Curious about windows.old not being automatically being removed

MeAndMyComputer · 26 Nov 2017

I'm working on an Acer ES1-533 Win10 laptop. On Nov 16 it updated to version 1709 (OS Build 16299.64) from 1703.
Windows.old (24.8 GB) is dated Nov 16 and I thought it would be automatically removed 10 days after the update but here it is Nov 26 and it's still there.
--- Am I wrong in expecting it to be automatically removed 10 days after the update?
--- I am not interested in removing it at this time as I can ask the owner to let me see if it's still there after 30 days out of curiosity.
--- Actually I'm thinking of leaving it alone either way. The way the owner user uses their computer leaves something to be desired.

Masterchiefxx17 · 26 Nov 2017

It used to be a 30-day timer, but the automatic deletion can be a hit or miss from what I find. If you wish to remove it, you can do so using Disk Cleanup.

Delete Windows.old Folder in Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

MeAndMyComputer · 26 Nov 2017

That is a good tutorial to refer to. Although it mentions "The Windows.old folder will be automatically deleted 10 days after you upgraded." the FCU is an update, maybe that makes a difference. I'll wait to see what the status is after 30 days.

EDIT: For recording purposes only.
I checked a friends Win10 desktop this morning on which I had used Clean Install Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials . He had 1607 but was having issues, I decided to do that and it installed 1709 on 11/15/17 and it runs fine: no issues. Here it is 11/27/17, 12 days later. I don't know what it's for but the only item I see is $RecycleBin. Maybe there wasn't a windows.old within the 10 day period but I guess I'll never know.
--- BTW, these tutorials on this forum are excellent.

Masterchiefxx17 · 27 Nov 2017

Yes, the tutorials are quite professional. It's something I quite like to see.

Check back here in 30 days, but I personally just remove them using Disk Cleanup.

MeAndMyComputer · 27 Nov 2017

MeAndMyComputer said:

I'm working on an Acer ES1-533 Win10 laptop. On Nov 16 it updated to version 1709 (OS Build 16299.64) from 1703. Windows.old (24.8 GB) is dated Nov 16 and I thought it would be automatically removed 10 days after the update but here it is Nov 26 and it's still there.

--- Interesting : Today 11/27/17 Windows.old is 0 bytes.
I didn't mention this in my original post but Disk Cleanup had been reporting Previous Windows Installation(s) 27.2GB.
Today 11/27/17 Disk Cleanup reports Previous Windows Installation(s) 1.01GB.
--- I did not have Previous Windows Installation(s) checked as I wanted to see what would happen naturally.

EDIT: Revised summary. The 10-day period does apply.