Deleting windows old folder

Sicard

My windows old folder is about 19gb. I'm assuming it was W8 originally and upgraded to W10. I don't know because I bought it new.

If I deleted it to free up space would I still be able to use the reset utilty that I've used before to reload W10 and still retain all files?

TIA

debitcardmayhem

I believe that windows.old folder is from the W10 before the Creator's update...(guess rom your photo thread)

Buzby

The reset util will only install what was current when it was supplied - it usually sits in its own partition. The usefulness evaporates the moment you upgrade to the next version.

John_Gray

You'd be better off creating a disk image using something like Macrium Reflect Free.

And if you want to delete old Windows Stuff, I suggest you do it via Disk Clean-up (via the Search field at the bottom left of the screen, for example), also clicking the "Clean-up system files" button. Tick everything you want to remove - I always tick every box!

Sicard

Thanks guys.

chunter

Rename it first. See if it makes any difference to your current windows 10.
Leave it for a couple of weeks. If you're getting no problems, send her to oblivion.

kwikbreaks

Buzby wrote: »

The reset util will only install what was current when it was supplied - it usually sits in its own partition. The usefulness evaporates the moment you upgrade to the next version.

You can create a USB recovery drive and scrap the recovery partition.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/instantanswers/3a747883-b706-43a5-a286-9e98f886d490/create-a-recovery-drive

Whole drive imaging is still a handy backup - I use Macrium for that.

50Twuncle

Rather than manually deleting Windows.old folder - try Piriform CCleaner and ensure that you tick OLD WINDOWS INSTALLATION - then run it - it will get rid of all of the unwanted bits properly and safely - including from the registry !!

wongataa

50Twuncle wrote: »

Rather than manually deleting Windows.old folder - try Piriform CCleaner and ensure that you tick OLD WINDOWS INSTALLATION - then run it - it will get rid of all of the unwanted bits properly and safely - including from the registry !!

The correct way to remove a Windows.old folder is to use the built in disk cleanup tool and tell it to remove previous Windows installations. They are hard to delete manually.

Sicard

wongataa wrote: »

The correct way to remove a Windows.old folder is to use the built in disk cleanup tool and tell it to remove previous Windows installations. They are hard to delete manually.

That's what I did. Now it's deceased.

DoaM

Sicard wrote: »

That's what I did. Now it's deceased.

Hopefully you're referring to the windows.old folder and not the PC. :eek: