Question

Windows 10: delete windows.old - this is how it works

Answer 1

What is Windows.old?
Delete windows.old directory
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step:
quick start Guide

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Old Windows files are saved as windows.old files and take up a lot of storage space. We'll show you how to delete the file..

After upgrading Windows 7 or a major update, Windows 10 automatically saves the outdated Windows version as a backup for a while. In this way, you can undo an update within 10 days of installation. How to uninstall a Windows 10 update is explained in this guide.

• What is Windows.old?
• Delete windows.old directory

What is Windows.old?

The old Windows files are saved in the windows.old directory. In itself, this is a good backup of Windows. However, it also has a disadvantage: the old Windows files can take up a lot of storage space. You can therefore delete the windows.old directory by hand before the automatic cleanup - at least if you are sure that you no longer need the files.

Note: For the normal user, this method works very well. But if you use a Windows Inside build, it won't work. With an inside build, you receive updates from Windows in advance that may not be fully developed and have therefore not yet been distributed to all users. In such a case, a cleanup program such as MoveOnBoot can help..

Delete windows.old directory

Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions .

1st step:

Use the shortcuts [Windows key] + [E] to open the Explorer. Select the " This PC " section . Then right click on the hard drive where your Windows system files are located. Usually this is marked with a small Windows symbol .

2nd step:

Now select " Properties " in the menu.

3rd step:

In the "General" tab, click on " Clean up ".

4th step:

Then select the " Clean up system files " button . You may now need to enter your admin password. As a rule, this corresponds to the normal password for your Windows user.

5th step:

A list of system components to be cleaned up is now created. This can take a while. As soon as the list is finished, just check the box next to " Previous Windows installation (s) ". Remove the other hooks. You can see that the old Windows files may be consuming some space. Click OK to delete the outdated files. Caution: Only carry out this step if you are really sure that you no longer need the old Windows files.

quick start Guide

1. Open Windows Explorer with the key combination [Windows] + [E] . Then click on the " This PC " section on the left .
2. Right click on the hard drive where your Windows system is installed.
3. Then go to " Properties ".
4. A new window will now open. Here you have to click the " Clean up " button in the " General " tab that has already been selected .
5. Then select " Clean up system files ". You may have to enter your admin data.
6. In the list with the files to be cleaned up in the " Disk Cleanup " tab, just check the box next to " Previous Windows installation (s) " to remove the windows.old files.
7. Then click OK to start the cleanup.
   Warning: only do this if you are sure that you no longer need your old Windows 10 files.

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