Three Microsoft OS on my Drive

pants · 13 Oct 2015

Hello everyone, so i did the Upgrade from 7 to 10, last week, and today i am noticing that there is 3 OS's on my C;\

1 Windows.old, i know what that one is, in case i want to go back to 7

2 ESD Folder with set up files

3 $windows- BT folder with set up files

Three Microsoft OS on my Drive-microsoft-storage.jpg

i know i can delete them, but why is Microsoft storing 3 OS's on my System, Don't they have a storage system of their own ? lol

Thanks in advance

CountMike · 14 Oct 2015

That's so you can go back to previous windows. If you don't want to do that Disk Cleanup can get rid of those folders for you. Windows 10 (in theory) should do that all by itself after 30 days during regular maintenance. Before you do that, maybe you should grab "install.esd" file from $windows- BT folder and make an ISO file from it so you can do clean install of W10 at later date.
Windows.old Folder - Delete in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
To make ISO from install.esd:
ESD to ISO - Create Bootable ISO from Windows 10 ESD File - Windows 10 Forums

bro67 · 14 Oct 2015

The top two are from the KB 3035583 (GWX) update, along with updates pushed out prior to Windows 10 was released. They wil go away when you delete windows.old.

If you do not plan on reverting back to the previous OS. Yes you can delete it through Drive Cleaning in Administration Tools.

pants · 14 Oct 2015

Hello Everyone, thanks for the reply, i already have a Copy of the ESD File, Most likely i will be keeping win 10. i do have a copy of the windows.old folder in my Data Backup, so i could use that if i wanted to go back to 7, ( i still have the original ISO of 7 and the Key )so it looks like i will be deleting the windows.old. and the BT folders,

Thanks in Advance

CountMike · 14 Oct 2015

From W10, all you need is that ISO of it so you can make boot disk/USB, don't have to keep all the other files like install.esd.