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
    2010-07-07T19:57:02+00:00

    Well the option should exists on Disk Cleanup:

    1. Click on Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disc Cleanup
    2. When the dialog box comes up, select the drive that has the .old files on it and clickOK
    3. The system then scans for the files to be cleaned up and another dialog box opens with the selection.  Click on the button labeledClean up system filesat the bottom of that dialog box.
    4. Another dialog box will come up, select the drive again that has the .old files on it.  The system will perform another scan for the system files that need to be cleaned up.
    5. After scanning, another dialog box opens up and there you will find a list of check boxes.  Scroll through and check on the box labeledOlder versions of Windowsand click OK.

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