Windows.old Folder - Delete

How to Delete the Windows.old Folder in Windows 7​

   Information

If you performed repair install, upgrade install, or a custom install without formatting the drive for a clean install and selected to install Windows 7 on the same partition of the previous Windows installation, then you may have a C:\Windows.old folder left over in your new installation.

If you already had a C:\Windows.old folder in the installation that you performed a repair install, upgrade install, or a custom install on, then it would be renamed to say C:\Windows.old.000 (older previous installation) in addition to the C:\Windows.old folder. The most recent previous installation will always be in the C:\Windows.old folder.

This will show you how to delete the Windows.old folder(s) generated during the installation to free up the hard drive space that the Windows.old folder(s) takes.

   Note

The C:\Windows.old folder contains folders and files from the previous Windows installation. Be sure to copy any files or data that you may still want to keep to another location before deleting this folder.

   Tip

For how to

restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder, see: How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder

   Warning

Be sure to copy any files that you want out of the Windows.old folder before you delete it. Once deleted, they are gone.

You must logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: Windows.old Folder
NOTE: Notice how much space this folder uses.

OPTION ONE

Delete "Windows.old" Folder Using Disk Cleanup

1. Open Disk Cleanup.
2. If prompted, select the Windows 7 C: drive, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will only see this if you have more than one HDD or partition with a drive letter.

3. Click on the Clean up system files button. (see screenshot below)

4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

5. Repeat step 2 above.

6. Check the Previous Windows installations box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Click on Delete Files. (see screenshot below)

8. When Disk Cleanup finishes, the C:\Windows.old folder(s) will be deleted.

OPTION TWO

Delete "Windows.old" Folder Using Elevated Command Prompt

1. Open a Elevated command prompt.

2. In the elevated command prompt, copy and paste the command below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you had another say windows.old.000 folder that you also wanted to delete, then you could repeat this command substituting that name instead to also delete it.
RD /S /Q %SystemDrive%\windows.old


3. Close the command prompt.

OPTION THREE

Delete "Windows.old" Folder Using Command Prompt at Boot

NOTE: This would be a good option to do if OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO was unable to delete your C:\Windows.old folder.
1. Open the Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc), and make note of the name (ex: none) and total size (ex: 126 GB) of your Windows 7 drive. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will need to know this in step 3C.

2. Using either you Windows 7 installation DVD or system repair disc, boot to a command prompt at boot (click on link for how).

3. To Verify the Windows 7 Drive Letter at Boot
NOTE: The Windows 7 drive letter may not always be C: at boot like it is while Windows is started, so be sure to verify it's drive letter before doing the command in step 4 for it to work.
A) In the command prompt, type diskpart and press enter. (see screenshot below)

B) In the command prompt, type list volume and press enter. (see screenshot below)

C) From the listed volumes, look for and verify the drive letter (ex: D: ) of your Windows 7 drive (ex: 126 GB w/ no name). (see screenshot below)

D) In the command prompt, type exit and press enter. (see screenshot below)

4. To Delete the "Windows.old" Folder
A) In the command prompt, type the command below and press enter. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Be sure to substitute D in the command below with the actual drive letter of your Windows 7 drive as displayed from step 3 above instead. If you had another say windows.old.000 folder that you also want to delete, then you could repeat this command substituting that name instead of Windows.old to also delete it.
RD /S /Q "D:\Windows.old"
B) Close the command prompt window.

5. Click on the Restart button to restart the computer and start Windows 7, and to verify that the Windows.old folder has been deleted.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Restore your Windows.old Folder into a New Installation
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Delete a Folder from the Command Prompt
• How to Free Up and Recover Hard Drive Space in Windows 7

 

[Struggling7]

Thanks Brink for welcome. You’ve also given me some advice on Vista forum, before my recent change to 7.

Just ran “Disk Cleanup” again after posting this morning. Watched it collecting system data for over ½ hr. and let continue without monitoring, checked 2 hours later and computer was asleep (no HDD activity from indicator light and lighted power button changed from green to amber). Moved mouse to wake and “Disk Cleanup” window showed still checking for system data. If IRC same thing happened with option 2, cmd prompt within win7. Option 3 (boot) didn’t put computer to sleep but after displaying several lines of data, it just stopped with curser blinking as though still collecting data but didn’t proceed any further until I canceled cmd prompt with control/C. Even “take ownership” seems to hang when checking on large data folders.

