How to delete C:\Windows.Old folder witout using disk cleanup

Anonymous
2010-07-07T11:34:42+00:00

In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, I don’t see the option to delete Previous Windows Installations. How do I manually delete the C:\Windows.Old folder.

 Also, what are the three command lines needed to delete the folder?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-07-08T00:23:08+00:00

Hi,

The option is shown as Previously Windows Installations.

How to Delete and Remove the Windows.old Folder on Vista or Windows 7

http://www.kodyaz.com/articles/delete-windows-old-removal.aspx

===============================================

If needed :

1. Open an Elevated Command Prompt

Start - type in Search box -> CMD     find at top - Right Click on - RUN AS ADMIN

How to Open a Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html

2. The Prompt probably looks like C:\Windows\System32>

Type this at the prompt and then hit ENTER

CD\

Now the prompt should look like C:>

3: Type this at the prompt and then hit ENTER

DIR Windows.old

Should look like C:>DIR Windows.old   

It should return

Directory of C:\Windows.old

and show the contents of Windows.old

That is just to make sure the Windows.old  folder is under C: (the C Drive) - if not STOP

4. Type this at the prompt and then hit ENTER

 Attrib -r -a -s -h C:\Windows.old /S /D

Should look like C:>Attrib -r -a -s -h C:\Windows.old /S /D

(there are SPACES between Attrib and -r and -a and -s and -h and C:\Windows.old and /S

and /D). The C:\ is the drive Windows.old is located on.

It should return you to the prompt C:\   if it shows and ERROR then STOP - check the command

and if it was typed correctly you are not in the correct spot. You may need to run the TAKEOWN

command :

TAKEOWN /f Windows.old /a /r

and repeat Step 4 - were you using an Elevated Command Prompt? Are you logged to an

ADMIN account?

5. Type this at the prompt and then hit ENTER

RD /s Windows.old

Should look like C:>RD /s Windows.old

(there are SPACES between RD and /s and Windows.old )

Will return   Windows.old, are your sure Y/N   type Y

(If you get a message that you do not have Ownership Rights then issue this command

and hit ENTER

TAKEOWN /f Windows.old /a /r

and repeat Step 5 - were you using an Elevated Command Prompt? Are you logged to an

ADMIN account?

6: Type this at the prompt and then hit ENTER

DIR Windows.old

Should look like C:>DIR Windows.old    -    and hit ENTER

It should return

Directory of C:\

File Not Found

Which confirms it is gone.

7. Close the COMMAND window

Hope this helps.

Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-01-12T12:44:26+00:00

    Neither of these work for me.

    1. Disk Cleanup doesn't include the previous windows installation in the list of things that can be removed.
    2. The command prompt method fails when attempting to change the attributes.  I.e.
    • DIR Windows.old (Successfully displays the contents of the folder)
    • Attrib /S -r -a -s -h Windows.old (Fails with "File not found - Windows.old")

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-06-29T15:57:49+00:00

    Thanks it worked perfectly for me

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-10-04T20:56:22+00:00

    Hi RTadeu,

    Were you using an Elevated Command Prompt?

    I'll add that to the troubleshooter just in case others have an issue.

    Hope this helps.

    Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle <- Mark Twain said it right.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-10-04T20:25:18+00:00

    Thanks, it worked fine!

    I'll only add that if you keep receiving that annoying message stating that you do not have rights to access the Windows.old file after you've issued the RD command (step 5), execute a TAKEOWN cmd in the form:

    TAKEOWN /f Windows.old /a /r

    and then repeat the RD command.

    It happened in my case.

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