Windows.old has vanished

QuicktellPro · Monday at 5:15 AM

When updating from Win 10 to Win 11, a directory was automatically created on my C: partition called Windows.old. As you can imagine, this contained everything to do with Win 10. Yesterday, I wanted to add the shutdown sound from Win 10 but the Windows.old directory is no longer there. I assume that Microsoft has decided, on my behalf, that I will no longer need to roll back to Windows 10 and has hence deleted that directory in order to free up disk space. I am not happy about this at all.

Has anyone else that upgraded to Win 11 noticed this?

zbook · Monday at 5:25 AM

Many years ago there was a 30 day default time period before Windows.old was deleted.

For newer versions of Windows 10 it was changed to 10 days.

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www.elevenforum.com

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antspants · Monday at 5:34 AM

This is why we create system images.

QuicktellPro · Monday at 5:37 AM

antspants said:
This is why we create system images.

I use Macrium Reflect so I still have access to Windows 10 as I created separate images for that. I am still unhappy due to the fact that MS has taken over control of my computer.

Helmut · Monday at 5:44 AM

It has always been 10 days throughout Windows 10 and 11 for the deletion of windows.old.
As far as I recall it was the same for Windows 8.1 to 10.
Broadly speaking mine have been more like 14 days, but that is just trivial.

antspants · Monday at 6:15 AM

QuicktellPro said:
I use Macrium Reflect so I still have access to Windows 10 as I created separate images for that. I am still unhappy due to the fact that MS has taken over control of my computer.

As far as I know you can access files from within your image.

We allow Microsoft to take an element of control the minute we install their software. Because it’s their software. They make no secret of it, it’s in the TOS and various other places.
Microsofts decision to subtract 20 days from the life of Windows.old does not in any way amount to them taking over control of your computer. It amounts to system changes which is their prerogative, isn’t it?

RFS · Monday at 6:17 AM

antspants said:
As far as I know you can access files from within your image.

Indeed you can. Just right-click the image file and select mount. Windows then creates a virtual DVD of the image allowing you access to the files. You then eject it when you have finished.

zbook · Monday at 6:32 AM

Helmut said:
It has always been 10 days throughout Windows 10 and 11 for the deletion of windows.old.
As far as I recall it was the same for Windows 8.1 to 10.
Broadly speaking mine have been more like 14 days, but that is just trivial.

AI Overview

The rollback period in Windows 10, which allows users to revert to a previous version of the operating system after an upgrade or update, was
changed from 30 days to 10 days with the release of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607). This change was implemented in August 2016.
According to Microsoft, this change was based on user research indicating that most users who choose to revert do so within the first few days of an update, and it also helped to free up storage space used by previous Windows copies.

QuicktellPro · Monday at 6:33 AM

antspants said:
Microsofts decision to subtract 20 days from the life of Windows.old does not in any way amount to them taking over control of your computer. It amounts to system changes which is their prerogative, isn’t it?

See my other post about sound personalization.

Sound personalization impossible

I wanted to change some of the default sounds to those from Windows 10 which I have stored on my D: partition. Using preview mode in Explorer, I can hear the exact sounds I want but when browsing to the sound via the sounds control panel, the Win 11 default sounds always play, despite the sound...

www.elevenforum.com

antspants · Monday at 6:39 AM

QuicktellPro said:
See my other post about sound personalization.

Sound personalization impossible

I wanted to change some of the default sounds to those from Windows 10 which I have stored on my D: partition. Using preview mode in Explorer, I can hear the exact sounds I want but when browsing to the sound via the sounds control panel, the Win 11 default sounds always play, despite the sound...

www.elevenforum.com

Still doesn’t amount to having your computer being taken over.
You’re trying to load Windows 10 sounds to a Windows 11 OS. Two different (essentially) operating systems. I say the same thing to members trying to make Windows 11 work like Windows 7 or 8.

