Safe to remove "Windows.old"?
After reading all of the similar queries about 'Safe to delete Windows.old', I'm still not sure and would appreciate any constructive help.
Before you reinstall Windows 7, I copied all my files, data, etc. on an external hard drive. After re-installation of Windows 7 and recovering an external hard drive, my drive "c" shows, among many other issues, ' Windows (19.5 GB - 87 900 files & 17 512 records) and "Windows.old" (100 GB-182 630 files & records 28 412). I understand that it is necessary, before deleting "Windows.old", to ensure that all records etc. inside are included in the new (?) "Windows", but it seems a very important task. Some of the folders etc. in "Windows.old" I recognize as obsolete or unnecessary and would be deleted manually, but these are relatively numerous.
AM I correct in this assumption, or is there, I hope, a shortcut?
No no no.... you do not have need of the old folder at all. Your system doesn't have it. It is there only as a convenience to you, the user. Just in case where you might have had some of your personal files or anything else you want to get to it (for example the emails that have been stored in your Inbox before you reinstalled).
If you do not need anything, whether it is safe to delete.
If you are still not sure: you can always just move it to the Recycle Bin for a few weeks. If nothing comes that you discovered that you need, you can simply empty the trash.
Tags: Windows
Similar Questions
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is it safe to remove the old windows updates
Is it safe to remove the old updates in Windows Vista?
Generally, no.
You can use the program compcln.exe to remove the Service pack files and to perpetuate a service pack, as described here:
http://support.Microsoft.com/?kbid=2592038
This program is in C:\Windows\System32
You can uninstall the updates that have been replaced by a later update, but I don't know of an easy way to identify them. I don't think that in doing so, there is a great advantage.
If you uninstall an update that is still necessary, he will be released the next time that WIndows Update is running.
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Is it safe to delete Windows.old files after doing a system restore?
I would like to know if it is safe to delete Windows.old files after doing a system restore. I did two restorations system in a year or two, and I have two files labeled "Windows.old" and "Windows.old.000" which are just take a lot of space on my computer. I heard that it is safe to remove them, but only if some files are copied correctly. How do you know if those files are copied on?
Thank you!Hello
It is safe to delete
but get your data off it 1 if necessary
you are the one who has to decide if you have recovered your data from the windows.old folder, until you remove
Here's how to recover data from it
How to restore your personal files after you perform a custom Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation
http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/932912
and here's how to remove
http://www.Vistax64.com/tutorials/240390-Windows-old-folder-delete.html
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How can I remove windows .old folder
Recently passed under win 7 to 8 Win. I have Windows.old and Windows.old.000 files and I can't delete them.
I tried the cleanup utility, remove the old installation of windows, without success.
Hello
How to remove the Windows.old folder
http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows-8/how-remove-Windows-old-folderHow to remove the "Windows.old" folder in Windows 8 (several methods)
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2527-Windows-old-folder-delete-Windows-8-a.htmlHow to recover files from the Windows.old folder
http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows-8/restore-files-upgrade-Windows-old================================
If necessary:
1. open a command prompt (Admin)
Since the office - key Windows + X, or right-click in the lower left-
Command prompt (Admin); OR in the screen start just start typing CMD
or in the Menu of charms - research - Apps - CMD-> and right-click on it.
then on low screen "Run as Administrator".2 prompt probably like C:\Windows\System32 >
This type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.
CD\
Now, the line should look like C:\ >
3: This type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.
Windows.old DIR
Should resemble C:\>DIR Windows.old
It should return
C:\Windows.old directory
and view the contents of Windows.old
It's just to make sure that the Windows.old folder is under C: (drive C) - if she does not STOP
4
this type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.Attrib - r - / s has s h Windows.old
Should look like C:\>Attrib/s - r - a s h Windows.old
(there are SPACES between Attrib and / s and r - and - a and -s-h and Windows.old)He should return to the prompt C:\ if it shows and ERROR and STOP - then check the command
and if it has been entered correctly you are not in the right place.5
this type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.RD/s Windows.old
Should resemble C:\>RD/s Windows.old
(there are SPACES between the RD /s and Windows.old)Return Windows.old, are your sure Y/N Y type
(If you get a message that you have no property rights then type this command
"and press ENTER.)TAKEOWN /f Windows.old/a/r
and repeat step 5 - were you using an elevated command prompt?
