How do I delete old Windows folders???

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  1. Posts : 472
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit v1803 build 17133.73
       #21

    Deleting the actual folder windows.old or windows.old(1) may render a break in your file integrity. Run sfc /scannow to confirm that you have not damaged your file system. The contents of the win...old folders may just be left over artifacts from current and past installations and possibly may be deleted without any file system integrity issues. The actual folders may be deleted without some kind of fault.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 115
    Windows 10 64bit
       #22

    Why not just use the good ol...shoot, what's it called ....I cant think of the name of it now. Its icon is a "magic wand"? It's a little program that will delete ANY file, no matter what. It's an older file/folder shredder, and has always worked on deleting the windows.old for me. Anyone remember the name? It's buggin me now....
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,832
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #23

    Hi,

    Probe said:
    Why not just use the good ol...shoot, what's it called ....I cant think of the name of it now. Its icon is a "magic wand"? It's a little program that will delete ANY file, no matter what. It's an older file/folder shredder, and has always worked on deleting the windows.old for me. Anyone remember the name? It's buggin me now....
    I think you mean "Unlocker"

    Cheers,
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 569
    Windows 10 Pro/Windows 7 Ultimate
       #24

    theaudioanalyst said:
    Okay this is a hard question because I have been trying to do this for a while. I have two old Windows folders - 40 gig of wasted space. Here's what I have done: 1. renamed them 2. tried many times to delete them (or some of them). 3. removed "trusted installer" as the owner and gave it to me 4. placed my user id and "users" as the only two that could do anything with the folders and given both all functions. The result is that Windows says I have to get permission from me to delete the folders. Suggestions please?
    I use "Unlocker Pro" version 1.9.2, you can get it from Major Geeks. Shut off AV, because there is a virus in the installer, when you install it, use "custom install" and shut off the included "Delta Toolbar" which is the Babylon Virus. It;s a good tool that unfortunately had that malware attached from a distributor. Most AV see all toolbars as viruses now, so even things like CCleaner which has Google Toolbar will be blocked by Eset/Avira/Etc.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 569
    Windows 10 Pro/Windows 7 Ultimate
       #25

    fdegrove said:
    Hi,



    I think you mean "Unlocker"

    Cheers,

    Yah, it;s the only effective tool for deleting folders and files that are locked. The installer has the Babylon Virus, but it is easily avoided when using "custom install". A lot of people won't install this because of that issue, but I can guarantee the app is safe once you opt out of "Delta Toolbar".
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,832
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #26

    Hi,

    In the future it won't be needed to install third party apps to delete Windows.old folders.
    The latest Insider Preview release already does a great job at removing it using Disk Cleanup > Clean System Files.

    Never spotted any virus with Unlocker though. My version must be pretty old. :)

    Cheers,
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 569
    Windows 10 Pro/Windows 7 Ultimate
       #27

    fdegrove said:
    Hi,

    Never spotted any virus with Unlocker though. My version must be pretty old. :)

    Cheers,
    :lol

    Search your HDD for any files named "Babylon" or "Delta", should be able to use Revo to get rid of it if you have Delta Toolbar installed.

    But you would know if you had it, popups, apps you didn't install, and IE extensions show up quickly. But it spreads.

    I had a laptop here, had thousands of various sized ".a29d" and "ReadMe.hta" files all through every folder on the system.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2,832
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #28

    Hi,

    Don't worry. My systems are as clean as the proverbial whistle.
    The version of Unlocker I used was 1.9.2.
    Uninstalled it as I don't really need it.

    Cheers,
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 115
    Windows 10 64bit
       #29

    fdegrove said:
    Hi,
    I think you mean "Unlocker"

    Cheers,
    That's it! Thanks mate....now I can sleep again.... :) Unlocker has always worked for me, but again, be careful. It's an "equal opportunity" file deletion software. Will delete any file or folder.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 115
    Windows 10 64bit
       #30

    I always look for "portable" versions of this type of software, which are usually virus free. I did find portable Unlocker at "The Portable Freeware Collection." The link will take you to Softpedia (which I don't usually like to download from), but I did download Unlocker from there and it came up clean, which I've always found portable software to be clean of any malware or viruses.

    I just now used it to delete Windows.old with out a problem. 2 seconds and "poof" the folder was vaporized. Speaking of the Windows.old folder, mine was just a bunch of drive letters going to folders within folders, but all empty. Anyone else notice that with their Windows.old folder, just a bunch of empty sub-folders?

    XweAponX said:
    :lol
    Search your HDD for any files named "Babylon" or "Delta", should be able to use Revo to get rid of it if you have Delta Toolbar installed.
      My Computer


 

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