How to Get Rid of Old Windows Folder?

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  1. jmrathbun
    Posts : 71
    Windows 7 Professional --> Windows 10
       New #1

    How to Get Rid of Old Windows Folder?


    My system has two drives, one of which is a large HDD that I use to store big folders that I rarely access. The system runs Windows 10 Pro 22H2. Trying to clean up this drive, I came across a large folder dated 2015 called "Windows" which looks like it contains a complete copy of Windows 7 Pro, the OS I originally used on this disc (when it resided in another computer). When I try to delete it, I see "Folder access denied. You need permission from TrustedInstaller to make changes to this folder." I've looked at the permissions and can't see a way to become "TrustedInstaller", though I have read/write permission for that folder. Any suggestions?

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  3. SIW2
    Posts : 4,595
    several
       New #2

    Can you delete windows\system32\config
    do that first then delete the rest of the windows folder using dism++ file explorer.

    or just boot into some kind of winpe and do it from there.
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  4. SIW2
    Posts : 4,595
    several
       New #3

    Can you delete windows\system32\config
    do that first then delete the rest of the windows folder using dism++ file explorer.

    or just boot into some kind of winpe and do it from there.

    if you currently running win10 open an admin cmd prompt and type:

    reagentc /boottore

    then restart and it should boot into winre. You can delete that unwanted folder from there
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  6. dalchina
    Posts : 43,014
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #4

    The question of how you might delete 'unbootable' files and folders is a recurrent one. Feel free to search tenforums.
    So, again;

    Everything can be deleted readily if Windows is not running.

    Thus you could
    - boot your PC from a live boot disk.
    - boot to adanced startup options and so to a command prompt
    - boot from a Win 10 install disk via 'Repair your computer[ to adanced startup options and so to a command prompt
    - get a copy of Emco Unlockit (free). This offers an option to schedule deletion on boot (when Windows isn't running).

    Perhaps a less preferred option is to see the tutorial on adding 'take ownership' to the context menu.
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  7. Samuria
    Posts : 8,111
    windows 10
       New #5

    Best safe way is to run storage space and let that clean the disk being from ms you know it's safe
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  8. Hearsepilot
    Posts : 782
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #6

    Run Disk Clean-up in Admin mode and click the appropriate buttons.
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  9. Brink
    Posts : 68,995
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #7

    Hello,

    Here you go: How to Delete Windows.old and $Windows.~BT folders in Windows 10
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  10. jmrathbun
    Posts : 71
    Windows 7 Professional --> Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Following Brink's suggestion, I looked at
    Option One: Delete "Windows.old" and "$Windows.~BT" Folders in Disk Cleanup
    Then I renamed my old "Windows" folder to "Windows.old" and started the disk cleanup with the "Cleanup System Files" option enabled. This easily disappeared the old Windows folder and freed up 13 GB on the drive. Thanks!
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  12. Brink
    Posts : 68,995
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #9

      My Computers
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  13. dalchina
    Posts : 43,014
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #10

    There are several ways to deal with such things. You just have to think clearly.
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