Folder Windows.old contemplate not all users can. It appears only for those who recently reinstalled the operating system, but did not format the system disk during the installation, as a result of which one operating system was superimposed on another. The same folder may appear when the user has expressed a desire to upgrade their Windows 7 to the version of Windows 10.
Perhaps there were no problems with this folder if it did not take up too much space. Even if you have a hard disk large enough, you are unlikely to agree to just give up a few dozen gigabytes of free space.
Deleting a folder can free up a lot of disk space.
And for those users whose hard disk cannot “boast” of large size, the desire to get rid of everything superfluous will be incredibly high, since it will be difficult to work on a computer with a nearly full system disk.
It is for this reason that many people ask whether it is possible to delete the Windows.old folder, as well as how to do this directly, especially if there are no practical skills.
Experienced users share simple recommendations on how to delete the Windows.old folder if you don’t need it anymore.
Removal process
Before deleting the Windows.old folder in Windows 10, it is important to understand what role it plays in the operating system, what benefits it could bring to the user.
Due to the fact that Windows.old appears on the system disk only after reinstalling the operating system or upgrading to Windows 10, it is easy to guess that this folder contains greetings from the past, and more precisely, files and settings corresponding to the previous operating system. .
The directory with the settings and the contents of the old system can take up a lot of space.
If for some reason you no longer arrange the version of Windows 10, you can roll back your system, restore all previous settings, and also successfully restore all saved documents, music, videos, photos.
Since it is in this folder that documents that were previously saved on the desktop or in “My Documents” can be saved. This explains why the Windows.old folder is accompanied by such a large size.
So, if you finally made sure that you are not going to leave the version of Windows 10, you did not save any important documentation on the system disk, you can safely delete the bored folder.
Disk Cleanup
The Disk Cleanup tool is already familiar to most users, since it allows you to get rid of unwanted garbage without the difficulties. This tool will allow you to solve your problem.
To run this interesting tool in Windows 10, it’s enough to simultaneously hold down two keys: “Win” and “R”. You can also write the command "cleanmgr".
Now the “Disk Cleanup” window will open, the “Clear system files” button will be located in its lower part, click on it. A second window will open, in which it is important for you to find the line “Previous Windows Installations”, in the checkbox near this parameter, make sure to check the box.
It remains traditionally to press the “Ok” button, the system will again ask you again to confirm that you are really striving to perform such actions. If you do not change your mind, click on "Delete Files".
The system will warn you that the deleted folder contains important files that allow you to roll back the system to the previous version. Again, if you don’t change your mind, click the “Yes” button, after that the system will begin the removal process without complaint. In a few minutes the system disk will delight you with plenty of free space.
Command line
If you have repeatedly solved issues with the uninstallation of software products, then you know for sure that there are several alternative options for conducting uninstallation processes. Similarly, you can delete the Windows.old folder in several ways.
Another option to delete is the command line. To launch it, right-click on the “Start” icon. After that, an additional menu will open in which you need to find the “Command line” parameter, click on it.
In her list the command: "RD / S /QC:\windows.old". If the folder is not located on the C drive, then in the command, instead of this letter, write the one that indicates the drive where the unnecessary folder is stored.
It remains only to click on "Enter", the process will automatically start, and after a few minutes you will be happy with the achieved result.
Start the action by pressing Enter
Uninstalling with CCleaner
There are other successful programs that help the user to solve any problems that arise when using a PC.
In particular, many users are ardent supporters of the CCleaner program, since it is accompanied by the multiple functionality of solving the designated tasks.
CCleaner is easy to cope with the arisen task associated with the removal of the Windows.old folder.
If you have no such program at this moment yet, find it on the Internet. Of course, trust only trusted sources, so that instead of the expected assistant you will not get additional problems in the form of viruses.
Now download the boot file, install the CCleaner program on your PC, and then launch it. In the window that opens, on the “Windows” tab, find the “Old Windows installation” line, check the box next to it, then click on the “Cleaning” button.
Follow the instructions in the picture.
The program will ask if it is possible to delete the Event Logs, agree with this, and continue the cleaning process.
After a few minutes, CCleaner will provide you with a detailed report indicating what it managed to remove. In addition, she will indicate how much space she was able to free up. Believe me, this figure will impress everyone.
So, the process of removing unnecessary documents, including folders with preserved files of previous systems, will be simple if you follow the recommendations of experienced users.