Boot into safe mode in Win 10?


  1. Posts : 30
    Win10 Build 10166
       #1

    Boot into safe mode in Win 10?


    Is there a way to boot into Win 10 in a safe mode? The reason I ask is I am having trouble in normal mode trying to get rid of my win.old file. It will let me delete some of it but not all. So maybe in safe mode I can delete it all or am I missing something here?

    TIA

    DJ Steve
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7
    Win 8.1
       #2

    I haven't tried it yet, but here's a link:

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html
    Last edited by Brink; 24 Sep 2015 at 12:33. Reason: updated link for same here
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,834
    Windows 11 Home (x64) Version 21H1 (build 19043.1202)
       #3

    Windows old will delete after one month from when you upgraded in mine there is only 2 dead folders and in another week I can run an uninstaller to get rid of them if they don't delete themselves they are there in case you want to go back to the OS you updated from
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7
    Win 8.1
       #4

    I had read this elsewhere, but 6 weeks after I upgraded my laptop to Win. 10, the windows old file was still there. I finally removed it completely using the native disc cleanup and additionally selecting "remove old operating systems". Even then, Windows 10 warned me that removing that folder would prevent returning to Windows 8.1.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #5

    DJ Steve said:
    Is there a way to boot into Win 10 in a safe mode? The reason I ask is I am having trouble in normal mode trying to get rid of my win.old file. It will let me delete some of it but not all. So maybe in safe mode I can delete it all or am I missing something here?

    TIA

    DJ Steve
    The simplest way I know of is to click on Settings, then Power. Hold down the Shift key and click Restart.

    That's it.

    Edit: I also tried enabling Legacy boot menu and that enables the F8 key at boot time.
    See here: Startup Options - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

    These all say Windows 8 or 8.1 but they work for 10 as well.

    No other side effects I can see though I wonder if this will have an effect on EFI system as far as booting is concerned.
    Last edited by Ztruker; 25 Sep 2015 at 18:07.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 19,516
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       #6

    Windows.old folder should be deleted using Disk cleanup, not just by deleting it.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #7

    Open Admin command prompt. Copy and paste the line below and run. It will run Disk Cleanup in extended mode. Put a check mark on everything except "Setup Log Files":

    %SystemRoot%\System32\Cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr /sageset:35 & Cleanmgr /sagerun:35

    NOTE:
    A popup warning for confirmation to delete Windows.old that you cannot roll back to previous Version of Windows. Answer Yes
      My Computer


 

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