How to Take Control and (Hopefully) Delete a "Windows.old" Folder?

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Avagadro1

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I just built a new computer and fresh-installed Windows 10.

Lots of work setting up and moving programs and files to where they belong.

Of course, directly under my “C:” folder is the “Windows” folder. But I also have a folder titled “Windows.old”, which contains lots of Windows stuff (though they may not be operative).

I did not create this “Windows.old” folder. I want to delete it, but cannot because it is a “System” folder that needs special permission. I asked about this problem earlier and received a reply or two, including a link to instructions to take control of ANY designated file. It did not work. Using the Windows “Disk Cleanup” tool was also suggested; that did not work.

Three questions:
(1) Where can I find accurate instructions to take full control of this “Windows.old” file?
(2) Where did this folder come from, i.e., how was it created?
(3) Am I correct that it can be deleted?

Thank you for any help.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Jul 31, 2011
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Hello... 2) You did not perform a "Clean install" on the HD... Utube it. At some time a install over a previous install was done, leaving the OLD system files. backed up in that directory.
3) Windows haves a hard time deleting it self... start clean... 30 minutes vs ? ( time you've already spent on this )
 
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Avagadro1

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Thank you for your assistance, but it was a CLEAN install on a brand-new build. I built the machine; I installed Windows.

So now the issue is: May I safely delete the "Windows.old" directory.

How do I take full control of this directory so that it can be deleted?

Thank you.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... 1) Microsoft or utube might have Admin instructions for this... UAC is the term for theses settings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Account_Control
2) "if a Clean Install" there would never be a 'Windows.old" folder... Was this a Upgrade? from one Windows version to the Other? that would also produce the "Windows.old" directory.
3) Windows haves a hard time deleting it self... you need to "log in" as Administrator for full control... Are you "Logged in" as a User?
 
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Avagadro1

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____________________________________________________________

Thank you, but you're not reading what I wrote. This was a clean install, on a new computer, with a retail-purchased Windows 10. And somehow I got a "Windows.old" directory (among other problems).

I am using an SSD. The only solution I see is to entirely format my new SSD and reinstall Windows 10. But I'm not sure if I can. In the old days, one would boot from the Windows CD and tell it to format the hard drive before installing Windows. My new Windows 10 comes on a little USB drive, and upon the install I don't recall it asking me if I wanted to format the SSD . . . it just installed. AND I DO NOT WANT TO INSTALL WINDOWS 10 AGAIN UNLESS I FIRST WIPE THE SSD CLEAN BY FORMATTING.

Can anyone suggest a solution?

Thank you.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... I saw win10... I update my posts as I'm helping other people and life so check/read back for added info...

What is required is 1) custom install 2) drive tools 3) delete all partitions (format is not needed). 4) continue install... all this can be done with ANY Windows install media... you'll be done in 30 mins and NO 'Windows.old" folder.

**** Formatting is not in the "Clean Install" procedure... and a waste of time... stop wasting your time.
UTUBE "Clean Install" for the OS install media used.

I understand and hear your frustration... but you started some procedure? and have this result from it. It's a Easy FIX - Start Over with the proper INSTALL procedure. And stop trying to Focus/Walk around the backdoors of the Windows OS system... Hey in LIFE you learn what NOT to do... Thomas Edison said the same of Inventing the Light Blub.
 
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Avagadro1

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______________________________________________
Thank you; I sincerely appreciate your attempts to help, but I do not understand your message.

In the old days (HDDs and Windows XP and earlier) formatting a HDD entirely wiped it clean. Of course, one could not format a HDD that was an active drive, so formatting had to be done from outside, such as by a Windows install CD.

I currently have ONE partition on my SSD "C" drive, and a small systems partition (which I believe was installed by Windows). Are you saying that all I need to do is to go to DISK MANAGEMENT and delete my main partition and the systems partition, and that will wipe everything clean . . . including every bit of Windows 10?

Can I then insert my Windows 10 USB stick and start over ENTIRELY?

Thank you.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... read update above...

In the OLD Days you created a "Partition" THEN you can Format that Partition... Your procedure wrong here again.
THESE days... You do not need to Format or Create a Partition... the OS install media will do it for you. BUT These days you need to delete all partitions on a Drive first... And let the OS install... OK?

You would have been done already... 30 mins... B D Practice make PERFECT.
 
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jakejm1979

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Ironsounds, it is very likely he did a clean install correctly. With W10 when windows updates to a new release, it will back up the old one to a windows.old folder. So if the install media he used was an older release than anything that was just released he would end up with a windows.old folder.
You have 3 choices to delete it:
1. Wait 30 days, windows will automatically delete it then.
2. Use the disk cleanup app, will have to do the clean up system files button (this will leave some files behind).
3. To get those remaining files, or just to delete them all in one go, you will have to take ownership of all the folder and subfolders, you will need an administrator account to that.
 
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Hello... AHH... he allowed Windows 10 to Update Windows 10.? version to install after the First install... OK make sense it was a Upgrade, too have Windows.old folder.
That is why my mind kept asking... What Windows version and if this was a UPGRADE? LOL B D

good job jake!!!!

Even my first sentence says it... " At some time a install over a previous install was done, leaving the OLD system files. backed up in that directory. " and he adamantly denied it " Thank you for your assistance, but it was a CLEAN install on a brand-new build. I built the machine; I installed Windows."

Then in my next response... I ASK again... "if a Clean Install" there would never be a 'Windows.old" folder... Was this a Upgrade? from one Windows version to the Other? that would also produce the "Windows.old" directory.

Oh My it's late...
 
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