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

Anonymous

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?

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Anonymous

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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53 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-12-18T18:42:16+00:00

I had to grant rights with icacls to get this to work; removal of the old Windows 8.1 after upgrading to 10.

takeown /F C:\Windows.old /A /R

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

icacls C:\Windows.old /Grant Administrators:F /inheritance:e /T

rd /S C:\Windows.old
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Anonymous

2016-03-31T13:08:27+00:00

Hi all,

So I have an HP stream that updated from Windows 7 to Windows 10. When I run the disk cleanup the option does not show for cleaning up old versions of windows. I updated my Acer and there was no issue with this, I deleted the old version of Windows and captured the space back using disk clean up so I understand how it is used.

I also tried what you recommend here by using the elevated command prompts. The result was that the Windows old file was not found, however there is literally .04 GB left on my Stream and the C drive is completely full. When I analyze the disk it says old files take up 16.85 GB and I have never put anything on this computer because when I upgraded to ten there was no space. I am using an external hard drive right now. The only thing that can be hogging all the space is the old version of Windows but I can't find it anywhere.

I also tried to use the Smart Component clean up task and it just said "running' under task for two days. Nothing ever happened and I finally shut it down.

Finally, when I check under previous versions, as if I were going to restore, it tells me there are no previous versions available. I am completely stumped.

Can you please advise me what to do?

thanks

Kim
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Anonymous

2016-04-25T12:05:26+00:00

I know this is an old thread, but the program you mentioned, "Filexile V2.00" worked where NOTHING ELSE did, including the overly complicated deletion process recommended by the "experts" here.

Thank you wirerope
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Anonymous

2016-05-03T12:19:43+00:00

Windows.old did not show up in the disk cleanup tool. I tried changing the permission to admin, and to myself - still couldn't delete (took a while, though).

Finally, while looking for something else, I noticed in the storage settings (one of those new Windows-app style windows, just search "storage" in the search bar/start menu) that it has it listed under temporary files. All I had to do was click delete there.

Note - it says "They'll be automatically deleted a month after you upgrade." I upgraded 9 months ago. Thankfully "To fee up space, you can delete them now."
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