How to delete folder Windows.old

MrWho · Jun 23, 2022

I have this very large folder residing on my desktop in the C: partition. It is titled Windows.old. It is taking up a lot of my space, which I am beginning to need.
I can't move it. I can't delete it.
Furthermore, I have tried following Microsoft's procedures for deletion, but that failed. The folder did not show up.
Any thoughts? I can't be the only one with this problem.

Can I?
MrWho

jimbo45 · Jun 23, 2022

MrWho said:
I have this very large folder residing on my desktop in the C: partition. It is titled Windows.old. It is taking up a lot of my space, which I am beginning to need.
I can't move it. I can't delete it.
Furthermore, I have tried following Microsoft's procedures for deletion, but that failed. The folder did not show up.
Any thoughts? I can't be the only one with this problem. Can I?
MrWho

In the recent builds of Windows 11 you need to start Windows tools

MrWho said:
I have this very large folder residing on my desktop in the C: partition. It is titled Windows.old. It is taking up a lot of my space, which I am beginning to need.
I can't move it. I can't delete it.
Furthermore, I have tried following Microsoft's procedures for deletion, but that failed. The folder did not show up.
Any thoughts? I can't be the only one with this problem. Can I?
MrWhoHi there

Hi there

@MrWho

In recent builds it's been moved.

1) open up Windows tools and choose I think in Eng Disk Utilities /or space management

My pic is in ISL but the icons are the same so in ENG should be easy to find :

select say C:

Now the std "old pane" appears

Cheers
jimbo

zbook · Jun 23, 2022

See if you can try other steps in this tutorial:

How to Delete Windows.old and $Windows.~BT folders in Windows 10

Another good one Shawn I just noticed there's a Windows defender listing on the list 3.77mg :/ But yea Previous windows installation files 8.34gb That

www.tenforums.com

cereberus · Jun 24, 2022

jimbo45 said:
In the recent builds of Windows 11 you need to start Windows tools

Hi there

@MrWho

In recent builds it's been moved.

1) open up Windows tools and choose I think in Eng Disk Utilities /or space management

My pic is in ISL but the icons are the same so in ENG should be easy to find :

View attachment 32094

select say C:

Now the std "old pane" appears

View attachment 32095

Cheers
jimbo

Disk cleanup is an option from File Explorer

Reeeploi0 · Nov 12, 2022

I had a windows.old folder after reinstall of Win11 update. It appeared after I did a factory reset and reinstalled Win11 last week. I was able to right click and select delete. Is gone or still somewhere on my laptop? I read it does automatically get removed after a month. I also now have a Default user in C: users since the update. Can I delete it?

OAT · Nov 12, 2022

It is not advisable to delete the Default User folder.
It contains all default settings for new users that might be needed.
Usually, the Users folder should be left alone.
But it's your system.

meimeiriver · Nov 12, 2022

CharmaineK said:
I had a windows.old folder after reinstall of Win11 update. It appeared after I did a factory reset and reinstalled Win11 last week. I was able to right click and select delete. Is gone or still somewhere on my laptop? I read it does automatically get removed after a month. I also now have a Default user in C: users since the update. Can I delete it?

Delete your previous version of Windows - Microsoft Support

Delete your previous version of Windows

support.microsoft.com

That will delete Windows.old properly (and you won't run into permission issues either, doing so).

Winuser · Nov 12, 2022

It's easy, Start > Settings > Storage > Cleanup Recommendations found under Storage management.

Use Disk Cleanup in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to free up drive space with Disk Cleanup in Windows 11. You can use Disk Cleanup on a regular basis to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your drives, which can free up drive space and help your PC run better. It can delete temporary files and system...

www.elevenforum.com

Reeeploi0 · Nov 13, 2022

OAT said:
It is not advisable to delete the Default User folder.
It contains all default settings for new users that might be needed.
Usually, the Users folder should be left alone.
But it's your system.

I didn't have a default user folder before the Win11 update last week. I'm the only user.

OAT · Nov 13, 2022

As I said, it's your system. You can do whatever you want.
There has always been a Default folder in Users in Windows as long as I can recall,
it is a hidden folder; you probably deleted the old one or did not see it.
If you are concerned about security; a user named Default does not get created and he cannot log in.
The folder is just there to offer potential new users the same interface options the first time they get on the system.
So, when you create a new user, it makes a copy of the Default folder
and rename it to the newly created user's name.
Delete it and save a whopping < 3MB, it's your system and if you are the only user...

Reeeploi0 · Nov 13, 2022

OAT said:
As I said, it's your system. You can do whatever you want.
There has always been a Default folder in Users in Windows as long as I can recall,
it is a hidden folder; you probably deleted the old one or did not see it.
If you are concerned about security; a user named Default does not get created and he cannot log in.
The folder is just there to offer potential new users the same interface options the first time they get on the system.
So, when you create a new user, it makes a copy of the Default folder
and rename it to the newly created user's name.
Delete it and save a whopping < 3MB, it's your system and if you are the only user...

