W10 stashed TEMP folders inside windows.old - how to proceed?

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  1. Posts : 23
    w10
       #1

    W10 stashed TEMP folders inside windows.old - how to proceed?


    Dear Tenforums,

    As I was doing some defragging i noticed that several of my most fragmented files were stashed away in the windows.old folder. I thought this folder was for recovering old installation and personal files? ain't that the thought of said folder?

    Moving on, as I want to clear up some disk space and up until now never had any use (atleast that i know of? enlighten me if u want) the windows.old folder; i figured i'd delete it; or atleast delete some of the "big files" that came up during my defraging, as some were old install files and movies etc.

    I then noticed after streaming a netflix movie earlier today (before defragging) that it was actually stored inside the TEMP folder INSIDE the windows.old folder, instead of the "new" temp folders placed outside windows.old.
    I then proceeded to "run" --> TEMP and %TEMP% and noticed these folders were pretty bare in terms of content.
    Thus, although i might be wrong, it appears as my windows have put/prefer to use the TEMP FOLDERS inside the windows.old folder, rather than in the temp folders in my "new" windows folder etc.

    This thus makes me a bit scared to delete/cleanup files and/or the whole windows.old folder.
    How shall i proceed? will deleting/cleaning it up screw something over in terms of me "loosing out on my temp folder" etc. etc.

    thanks!

    edit: spelling bee champion + if this post is misplaced! please move it
    Last edited by knugelknut; 08 Aug 2016 at 10:54.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 134
    windows 10
       #2

    I believe windows will be old as Windows.old folder to store temp for first 30 days.. until your Rollback period expires (30 days)..
    if you delete windows.old folder.. nothing bad will happen just ... you wont be able to revert back to old windows version.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 23
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    manish9009 said:
    I believe windows will be old as Windows.old folder to store temp for first 30 days.. until your Rollback period expires (30 days)..
    if you delete windows.old folder.. nothing bad will happen just ... you wont be able to revert back to old windows version.
    thanks for the response manish!
    well im almost 100% sure i've had w10 for about 3-4 months now..atleast!
    is there a way to check my rollback timer?
    if not, is there any other reason why its selecting temp folder?
    what will happen to temp files if I delete the windows.old folder...will they "magically" just start being put in the "new" temp folders?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 134
    windows 10
       #4

    knugelknut said:
    thanks for the response manish!
    well im almost 100% sure i've had w10 for about 3-4 months now..atleast!
    is there a way to check my rollback timer?
    if not, is there any other reason why its selecting temp folder?
    what will happen to temp files if I delete the windows.old folder...will they "magically" just start being put in the "new" temp folders?
    No rollback period is Over.
    U can go to settings >> update and security >> Recovery to check if Rollback Option is still available.
    I still believe windows.old folder should have been deleted by now.. automatically (happened in my case).
    I still believe nothing bad should happen if you delete windows.old folder.
    to be on a safer side... Create a system restore point or check if one is already there before deleting.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #5

    It depends. If you've received the anniversary upgrade a Windows.old folder will have been created then- but apparently it's a 10 day period for the anniversary upgrade after which it should vanish.

    You shouldn't regard the Windows.old as a backup for personal items. These are transferred to your current files and folders.

    How To Delete Windows.old Folder In Windows 10
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 23
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    manish9009 said:
    No rollback period is Over.
    U can go to settings >> update and security >> Recovery to check if Rollback Option is still available.
    I still believe windows.old folder should have been deleted by now.. automatically (happened in my case).
    I still believe nothing bad should happen if you delete windows.old folder.
    to be on a safer side... Create a system restore point or check if one is already there before deleting.
    thanks manish :)

    dalchina said:
    It depends. If you've received the anniversary upgrade a Windows.old folder will have been created then- but apparently it's a 10 day period for the anniversary upgrade after which it should vanish.

    You shouldn't regard the Windows.old as a backup for personal items. These are transferred to your current files and folders.
    ty for the response!

    Ah, i never knew or thought windows.old had anything to do with the anniversary update. I guess that explains why "windows is using windows.old temp folder" instead of my new one, as the the one i have been using has been stashed into .old due to anniversary.

    So if manish above here is right, then ur saying my windows.old folder will dissapear within 10 days? what "functionality" do i really loose out on when either I myself delete it or windows automatically does so in 10 days?reverting back to "pre-anniversary upgrade"? if my rollback period is ended, i dont see what else
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #7

    Think more generally. Windows.old and $Windows.~BT are created whenever the mechanism of a Windows installation is applied on top of an existing Windows OS. Thus any upgrade or any in-place upgrade repair.

    These are only used if you roll back. It is not used by your current OS- certainly shouldn't be.

    The Anniversary upgrade, if you have received it, was launched on Aug 2nd. Its delivery was phased.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 23
    w10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    dalchina said:

    These are only used if you roll back. It is not used by your current OS- certainly shouldn't be.
    Well thats the issue, it appears my OS is using the temp folder inside windows.old, rather than the temp folders located elsewhere.
    thus is why i'm scared of touching the folder, as that would mean windows lost its temp folder. I have a feeling w10 ain't going to magically figure out "aah, lets use the actual temp folders located outside windows.old now". But maybe im wrong?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #9

    It should be deleted automatically 10 days after the anniversary upgrade.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #10

    Launch Command Prompt
    type set

    Where do the variables TEMP and TMP point
    set
    .
    .
    PUBLIC=C:\Users\Public
    SESSIONNAME=Console
    SystemDrive=C:
    SystemRoot=C:\Windows
    TEMP=C:\Users\Dad\AppData\Local\Temp
    TMP=C:\Users\Dad\AppData\Local\Temp

    .
    .

    If you see anything in your list that points to C:\windows.old
    Please post that information.
      My Computer


 

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