Question about deleting old Windows Versions

I just got a computer (delivered from Amazon October 17, 2021 with Windows 10 1909 installed. I just recently (December 30, 2021) and I got a message to delete the previous Windows version to save storage space on my boot drive (112 GB) Is this actu ally a good idea. is Windows 10 1909 and Windows 10 20H2 a new version? I haven't done anything with it because I'm scared I'll break it. Are there more than one system file.

My computer is a HP EliteDesk 800 G1
Boot Disk: Kingfast 120 GB
HDD: 1 TB
External Seagate HDD: 3 TB
16 GB Memory
Integrated Video and Sound
Asus VS 197
Windows 10 Pro OS build is 1909, but running Windows 10 20H2

I know the boot drive is a little too small. I'm planning on upgrading my boot and hd this year. I'm considering a 1 TB SSD for the boot and 5 TB for HDD so I don't run into this again, so I'm running out of storage on my boot drive, so wanted to know if it was safe to delete the 1909 or should i keep it or what. I"m very inexperienced with Windows 10, so if I can get any advice, I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you for your time.
Sincerely yours,
Maghdalena

Maghdalena, Windows 10 20H2 is indeed an updated version of Windows 10. In fact, it is two versions newer than 1909.

Once you know that everything is running fine in the updated version of Windows, there is no need to keep the old files around any longer.

Here is a straightforward way to clean up some space on your computer:

Press the Windows Key + R, type "cleanmgr" (without the quotes), and then press <ENTER>. This will open the Disk Cleanup tool. If prompted to select a drive, choose C:.

My recommendation would be to check all the boxes. These are all things that are safe to delete. After doing so, click on the "Clean up system files" button. If prompted to select a drive, choose C: again.

Select the "More Options" tab. Under "System Restore and Shadow Copies" click the "Clean up..." button. When prompted if you are sure, click on the "Delete" button. Click "OK". You may again be prompted for confirmation. Click on "Delete Files".

This may take a little while. Just allow the process to complete.

That should free up space for you.

You may also want to enable "Storage Sense" to do a little automatic housekeeping for you. To do so, follow these steps:

Click on Start > Settings > System > Storage. Turn on the Storage Sense option.

I hope that this helps. If you have any questions, do let us know.

Paul Black said:

Hello @Maghdalena,

You could of course, BEFORE you do anything, either copy the Windows.old folder to an external HDD/SSD, or create a System Image. This will allow any information, if needed, to be retrievable.

I hope this helps.

Since @Maghdalena has an internal 1TB HDD, I would just copy it there, personally....
@Maghdalena, I would also move user data files to the 1TB HDD,
How to move user folders to different location on Windows 10 | Windows Central

My data files are in D:\John

James said:

Getting 1TB + 5TB is a good idea.

How to free up storage space on Windows 10 - if your interested.

-James

Thanks James. I have the money, but I don't like taking the computer to the shop in the winter when there's snow and ice. (I live in Michigan)

Maghdalena said:

Thanks James. I have the money, but I don't like taking the computer to the shop in the winter when there's snow and ice. (I live in Michigan)

Why would have to take the computer to the shop?

Paul Black said:

Hello @Maghdalena,

You could of course, BEFORE you do anything, either copy the Windows.old folder to an external HDD/SSD, or create a System Image. This will allow any information, if needed, to be retrievable.

I hope this helps.

It does a lot. I hadn't even thought of doing that, so, thanks. I have Aomei Backerupper, because I can't afford what I used to have: Acronis. It's pretty much priced out of our range at this time. They have making an image, but I've never made an image before, so have no idea what I"m doing. ;/ Don't know if any of you are familiar with this program.

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NavyLCDR said:

Since @Maghdalena has an internal 1TB HDD, I would just copy it there, personally....
@Maghdalena, I would also move user data files to the 1TB HDD,
How to move user folders to different location on Windows 10 | Windows Central

My data files are in D:\John

I'll probably copy it to our Seagate, because I"ll be replacing the internal HDD as well as the SSD, hopefully in early spring, along with our annual cleaning, but I can do the prepratory work before then.

If I make an image of our HDD, will the image include both users or do I have to make an image for both users? Because there are two of us.

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NavyLCDR said:

Why would have to take the computer to the shop?

One I'm in my 60's and I'm not real confident of my abilities to open up the computer,
Two, we don't have a lot of room or light
Three, Our house is exceptionally dusty, Hope that helps.

Maghdalena said:

One I'm in my 60's and I'm not real confident of my abilities to open up the computer,
Two, we don't have a lot of room or light
Three, Our house is exceptionally dusty, Hope that helps.

I really don't see an issue with having a 128 GB SSD for the system drive and 1 TB HDD for data. That is a very common combination. Why do you feel the need to upgrade?

hsehestedt said:

Maghdalena, Windows 10 20H2 is indeed an updated version of Windows 10. In fact, it is two versions newer than 1909.

Once you know that everything is running fine in the updated version of Windows, there is no need to keep the old files around any longer.

Here is a straightforward way to clean up some space on your computer:

Press the Windows Key + R, type "cleanmgr" (without the quotes), and then press <ENTER>. This will open the Disk Cleanup tool. If prompted to select a drive, choose C:.

My recommendation would be to check all the boxes. These are all things that are safe to delete. After doing so, click on the "Clean up system files" button. If prompted to select a drive, choose C: again.

Select the "More Options" tab. Under "System Restore and Shadow Copies" click the "Clean up..." button. When prompted if you are sure, click on the "Delete" button. Click "OK". You may again be prompted for confirmation. Click on "Delete Files".

This may take a little while. Just allow the process to complete.

That should free up space for you.

You may also want to enable "Storage Sense" to do a little automatic housekeeping for you. To do so, follow these steps:

Click on Start > Settings > System > Storage. Turn on the Storage Sense option.

I hope that this helps. If you have any questions, do let us know.

Thanks for the instructions. That will help, So far it seems to be working well with the 20H2, so I just have to make a copy of the old windows file and store it on our Seagate as Paul Black has mentioned. Gee, never thought of that. So, thanks again.

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NavyLCDR said:

I really don't see an issue with having a 128 GB SSD for the system drive and 1 TB HDD for data. That is a very common combination. Why do you feel the need to upgrade?

We're both using up to 1 TB on the Hard Drive, and I don't like feeling crowded. That's pretty much it, and my husband doesn't like that the SSD that we have that it tends to heat up. He gets twitchy if it's over 100, and I like the feeling of plenty of room in case i want to install more programs. I hope that's clear. Oh, according to the specs it said 120 GB and according to My PC it says 110 GB, so feeling a little crowded.