welcome to Ten Forums.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it since it's that small now.

If you're determined, you could see if the free program Unlocker may be able to delete the folder. *Smile

 

Maybe this is a dumb question but why can't you simply "right click" the windows.old folder and delete it?

 

It will say 'You require permission from SYSTEM to make changes to this folder.'

 

Hello,

Idem for me but I would say, maybe it's kind of normal. Files are :

Code: C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\drivers>dir /B SurfaceAccessoryDevice.sys SurfaceCapacitiveHomeButton.sys SurfaceDisplayCalibration.sys SurfacePenDriver.sys TrueColor.sys[/quote] Code: C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\drivers\UMDF>dir /B SurfaceCoverTelemetry.dll SurfaceTypeCoverV3FwUpdate.dll[/quote] Code: C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository>dir /B surfaceaccessorydevice.inf_amd64_e89baec14a54ce3f surfacecapacitivehomebutton.inf_amd64_26b38c30587744f4 surfacecovertelemetry.inf_amd64_512f78d03641e81f surfacedisplaycalibration.inf_amd64_4f517f69e02d33b1 surfacependriver.inf_amd64_30f02b16beecd08a surfacetypecoverv3fwupdate.inf_amd64_772e45afb16888a1 truecolor.inf_amd64_6c44c35093e5f051[/quote] I guess they are files / drivers linked to Surface Device maybe not really yet updated in Win 10 version.
I think we don't have to remove them.

Regards,

 

I got like this in admn cmd prompt

C:\WINDOWS\system32>rd /S /Q %SystemDrive%\Windows.old
C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\drivers\IntcDAud.sys - Access is denied.
C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\DRIVER~1\FILERE~1\INTCDA~1.INF\IntcDAud.sys - Access is denied.
C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\DRIVER~1 - Access is denied.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

What to do?

 

Hello Ivgandhi,

How does it work in Disk Cleanup instead?

 

I have already tried in disk cleanup. But for these files ie single file in two places, all others were cleaned in disk clean up.
These two files exist in C:|Windows\system32\Drivers also. But size is 1 kb less. First when I tried to delete with right click, I got message folder or file is being used by another program. Hence I tried disk clean up and now your suggestion. All failed.

 

In that case, you could see if the free program Unlocker may be able to delete it.