Windows permissions for Windows.old directory


  1. Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    Windows permissions for Windows.old directory


    EDIT: So Disk Cleanup is a far better alternative if you are stuck with Windows.old for whatever reason. There are going to be a few straggling files, but only in the MB instead of the GB, and it wont kill your OS. Still make sure you make a manual restore point before, and then make another one for good measure.

    Edit: Don't use third party software to remove Windows.old because apparently it kills your computer, just make sure there is never a Windows.old in the first place by destroying all the old partitions before reinstalling Windows and never doing an upgrade or clean repair install- or go out and buy a new SSD/HDD when your 20GB Windows.old is consuming all your remaining free space. Thanks Microsoft.


    I'm running out of room on my System SSD so I figured now would be a good a time as any to deleted Windows.old

    Of course my account doesn't have permissions so I went and took ownership, added permissions, all the good stuff. Now about 80% of all the files and directories in the Windows.old directory were removed, the rest give me this error:

    https://puu.sh/rXx9B/fd1450b3d6.png

    Now just so we are clear, I am ESHKOL\Michael and there is no other account by that name. I also went ahead and tried removing all other superfluous permissions from the file.

    This is what they look like now: https://puu.sh/rXyFM/701daf7fd7.png and https://puu.sh/rXyI9/20f6d76d02.png

    I have tried restarting afterwards, as well as opening CMD as administrator and running Del /S/F/Q C:\Windows.old and all I got was access denied. I also tried deleting them via bash for Windows, even though I knew it wouldn't work. I would rather not have to boot into a linux install to delete these folders, if possible. Any ideas?
    Last edited by DeathShot; 28 Oct 2016 at 20:45.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I knew I forgot to say something in my original post. Doesn't work in safe mode either.

    Edit: I should also add that I tried disabling my anti-virus in case that was the reason, even though it shouldn't be :|
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 31,468
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #4

    One reason for not being able to delete Windows.old seems to be that a driver is still being loaded from it rather than from the new install. This thread suggests a way to find out which and to disable it so you can complete the delete.

    ...It's probably the Intel audio display driver....
    Windows.old quick way to delete
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       #5

    I had issues with a Windows Old folder myself in the past. What worked for me was to use Disk Cleanup. I let it do its first scan and then I would click Clean up system files. The program would then do a second scan. Doing that added an option for deleting old Windows installations or something like that. I would just click everything once. Hopefully this works for you.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 325
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    I used a Linux live flash drive, took less than 5 minutes. I also read CCleaner has a way to delete it.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 31,468
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #7

    EricFarmer7x said:
    I let it do its first scan and then I would click Clean up system files.
    The quick way to go straight to the full scan including system files is to 'Run as Administrator'. And the easiest way to find a 'Disk Clean Up' to right-click on is to type 'disk clean up' in the Cortana/Search box.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Well it doesn't matter anymore. I tried to use CCleaner to remove it and now Windows wont boot in anything but safe mode, and it will not finish a system recovery, and CCleaner also removed all recovery points (even though I did not select that option) older than the last one, so I don't have any other fall back. Going to do a clean install of Windows on this desktop, and once everything is settled down, I'm going to give microsoft a piece of my mind.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #9

    EricFarmer7x said:
    I had issues with a Windows Old folder myself in the past. What worked for me was to use Disk Cleanup. I let it do its first scan and then I would click Clean up system files. The program would then do a second scan. Doing that added an option for deleting old Windows installations or something like that. I would just click everything once. Hopefully this works for you.
    Apparently even when you format all partitions and then delete them in the Windows installer before doing a clean install of Windows it still makes a Windows.old? Well it did for me anyways, so I tried your solution and it worked. There is a driver file left behind still, not Intel Audio because I don't have that but something else, so I'll go see if I can maybe use that thread @Bree linked to see what it is and fix it, who knows. But thank you, at least it's only taking up 13MB now.
      My Computer


 

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