Windows 10: PC Reset and Windows.old

OK, I'm pretty new here so I thought I'd ask this question for help. When I reset my PC (I have done 2x) does it use the Recovery Partition or does it (like I've heard) use some folder on WinSXS or something like that? I wanted to remove the 4.50GB Recovery Partition because it's a 32GB SSD my PC has and I currently have 9.50GB free now. Also I am having a problem with fully deleting the Windows.old folders (I have 2, One is 900MB and the other is 250MB) It says I need permission from the SYSTEM to delete.

:)

 

I can't Reset my PC

But I tried this too and it did the same thing... I deleted windows.old folder when i first reset my PC and now I want to Reset it again. Is there a possibility for it to not reset the PC because I had deleted the windows.old folder?

 

Question regarding resetting the PC and windows.old

Hi Jay,

When you select Remove Everything, it removes everything on your PC including folders and drivers. It basically puts your software back to the same condition as when you started your PC for the very first time like when you purchased it.

Interrupting the reset process may cause corruption.

For information regarding resetting your PC, you can refer to this
link.

Let us know if you have other questions.

Thank you.

 

Welcome to TenForums, DDroid!

The 4.5 GB recovery partition, at that size, sounds like it's more likely a factory restore partition. Did the laptop (assuming this is machine in "My System Specs") come with win10 installed from factory or older OS? If it came with older, and I am right in that the 4.5 partition is factory restore, you may be better off abandoning that and just using a good imaging program (example - Macrium Reflect Free) to make an externally stored image of your entire disk to rely on as a restore method. It might aid in more specific help for you if you take a screenshot of the Disk Management display on your machine and post it here.

Windows.old is more easily disposed of using the extended mode of the Disk Cleanup Tool. There is a tutorial on that here (see Option One, Step 5, or Option Two): https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html

 

Yes, my system had Windows 8.1 Build 9600 originally and updated to Windows 10, but will removing the recovery partition remove the ability to press the "Esc" button and go to the recovery menu? Also do you need an external backup drive (Just Made one) to reset the PC or is that not required?

 

Removing the factory restore partition will indeed disrupt the manufacturer recovery option you are getting with the "Esc" key. However, Windows has recovery options of its own and these, beyond the troubleshooting options it provides, would rely on its own means to provide a reset - one of those means could be a bootable DVD or USB flash drive.

Since your disk space is at such a premium, I would first use extended disk cleanup and whatever means necessary to get rid completely of the Windows.old folder(s) - assuming you are beyond using Windows.old as a means to rollback to Windows 8.1. Have you tried extended Disk Cleanup yet?

After that's settled, I would seriously consider a 3rd party full disk imaging to an external USB as a means of backing up your system and get rid of the 4.5 GB partition - I'm still assuming that is a factory restore partition. If you have enough room on an external drive, you could image the entire disk now, tuck that away in a safe place and always have that to restore if you change your mind and want to revert to your Win 8.1 out-of-the-box condition.

Some useful information would be a screenshot of your Disk Management display (mentioned earlier). Also of use would be the output of the following commands from an elevated (Admin) command prompt:

DISKPART
SELECT DISK 0
LIST PART

Another useful piece of info (AFTER "EXIT"ing DISKPART) would be the ouput of the command "reagentc /info".

This would give you a more certain picture of what's what in your partitions, helping to confirm that the 4.5 GB partition is for factory restore.

 

On getting rid of that windows.old folder, if you still have problems using disk cleaner removing that file, their is another method.
Take a look at this tutorial: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html

That will add a new setting to your pull down menu, called Take Ownership. Then just click on the file or folder you want to delete, like Windows.old, take over ownership, then delete. It will be removed. Just a suggestion.

 

Okay, here are some screenshots. Somehow the Partition has grown from 4.51GB to 4.88GB and another partition at 450MB was also added. Both Partitions have 100% free space (SEE 2nd Screenshot), does that mean there is nothing in the partitions at all? How weird is that! Yes I have extended the Disk Cleanup to clean the "System Files" or "Run As Administrator" in the start menu. Every time I "Clean" the Windows.old it just won't go away (SEE 3rd Screenshot)...

 

Yup I had the exact same problem with disk cleaner, would not remove some files even thou it was telling me it would. THEN after I did a clean install, one of the 1st things that worked the way its suppose to was Disk Cleaner. Install that Take Ownership to your context menu, read the link I posted in here. Then just go to your windows old folder take control, and delete the file.

 

Or you can just run Disk Cleaner as an Admin. Either way will work.

 

He tried Gary, didn't work....read his post. *Smile

 

I have tried taking ownership but it kept saying that the "SYSTEM" is denying me to change owners, I've also read somewhere that if you can't do any of those things it's because the "SYSTEM" is still using Drivers of files from the Windows.old folder(s).

 

The 100% free space is not correct - Disk Management display on space usage is not correct for GPT set up disks like yours. A tool like the free MiniTool Partition Wizard would give you a correct report on that.

I still believe that 4.5 GB is likely a factory restore partition and is low hanging fruit for you to recover some valuabe disk real estate.

How about output from elevated (Admin) command prompt run of "reagentc /info"?

 

Ok, sounds like you should really think hard about doing a Clean install then!!! Your computer seems to be having more problems than it should, back up your computer, make a disk image using Macrium Reflect to a 2nd drive, or external drive, and read the tutorial on how to Clean install. Just my opinion.

 

here is that info about the Windows RE, it says it is on Partition 4 which is the 450MB one, here is the real sizes and used info.