Just because you cannot accomplish something due to the fact Windows has made certain system choices, doesn’t mean they’re sitting behind you with a ruler slapping your knuckles when you try doing something.

We just need to be craftier than they are. You may be fine with the help from members.

See my post in your other thread, also. Second time in 1 month you have had this problem. In June, you said you fixed it.

How can I change the default sounds?

Hi, It is claimed that selecting Personalize > Themes > Sounds allows you to replace the default sounds with another .wav sound. It doesn't. As I am unhappy with the changes made by MS to the Win 10 sound scheme, I took ownership of the Windows/Media folder and then copied the sounds across...

www.elevenforum.com

QuicktellPro · Monday at 6:57 AM

antspants said:
See my post in your other thread, also. Second time in 1 month you have had this problem. In June, you said you fixed it.

How can I change the default sounds?

Hi, It is claimed that selecting Personalize > Themes > Sounds allows you to replace the default sounds with another .wav sound. It doesn't. As I am unhappy with the changes made by MS to the Win 10 sound scheme, I took ownership of the Windows/Media folder and then copied the sounds across...

www.elevenforum.com

The whole point of this particular forum is personalization. That's why I am posting. As to Windows taking control of my computer, in the settings there is a personalization tab in which we are supposed to be able to change many things, including the sounds, but they don't work. Am I asking too much?

Yes, in June I found a workaround by pasting all the Win 10 sounds into the Media directory. With the next update, Windows changed them all back to the Win 11 sounds. Hence, my fix was temporary.

antspants · Monday at 7:06 AM

QuicktellPro said:
The whole point of this particular forum is personalization.

No it isn't. It's for may things. People face many more critical issues that they need help with over wanting to hear "Ding" when they click something.

QuicktellPro said:
Windows changed them all back to the Win 11 sounds. Hence, my fix was temporary.

That's evident with many things in Windows.

QuicktellPro said:
Windows changed them all back to the Win 11 sounds. Hence, my fix was temporary

And you didn't make comment of that in this (or the other) thread.

I am not trying to argue the point with you, just outline that inadequacies don't amount to a Microsoft conspiracy.

Whatever you did to fix it last time, do again?

Bree · Monday at 7:18 AM

QuicktellPro said:
I wanted to add the shutdown sound from Win 10 but the Windows.old directory is no longer there. I assume that Microsoft has decided, on my behalf, that I will no longer need to roll back to Windows 10 and has hence deleted that directory in order to free up disk space. I am not happy about this at all.

Windows.old is created for any upgrade, that includes upgrading Windows 10 to a newer version of 10, not just going from 10 to 11.

From the day that Windows 10 was launched, Windows.old would be automatically deleted after as set period. Initially that was 30 days. From about 2018 onwards MS reduced that to 10 days on the grounds that their telemetry showed that the vast majority of those that did roll back would do it in the first 10 days.

For your W10 shutdown sound, there are other ways to get it. You could extract it from a W10 install USB or ISO. If you don't already have one you can get one here: Download Windows 10

Look on the USB, or mounted ISO, for ...\sources\install.esd (or install.wim). You can open this with 7-Zip File Manager ( 7-Zip ) and copy any file(s) you need from there.

antspants · Monday at 7:28 AM

Surely QuicktellPro can just mount their Windows 10 Macrium image and retrieve them? Or do they need to come from the 10 ISO?

Bree · Monday at 7:32 AM

antspants said:
Surely QuicktellPro can just mount their Windows 10 Macrium image and retrieve them? Or do they need to come from the 10 ISO?

Yes, that would work too. They would need to mount the C: drive from their Macrium image and look in its \Windows\Media\ folder for the .wav file.

QuicktellPro · Monday at 7:59 AM

I have already recovered all Win 10 media from a Reflect image. The problem is that Win 11 will not permit me to use other sounds. The only option I found that worked was to overwrite the Win 11 sounds with those from Win 10 but they always play as Win 11 sounds, even though when played in Explorer, they are indeed Win 10 sounds.

Windows.old has vanished

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