Windows 10: One file left in Windows.old

After a successful install, I used Disk Cleanup to to remove windows.old - after a good while it finished, but the folder is still there, with one file still left:
C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\point32.inf_x86_neutral_4c8bd195d4599eb3\ point32.sys
the file also exists in the new windows folder which is similar but exactly the same:
C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\point32.inf_x86_4c8bd195d4599eb3\point32.sys
The two files are identical, same SHA-256 hash.

Initially the error was "Access Denied" so I took ownership of each folder and gave myself full control, after that, the error changed to "File is in use by another program" - Process Explorer could not find a handle to the file. Oddly, I can rename the file, which I did, to point32.xsysx but still cannot remove it. I know it's just one lousy 40KB file but it has me baffled.

:)

 

Windows.old

I've upgrading a netbook from Windows 7 to Windows 10. I've gone through the steps to eliminate the windows.old directory. I did the disk cleanup, then selected to cleanup system files. I've checked the box to eliminate previous windows installations.
When completed it leaves one system file down about 4 directoried down. Only the one file is left, but it causes the windows.old to remain. How do I get rid of this file (and windows.old). The procedure outlined in many discussions does not completely do the
job. I would like to get rid of windows.old

 

Windows 10 installed itself, no 'Go Back to Windows 7" option

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in replying.

Please check if the “Windows.old” folder with its contents still exists in the computer. Some files used by your previous version of Windows will be left in the Windows.old folder.

Cheers.

 

Hi, suggest you boot from a live boot CD (there's one available here - first item in Software and Apps) or even a Win 10 disk or usb if you're familiar with using the command prompt, and delete these from outside Windows.

 

My experience may be different from yours, but...

I also used Disk Cleanup to remove windows.old and it left the folder and some file in it. Being a neat freak I managed to delete the file and the folder. Then Windows 7 Backup and Restore, on the next and subsequent backups, claimed that the backup completed but there was a problem. It claimed that it could not find windows.old. So there was a reference to windows.old somewhere but I couldn't find the reference. So I created an empty folder windows.old in the expected place and backup got happy again.

I think there is magic associated with the folder. It might be best to leave it alone.

Good luck!
-- Larry

 

Thanks - Yep I get that, my main source of confusion is that I can rename the file but cannot delete it. Everything I know and have read says that rename and delete permissions are not separable. Also, if it is in use, as per the error I get trying to delete, how can I rename it ?

 

because *.sys is a system driver....
the registry is pointing to the windows.old as the current source for (and loaded ) the driver...

booting from a non-windows environment will allow you to remove the windows.old folder and upon reboot windows will use the default location for the driver - which is also present in the driverstore..

If you are able to rename the file in windows.old folder - do so - then reboot the pc - so windows will load the default location for that driver

 

Thanks for the reply - I use Acronis and Macrium, never used Windows Backup. I also cannot find any references to windows.old except that Process Explorer shows that explorer.exe has 3 handles to it. I tried setting up a cmd window with the delete command already there, killing explorer with task manager and hitting enter in the cmd window - access denied. Did you make a typo when you said that Windows 7 Backup and restore complained about windows.old ? It would seem that if there is a windows.old folder, them Windows 7 is gone ?? Have a look at my other response - "my main source of confusion"

 

Tried that but it made no difference, still errored with same message.

 

This is common - you need to boot (as others say) from outside windows using eg live linux drive, ms drive, or something like Macrium Rescue drive (use its file explorer)

 

I understand that but still wonder why I can rename the file to anything I want, but not delete it no matter what the name is changed to.

 

File will be owned by System, and not have delete rights.

 

Here is the Information for that file: (Output edited, forum changes [colon][:] from icacls output to sad face)

>>dir /q point32.sys
Directory of C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\point32.inf_x86_neutral_4c8bd195d4599eb3
08/01/2011 04:56 PM 40,936 New-PC\devon point32.sys
1 File(s) 40,936 bytes
0 Dir(s) 74,154,618,880 bytes free


>>icacls point32.sys
point32.sys APPLICATION PACKAGE AUTHORITY\ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES-(RX)
NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM-(F)
BUILTIN\Users-(F)
NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller-(F)
Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

 

When a file cannot be renamed majority of time is because the file is associated with another file that is active in your operating system

opps i did it again opened a new new post sorry for that

 

I can rename the file with no problem to anything that is allowed, I just cannot delete it.
I am editing out the long pathname for clarity

>rename point32.sys noname

>dir noname
08/01/2011 04:56 PM 40,936 noname

>del noname
noname
Access is denied.



>rename noname tenforums.com


>dir *.com
08/01/2011 04:56 PM 40,936 tenforums.com

>del tenforums.com
tenforums.com
Access is denied.


>del tenforums.com
tenforums.com
Access is denied.