Windows 10: Delete Windows.old folder

I have no need of it and want to erase it. It's visible only when I'm logged in as Administrator.

:)

 

How to delete the windows.old folders

I found a source. The old windows.old folders can not be deleted easily. But the empty windows.old folders can easily be deleted by using a Software tool "Puran Delete Empty Folders".

Thanks for all who suggested me to delete the windows.old folders from C.Drive.

 

How to delete the windows.old folders

After upgrading to the latest Preview Builds, I used to deleted the previous installation folders. Even though the previous installation was deleted, a windows.old folder remains. Thus there are windows.old, windows.old(1) to windows.old(4) (Total
five folders) are remained in C.Drive. I ran the Command Prompt with Admn.. to delete these folders. But it says 'access is denied'. I am asking how to remove these extra folders.

 

There are plenty of threads with this question. Its safe to remove it if you're happy you have all your programs running ok and your personal files are where they should be.

Use the built in disk cleanup utility to erase the file. Type "clean" in the search bar.

 

In addition: *Smile

Delete Windows.old Folder in Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

To see the Windows.old folder I have to log in as Administrator.

When I initially tried to delete the folder I was told that I hadn't got permission. The right click menu didn't show a Take Ownership option, so I had to download something (don't remember what, but it was probably mentioned in Brink's link).

On clicking Take Ownership of the Windows.old folder, a command window on steroids opened and spent a very long time listing everything in the folder, far too quickly to read.
Once that had finished I clicked on the folder and selected Delete. A fresh window opened up saying it was reading the items in the folder - or whatever. The climax being another message:





I was signed in as Administrator for God's sake.

Any ideas?

 

Disk Cleaner should be able to see it but if it doesn't you could try ticking hidden files.

 

I''m sorry swarfega but I don't understand what you mean.

 

Follow the white Brink it's the right way to delete

Delete Windows.old Folder in Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

P.S. your avatar is annoying *Shock

 

I have waded through those tutorials to no avail.

Tough.

 

Option Four?

If nothing else, option 3 should.

 

In some cases, Windows thinks that it is still loading drivers from the Windows.old folder and won't let you delete the entire folder. In order to delete windows.old in those cases, you either need to boot into safe mode or into an external Windows PE drive such as Kyhi's Recovery Tools.
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

Once you have deleted windows.old folder from either safe mode or an external bootable drive, when you reboot normally Windows will then load the offending hardware driver from the Windows DriverStore like it normally should.

 

In addition, if you have Macrium Reflect backup software installed, you can boot to either the PE boot menu option or the DVD/Thumb, use the Explorer option in the PE to delete the folder.

 

In fact, I just permanently upgraded my laptop to Creator's Fall Update edition and I had to boot into Kyhi's Recovery Tools that I have saved on a second installed drive in my computer to delete the windows.old folder. And as @f14tomcat mentioned, Macrium Reflect rescue drive (whether booted from a USB flash drive, or the boot menu option) will also allow you to do it.

 

No. Compare these screenshots.

I got lost in option 3. I will have to make notes of the sequence of instructions and try again.

Oh, and I tried safe mode as administrator and got exactly the same results - I don't have permission.