My bad. I had "show hidden items" checked and it is marked hidden in its properties. I understand the purpose of the default folder in a work environment as I am a retired IT tech. I had forgotten it could be hidden. I just wasn't sure I needed it for my home computer with me being the only user. I changed it to "dont show..."

OAT · Nov 13, 2022

It can be useful at home only if you want to create a new user for software testing without affecting your user registry hive.

spapakons · Nov 13, 2022

In Windows 11 22H2 you cannot find Disk Cleanup from hard disk properties. Very stupid change if you ask me. So you have to click on the search

and type Disk Cleanup to find it. You have to search for it at the appropriate language (eg Εκκαθάριση δίσκου in Greek). Searching it as Disk Cleanup in non-English Windows yields no results, also very stupid, they could have added the English words to help the search engine. Most of us that have used English Windows we always remember the English terms and we don't know our native language equivalent and this makes search difficult if not using English Windows or at least the English interface for our native language Windows. I hope someone in Microsoft reads this and they fix it in a new version. Just add the English words to improve search engine. Also please restore Disk Cleanup in hard disk properties! We are used to this since Windows XP. Why change now?

Back in topic: After you manage to run Disk Cleanup select to also clean system data (I forgot the correct term). Then make sure you check the box to delete older Windows installations (aka Windows.old folder).

OAT · Nov 13, 2022

If you are OK with changing the registry, you can add it to the drive context menu.

How to Add Disk Cleanup to Context Menu in Windows 10 & 11 - MajorGeeks

spapakons · Nov 13, 2022

OAT said:
If you are OK with changing the registry, you can add it to the drive context menu.

How to Add Disk Cleanup to Context Menu in Windows 10 & 11 - MajorGeeks

I will try it next time I am at my computer. I am now posting from my smartphone. Thanks, but having Disk Cleanup in hard disk properties is better if you are used to it.

cereberus · Nov 13, 2022

spapakons said:
In Windows 11 22H2 you cannot find Disk Cleanup from hard disk properties. Very stupid change if you ask me. So you have to click on the search and type Disk Cleanup to find it. You have to search for it at the appropriate language (eg Εκκαθάριση δίσκου in Greek). Searching it as Disk Cleanup in non-English Windows yields no results, also very stupid, they could have added the English words to help the search engine. Most of us that have used English Windows we always remember the English terms and we don't know our native language equivalent and this makes search difficult if not using English Windows or at least the English interface for our native language Windows. I hope someone in Microsoft reads this and they fix it in a new version. Just add the English words to improve search engine. Also please restore Disk Cleanup in hard disk properties! We are used to this since Windows XP. Why change now?

Back in topic: After you manage to run Disk Cleanup select to also clean system data (I forgot the correct term). Then make sure you check the box to delete older Windows installations (aka Windows.old folder).

People keep saying you cannot find it from properties but it has just moved slightly.

Click on drive, and select three dots ... on menu, then select clean-up.

Same number of clicks, and actually more logical.

No need for searches in any language.

OAT · Nov 13, 2022

Good point this.
I think people are used to do things a certain way and changes are tough.
My version with the American 'optimize'

spapakons · Nov 13, 2022

cereberus said:
People keep saying you cannot find it from properties but it has just moved slightly.

Click on drive, and select three dots ... on menu, then select clean-up.

Same number of clicks, and actually more logical.

No need for searches in any language.

View attachment 45078

Thanks. I hadn't seen this.

spapakons · Nov 13, 2022

OAT said:
Good point this.
I think people are used to do things a certain way and changes are tough.
My version with the American 'optimize'

View attachment 45088

You are right. If we are used to something it is not convenient to change it, no matter if the new way is easier or more logical. I remember my frustration when I could not figure out how to copy files in Windows 95. In earlier Windows 3.1 there was the File Manager utility, you clicked on the desired files and then clicked on the Copy button which was actually Copy to. You then selected the desired destination and completed the copy. In Windows 95 up to Windows 11 you select the file in Windows Explorer (called File Explorer in 11) click on Copy and then go to the desired destination and click Paste. I would not find it in a million hours. Thankfully some friend had discovered it and told me. Thankfully nowadays we can ask in Elevenforum or other forums and get a reply in a short time. Don't hesitate to ask anything. That's why the forum is for. However have a look at the other threads first. I have seen more than five threads asking how to install Windows 11 on unsupported computers while it is all discussed at the respective thread.

Bree · Nov 13, 2022

cereberus said:
Click on drive, and select three dots ... on menu, then select clean-up.

Thanks, I hadn't realised it was there too.

spapakons said:
You are right. If we are used to something it is not convenient to change it....

My default way to find anything hasn't changed in ages. I click Start then begin typing.
BTW, you can choose 'Run as administrator' if you want to go directly to cleaning up system files.

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