Windows 10: Why does my computer want to Delete my Previous Version of Windows?

I'm on Windows 10 and I keep getting this message popping up on my computer.


It says my computer is running low on storage. We can free up some space by deleting your previous version of Windows. Warning: You won't be able to get back to it.


My C Drive is running really low on space any idea on how to clear more space in a safer way?

:)

 

Don't delete "Previous version of Windows" before doing Creators Update

On one computer I deleted "Previous version of Windows" before doing the Creators Update, and this slowed down the update process by first doing a maintenance update of the previous version of Windows 10, followed by a re-download of the Creators Update.


Details:

Before doing a major update I do a system backup to an external hard drive. Before doing such a system backup I usually use "Remove temporary files" to get rid of material I don't need to backup. This is done using "Settings | System | Storage | Local
storage | Computer (C | Temporary files". The checkbox for "Previous version of Windows" typically gave a simple way of deleting the Windows.old files that "give you the option to go back to your previous version of Windows".

But before the Creators Update, what is labeled as "Previous version of Windows" seems instead to be the pending update and there is no Windows.old folder despite the computer reporting several gigabytes of "Previous version of Windows".

On one computer I deleted "Previous version of Windows" and the Creators Update failed and Windows Update then installed a maintenance update of the previous version of Windows 10, followed by a re-download of the Creators Update. The Creators Update then
installed without problem.

One the second computer I left "Previous version of Windows" alone and the Creators Update worked first time.

It seems that deleting "Previous version of Windows" actually deletes the pending Creators update.

My experience suggests doing the following:

• Users: don't delete "Previous version of Windows" before doing the Creators Update. It is the Creators Update.
• Microsoft: don't report the pending Creators Update as "Previous version of Windows" and tempt users to delete it.

 

Deleting previous versions of Windows 10 fails

I am trying to delete C:\Windows.old. I tried this: How to Delete an Old Windows Folder from Windows 10 but the option isn't listed. Then I tried this: Delete Your Previous Version of Windows, where there is the option to delete the previous versions but it doesn't work. I also tried this: How to Delete an Old Windows Folder Without Using a Disk using the command line but nothing again (it says access denied at step 5)... any other way?

 

erase previous version of windows to create space

Perform the steps to delete previous version of windows :-

• 
  In the search box on the taskbar, type settings, then choose it from the list of results.
  
• 
  Select System > Storage > This PC and then scroll down the list and choose Temporary file
  
• Under Remove temporary files, select the Previous version of Windows check box and then choose Remove files.