6: This type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.
Windows.old DIR
Should look like C:\>DIR Windows.old - and press ENTER.
It should return
Directory of C:\
File not found
Which confirms that it is gone.
7 close the COMMAND window
Repeat with the other instead of Windows.old folder name.
I hope this helps.
Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP<- profile="" -="" windows="" expert="" -="" consumer="" :="" bicycle="">-><- mark="" twain="" said="" it="">->
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Safe to delete Windows.old?
Original title: Windows8.1 restoration
Hi all!
A few days back I restored my computer running windows 8.1 because I experienced a few problems.
All of my documents were intact and had been downgraded to windows 8.
I found a "Windows.old" folder in the C: drive and raise was all uninstalled programs.
Would it not be prudent to delete directly?
Hello
If you have all the data intact, then Yes, you can remove it safely.
See the article.
How to remove the Windows.old folderhttp://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows-8/how-remove-Windows-old-folder
I hope this helps.
-
Cannot completely remove "Windows.old"?
I upgraded my second computer a couple of days from XP to Windows 7 Home Premium Full install and I tried to delete the folder windows.old the right way and he left the folder and files of SecuROM. Someone suggested trying to remove in 'safe mode', but that no longer works. The files are not too big, they are only 16 KB, but it would be nice to get rid of them.
I also tried to delete the file in C: and it stands up and says this: this item is not found. It is no longer in C:\. Check the location of the item and try again.
I found a solution and it worked. It was for Vista, but has also worked for me. I'm so happy to get rid of this thing!
At the elevated command prompt, I entered in the following:
For the withdrawal of the windows.old folder after a vista installation and an installation of Windows 7.
del /S /Q /F C:\windows.oldrmdir /S /Q C:\windows.old
The information was found here:
http://www.TomsHardware.com/Forum/138777-45-remove-left-over-SecurROM-files-hard-drive
-
Re-install Win 7
program works well, but the (old) Windows folder in the C drive occupy much space. Can I just delete?If all your personal files migrated safely, then Yes, you can remove it.
How can I delete Windows. old folder?
Using Windows.old to retrieve your personal files. Releasing it's easy .
-
Is it safe to remove the old Windows 2008/2009 updates?
It is safe to delete/remove old updates day of 2008 and 2009 to free up space on a computer?
See the Shenan Stanley response to a previous post:
UTC/GMT is 22:31 on Monday, June 25, 2012
-
When is it safe to remove the old updates and patches recover disk space?
I have a LONG list of updates from windows to windows xp, Media Player, microsoft, etc. in a way at the time where I got first computer and set on automatic updates. I'm sure that they consume valuable disk space but how do I know which ones can be deleted without problem?
Never. If you remove them, it defeats the purpose of the patch/security updates. Your calculation returns to a previous state vulnerable.
If you need space, get an external hard drive for all of your data.
-
remove/uninstall old updates from windows without any bad effect on my laptop
I have windows updates who r close about 2 years ago and which I think your memory of my laptop, so I want 2 know is safe to remove the old wind updates so that I can free up some memory 4 my phone please help me
Thank youIt would not be a good idea! All windows updates are needed for your copy of Windows to function properly. How Microsoft's release of Service Packs that contain all previous updates. You could do a clean reinstall and you start from the last service pack.
I recommend however run the Disk Cleanup Wizard that will clean al Windows Update temporary files. To perform this, simply type 'Disk cleanup' in the start menu...
-
Why Windows 8 allow me to remove the Windows.old folder?
I upgraded my computer to Windows 7 to Windows 8, a few months ago, when Windows 8 came. It is my understanding that when you perform an upgrade of Windows from one version to the other, it can save a lot of files and folders under the folder Windows.old. And I understand that you can delete the Windows.old folder.
In other words, I don't think.
The reason why I do not think it is because whenever I tried to delete Windows.old, it stops for me with this error:
And when I said to 'Try Again' he begins from the beginning? HE DOES ALL THIS TIME! This should not do this, as I did do procedure on other machines that I've updated and he's NEVER done that, but not on this machine? Why in hell does?
