Old Windows left after re-install

I had to reinstall Win10 Pro 64 after boot sector failure. I have been left with a Directory in my C drive containing a huge amount of Windows files etc named 'Windows.old' this contains the following directories, 'Program Files, Recovery (empty), Users and Windows. This directory is huge, 20.3Gb containing in excess of 230,000 files.

This is taking up valuable space on my SSD which is unacceptable.

My question is simple. Can I safely remove this directory? I have been advised that should I do so then I will end up repeating the reinstall exercise ad infinitum as the offending directory will keep reappearing.

Is a completely new install with a clean formatted 'C' my only option?

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions

Tim

Welcome to TenForums @Wobblybootie

Dalchina has answered 'how' to remove windows.old, the question remains 'why' you had one.

How did you reinstall Windows? From your own media? or from the manufacturer's 'reset to factory' procedure? Either way you may have installed a previous version (1607 or 1511). On first boot and checking for updates the Creators Update may have downloaded and upgraded this to the current version 1703. Check what version you have now with Winver, the latest is 1703, os build 15063.332.

Elsewhere on this forum there are reports of brand new 'out of the box' PCs having a windows.old. Seems that, rather than develop a new image each time Microsoft releases the next version, some OEMs are still supplying PCs with 1511 images on them that upgrade themselves to 1703 when first turned on.

Bree said:

Welcome to TenForums @Wobblybootie

Dalchina has answered 'how' to remove windows.old, the question remains 'why' you had one.

How did you reinstall Windows? From your own media? or from the manufacturer's 'reset to factory' procedure? Either way you may have installed a previous version (1607 or 1511). On first boot and checking for updates the Creators Update may have downloaded and upgraded this to the current version 1703. Check what version you have now with Winver, the latest is 1703, os build 15063.332.

Elsewhere on this forum there are reports of brand new 'out of the box' PCs having a windows.old. Seems that, rather than develop a new image each time Microsoft releases the next version, some OEMs are still supplying PCs with 1511 images on them that upgrade themselves to 1703 when first turned on.

My Winver shows 1607 (OS Build 14393.118), and I am told I am up to date ??