Still Have "Windows.old" Folder Even After Clean Install

[Avagadro1]

I just did my third Clean Install of Windows 10 (on a new machine) because each time Windows created a "Windows.old" folder in the C directory, just after the Windows directory.

I've even done "Atomic Bomb" reinstallations, using "Reset This PC" and wiping the entire SSD clean prior to installing Windows. I still get a "Windows.old" Folder.

Is there any way NOT to get a "Windows.old" Folder when installing Windows 10 in any manner?

By the way, using the "Disk Cleanup" tool will not get rid of the "Windows.old" folder.

Thank you.

 

[BadActor]

That is the folder where the rollback info is kept. It will automatically be deleted after thirty days, or you can simply just right click on the folder and delete. I would make sure there is nothing in there you want to save though.

 

[smorizio]

windows.old will show up if you leave any partion with data on a hard drive and then try to install windows. to remove it boot from the windows boot disk and go to advance mode. delete all the partions from the boot disk. make sure there no system restore left. with the drive empty reboot the installer and make sure it pointed at the right drive.

 

[Avagadro1]

That is the folder where the rollback info is kept. It will automatically be deleted after thirty days, or you can simply just right click on the folder and delete. I would make sure there is nothing in there you want to save though.

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Thank you, but it will not delete ... no matter what. I've tried twenty different ways.

 

[Avagadro1]

That is the folder where the rollback info is kept. It will automatically be deleted after thirty days, or you can simply just right click on the folder and delete. I would make sure there is nothing in there you want to save though.

__________________________________
No, that does not work. Will not delete the "Windows.old" folder.

 

[BadActor]

If it is a permission denied problem, you might be able to add "Take Ownership" to your context menu and then try right clicking on the folder and select Take Ownership and then delete it.

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3841-take-ownership-add-context-menu-windows-10-a.html

 

[Avagadro1]

windows.old will show up if you leave any partion with data on a hard drive and then try to install windows. to remove it boot from the windows boot disk and go to advance mode. delete all the partions from the boot disk. make sure there no system restore left. with the drive empty reboot the installer and make sure it pointed at the right drive.

________________________________________
Thank you, but there is no boot disk. My Windows 10 came on a like USB stick, and I don't believe (but not sure) one can make partition changes from there (but not sure).

 

[smorizio]

if it boots and there an f6 to go into advance mode you can del all the partions there or go into dos mode from the usb stick and run diskpart commands to clean the drive.