Thanks for your help in advance and the help this thread has given others.

Edit: By the way normal computer functions give no problems.

Edit 2: Further information, just ran “take ownership” on windows.old folder. After ~ 80 lines of ownership assignment (stopped assigning), waited ~ 35 min. without any advancement before canceling.

 

[Brink]

It is odd that it even does this while trying to delete the folder from a command prompt at boot.

 

[Struggling7]

It is odd that it even does this while trying to delete the folder from a command prompt at boot.

LOL, Just my luck to have a weird problem. I did add couple edits to previous post. Thinking maybe corrupt file? Maybe run file check and repair? What you think?

 

[Brink]

You might see if the free program Unlocker may be able to delete it for you.

 

[Struggling7]

You might see if the free program Unlocker may be able to delete it for you.

Thanks, will try that and let you know outcome later.

 

[Struggling7]

You might see if the free program Unlocker may be able to delete it for you.

THANK YOU! The unlocker program did the job; because of site confusion downloading I used this unlocker program IObit Unlocker, Solution for "undelete files or folders" Problems on Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, 10 - IObit which cleared all folders/files except for main folder windows.old and user folder within even though both empty (0 bytes). The main goal was accomplished, almost 20 GB gained. You’re indispensable to novice like me for sure (added to your Reputation). Thank you again.

 

[torchwood]

Hi Struggling,
Although NOT recommended,
the file could be removed directly via C > windows > windows.old.
note because of admin rights you may have to remove the files within the folder its-self. (bottom-up)

Roy

 

[Brink]

I'm glad it could help.

 

[Struggling7]

Hi Struggling,
Although NOT recommended,
the file could be removed directly via C > windows > windows.old.
note because of admin rights you may have to remove the files within the folder its-self. (bottom-up)

Roy

Hey torchwood,
All files have already been removed with unlock program (0 bytes in windows.old). However tried the C > windows > windows.old approach after restore point created, but it also failed to remove folder. I’m not really concerned about useless folder since basically no/little drive space is consumed by it. Thanks for your suggestion though.

 

[Umair444]

Thanks. It is very helpful. But this folder come again after a restart. I not want to delete this again and again using DOS. Is this problem is only in my system?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

THANK YOU! The unlocker program did the job; because of site confusion downloading I used this unlocker program IObit Unlocker, Solution for "undelete files or folders" Problems on Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, 10 - IObit

Hiyya Strugglin mate IObits stuff in my mind causes more problems thta it is worth so be careful.

 

[Struggling7]

Hiyya Strugglin mate IObits stuff in my mind causes more problems thta it is worth so be careful.

Hi ICIT2LOL, thanks for warning but it’s been about 4 months since I used the unlocker and have not experienced any problems yet. Sorry if it caused you any problems or you have read of problems. If you know of any I should watch out for, please let me know.

By any chance you mean IObits stuff in general I will certainly be aware going forward. Thanks again.

 

[Struggling7]

Thanks. It is very helpful. But this folder come again after a restart. I not want to delete this again and again using DOS. Is this problem is only in my system?

Just folder coming back or does it contain files? As I posted my windows.old and user folder within could not be removed, but properties of both was zero bytes. If I recall correctly, I had to unlock/delete folders/files from user main folder itself.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

By any chance you mean IObits stuff in general I will certainly be aware going forward. Thanks again.

Well let me put it like this I had it once a very long time ago and it was rubbish then and as far as I know still is - never going on any of my machines at least.

 

[djbillyd]

Hi Chris,

Other than having to approve the deletion for a few system files in that folder, I had no problems with just right clicking on it and deleting it. There have been quite a few people that have reported not to be able to do so though.

I, for one, found it almost impossible, except through "Disk Cleanup". It would always be the "Macromed", in the Sys32 folder, and the "Flash" folder. It's been a while since I worked in Windows 7, unfortunately, but that was my history with it.