How to delete Windows.old in Windows 10
Are you finished with upgrade your PC to Windows 10? So now, what should be done with, previous version of the OS that is also there. Yes, if you are thinking that its erased, then sorry but you are wrong. The old version is still there and it's lingering in a system folder called, Windows. Old. And depending on the size of that version, it could be hogging a lot of precious space.
Here are two things to consider, if you think you might want to downgrade from Windows 10 back to the previous version, don't delete that folder.Second, unless you're seriously strapped for space on your hard drive, you don't need to do anything. Here is Windows 10 job, it will automatically delete the Windows.old folder one month after you performed your upgrade.
But you are reading this article, means case is bit different. So you can’t wait. In order to reclaim that storage now, you can delete the folder immediately, though not in the way you might expect. But possibility is there. Indeed, if you simply click the folder and then press the Delete key, Windows will tell you that you need permission etc.
Step 1: Click in Windows' search field, type Cleanup, then click Disk Cleanup.
Step 2: Click the "Clean up system files" button.
Step 3: Wait till Windows scans for files, then scroll down the list. In this dropdown, you will find “Previous Windows installation(s)."
Step 4: Check the box next to the entry, and make sure there are no other boxes checked. Now click OK to start the cleanup.
It might be dependent on the size of your previous Window version but Windows almost occupy nearly 25GB of space, nearly 10 percent of drive. In case of upgrade from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10, the software retains a copy of your old operating system just in case you want to revert.
However, if you're happy with Windows 10 and don't want to roll back. In this case you're left with at least 15GB of wasted space on your hard drive, all of it stored in a folder called Windows.old. If you simply try to delete the Windows.old directory in File Explorer, the system won't allow you to remove most of the files because it considers them system files.
If you meet one of conditions like you’re absolutely sure you want to stay with Windows 10 or you have created an image backup before the upgrade.Therefore you can restore your previous installation without Windows 10’s built-in tools. Then follow these easy steps:
1. In File Explorer, right-click C: and select Properties.
2. On the General tab, click the Disk Cleanup button.
3. Now wait a bit while Windows decides about it.
4. Eventually, the Disk Cleanup dialog box will appear.
5. Click the Clean up system files button near the bottom of the dialog box.
6. After some seconds, the dialog box will disappear, then a slightly different version will reappear, without the button that you just clicked.
7. Now scroll down the 'Files to delete' list until you find Previous Windows installation(s). Check that option.
8. Click OK.Verification massage will be appeared twice to verify your decision. Answer in the affirmative.
9. After a while, Windows removes all those files. But when it’s done, you’ll have a lot more space.
Step 1:First of all, you have to download and install CCleaner software on your system, obviously if you don’t have it. Just go to Google and type CCleaner.
Step 2: Run CCleaner, click on the Cleaner tile in sidebar, and uncheck all options except Old Windows Installation on the right side under Windows and Applications.
Step 3: Click Analyze button to begin the scan. Once done you’ll see Old Windows Installation and its size on the right-side.
Step 4: Click Run cleaner button to delete the Windows.old folder from your Windows 10 PC. And now your system is free from the burden of Windows.old folder.
Here are two things to consider, if you think you might want to downgrade from Windows 10 back to the previous version, don't delete that folder.Second, unless you're seriously strapped for space on your hard drive, you don't need to do anything. Here is Windows 10 job, it will automatically delete the Windows.old folder one month after you performed your upgrade.
But you are reading this article, means case is bit different. So you can’t wait. In order to reclaim that storage now, you can delete the folder immediately, though not in the way you might expect. But possibility is there. Indeed, if you simply click the folder and then press the Delete key, Windows will tell you that you need permission etc.
Proper way to delete the Windows.old folder
So if you are here to find the proper way to delete the Windows.old folder, then follow the article and you will not be disappointed.Steps to get rid of your Windows.old folder
There are more than one way to get rid of Windows.old folder. If one doesn’t help, than follow the other. Hereare some steps, by following them, you can delete the Windows.old folder:Step 1: Click in Windows' search field, type Cleanup, then click Disk Cleanup.
Step 2: Click the "Clean up system files" button.
Step 3: Wait till Windows scans for files, then scroll down the list. In this dropdown, you will find “Previous Windows installation(s)."
Step 4: Check the box next to the entry, and make sure there are no other boxes checked. Now click OK to start the cleanup.
It might be dependent on the size of your previous Window version but Windows almost occupy nearly 25GB of space, nearly 10 percent of drive. In case of upgrade from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10, the software retains a copy of your old operating system just in case you want to revert.
However, if you're happy with Windows 10 and don't want to roll back. In this case you're left with at least 15GB of wasted space on your hard drive, all of it stored in a folder called Windows.old. If you simply try to delete the Windows.old directory in File Explorer, the system won't allow you to remove most of the files because it considers them system files.
If you meet one of conditions like you’re absolutely sure you want to stay with Windows 10 or you have created an image backup before the upgrade.Therefore you can restore your previous installation without Windows 10’s built-in tools. Then follow these easy steps:
1. In File Explorer, right-click C: and select Properties.
2. On the General tab, click the Disk Cleanup button.
3. Now wait a bit while Windows decides about it.
4. Eventually, the Disk Cleanup dialog box will appear.
5. Click the Clean up system files button near the bottom of the dialog box.
6. After some seconds, the dialog box will disappear, then a slightly different version will reappear, without the button that you just clicked.
7. Now scroll down the 'Files to delete' list until you find Previous Windows installation(s). Check that option.
8. Click OK.Verification massage will be appeared twice to verify your decision. Answer in the affirmative.
9. After a while, Windows removes all those files. But when it’s done, you’ll have a lot more space.
Use CCleaner to Remove Windows.old folder
If your Disk Cleanup tool isn’t listing Windows.old folder, than you need the help of popular CCleaner software to delete it.Step 1:First of all, you have to download and install CCleaner software on your system, obviously if you don’t have it. Just go to Google and type CCleaner.
Step 2: Run CCleaner, click on the Cleaner tile in sidebar, and uncheck all options except Old Windows Installation on the right side under Windows and Applications.
Step 3: Click Analyze button to begin the scan. Once done you’ll see Old Windows Installation and its size on the right-side.
Step 4: Click Run cleaner button to delete the Windows.old folder from your Windows 10 PC. And now your system is free from the burden of Windows.old folder.
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Wiz Skywalker
Science enthusiast, Tech Futurist, Digital evangelist, Agile leader, Product manager, Software Developer, Avid reader, Nature Lover, and self-published author who enjoys enlightening others about little known facts and unknown future..
