Windows.old Folder - Delete

Struggling7 · 09 Mar 2017

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 · 09 Mar 2017

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

Struggling7 · 09 Mar 2017

Brink said:

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 · 09 Mar 2017

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

Struggling7 · 09 Mar 2017

Brink said:

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 · 09 Mar 2017

Brink said:

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 · 09 Mar 2017

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 · 09 Mar 2017

I'm glad it could help. :)

Struggling7 · 09 Mar 2017

torchwood said:

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 · 30 Jun 2017

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?