Hi Rod
You must use the disk cleanup utility to remove the Windows.old folder. See the following article for step by step instructions.
How to remove the Windows.old folder
http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows-8/how-remove-Windows-old-folder
Concerning
-
Can I remove the old updates to recover hard disk space?
Is it safe to remove the old, very old updates? Windows Vista
N ° let your system protected and vulnerable.
Forget them.
-
I can't delete my Windows.old folder because of file permissions.
I have a h8-1000z HP running Windows 8 Pro (a domestic installation). I recently cloned just my hard drive to a Hitachi 1 TB to a 120 GB Intel SSD Cherryville. Such a small disc, I'm looking to get as much room I can release. My windows.old folder is about 10 GB of space lost at the moment. I tried to adjust the ownership of the folder and the files contained in conjunction with change permissions. My account is an administrator account, but even when I adjust the permissions to allow full access to the admins, I always get the following error message:
File access deniedYou need permission to perform this actionYou need authorization of josh-HP\Administrators to make changes to this file.(josh-HP is the name of my rig).I tried to give permissions to users, administrator, administrators, and all, but nothing seems to work. I even tried to delete the file in safe mode, nothing works. If anyone has any recommendations he could do, my ears are large open.Josh CunninghamStudent and Tech JunkyHello
How to remove the Windows.old folder
http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows-8/how-remove-Windows-old-folderHow to remove the "Windows.old" folder in Windows 8 (several methods)
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2527-Windows-old-folder-delete-Windows-8-a.htmlHow to recover files from the Windows.old folder
http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows-8/restore-files-upgrade-Windows-old================================
If necessary:
1. open a command prompt (Admin)
Since the office - key Windows + X, or right-click in the lower left-
Command prompt (Admin); OR in the screen start just start typing CMD
or in the Menu of charms - research - Apps - CMD-> and right-click on it.
then on low screen "Run as Administrator".2 prompt probably like C:\Windows\System32 >
This type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.
CD\
Now, the line should look like C:\ >
3: This type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.
Windows.old DIR
Should resemble C:\>DIR Windows.old
It should return
C:\Windows.old directory
and view the contents of Windows.old
It's just to make sure that the Windows.old folder is under C: (drive C) - if she does not STOP
4
this type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.Attrib - r - / s has s h Windows.old
Should look like C:\>Attrib/s - r - a s h Windows.old
(there are SPACES between Attrib and / s and r - and - a and -s-h and Windows.old)He should return to the prompt C:\ if it shows and ERROR and STOP - then check the command
and if it has been entered correctly you are not in the right place.5
this type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.RD/s Windows.old
Should resemble C:\>RD/s Windows.old
(there are SPACES between the RD /s and Windows.old)Return Windows.old, are your sure Y/N Y type
(If you get a message that you have no property rights then type this command
"and press ENTER.)TAKEOWN /f Windows.old/a/r
and repeat step 5 - were you using an elevated command prompt?
6: This type at the prompt, and then press ENTER.
Windows.old DIR
Should look like C:\>DIR Windows.old - and press ENTER.
It should return
Directory of C:\
File not found
Which confirms that it is gone.
7 close the COMMAND window
I hope this helps.
Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP<- profile="" -="" windows="" expert="" -="" consumer="" :="" bicycle="">-><- mark="" twain="" said="" it="">->
-
should I delete the windows.old and $WINDOWS. ~ BT file?
I need to upgrade to windows 8.1 in my laptop. but it requires little space. So I need to delete unwanted files. is it safe to delete windows.old and $WINDOWS. ~ BT file?
If you don't no need for data and do not need to reverse, you can remove both by running the Disk Cleanup Wizard
-
My laptop has just changed to the 8.1 now he tells me to copy my documents from 8 to 8.1, and then delete windows.old. I can't find a way to do it. Someone who can help?
Hello
To access files in the Windows.old folder, see the Microsoft guide on the following link.
http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-GB/Windows-8/restore-files-upgrade-Windows-old
To remove the Windows.old folder after you have copied your files, see the followingdocument.
http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-GB/Windows-8/how-remove-Windows-old-folder
Best regards
DP - K
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