Windows.old

JohnM1969

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:mad: Why wont windows 8 let me delete windows.old. I have unticked read only when I go into the folder properties. When I click apply it won't give me permission to do this, it says I need permission to apply read only to certain files and takes me back to the ticked folder. I have taken full ownership but still won't delete says I need permission of SYSTEM but when I check UAC I have administrator access but SYSTEM seems to have its own account which I don't/Can't access..SOO frustrating...spend last four hours googling it and tried everything but can't get control of SYSTEM to get the permission to delete the folder.

Please help..I am losing the will to live there is over 100gig there I want back..!! :cry:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
You have to also change Auditing and Effective Access...
 

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I went through the same frustration as John and definitely no happy ending. I still have a big fat Windows.old folder smugly sitting there. It ignores everything from disk cleanup (no option to "clean up system files" anymore) to power admin commands and even though administrator has full control, that appears to be a lie. I'm sure MS in their finite wisdom thought it would protect users but I am down to 2GB of free disk space and getting a little desperate. Has anyone managed to delete windows.old in the production release version of W8? And if so, how? I may be able to do it if I create a linux boot disk on a flash drive but if there is an easier option that would be great.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Last edited by a moderator:

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Taking ownership worked for me too
 

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Ok, I booted into safe mode but no change. I still can't delete windows.old. So I removed system ownership of the directory so that only the administrator account has full access to it. And ... same result: "you need trustedinstaller approval to delete these files." Beats me. later I'll download a copy of ubuntu and try to delete using that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
If you fancy a smaller download - I think it's only 50mb, you could try Paragon's linux based free rescue .

Rescue Kit Free Edition - CNET Download.com

Normal Mode>File Transfer wizard.

Select the WINDOWS.OLD and click the big red X.

That should nuke the annoyance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Gone Missing???

In reply to mickchev....

I used Brinks tutorial. l used option one [Disk-Cleanup] and it deleted the windows.old folder completely.
Although I no longer have an interior listing for "Previous Windows installation(s)" ;
there is still the option/radio button to click on "Clean up system files".

I've no idea why yours disappeared. Strange?

Windows Old Folder.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7-8 Dual Boot on a Commodore 64
This will give you an additional right click mouse option "Take Ownership"
I found it first when I installed W7 and was denied access to files I had written in the first place - it works on W8 because I found myself in the sam position after installing W8 last weekend

good luck

Take and Grant Full Control Permissions and Ownership

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2814-take-ownership-add-context-menu-windows-8-a.html

or

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...le-folder-drive-registry-key-windows-8-a.html
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w8 pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    i7-3770K 3.5
    Motherboard
    AsusP8Z77-V LX
    Memory
    8Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 Optiquest
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
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    OCZ Vertex3 120Gb
    WD Velociraptor 600Gb
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    BeQuiet 600W 80+
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That s fantastic. It was almost too pleasurable wiping out that directory. There is one file remaining which is in the old system32 folder called flash32xxxxx.ocx that tells me I need admin approval (duh, I am the admin) but everything else deleted without any protest. And I now have 11GB free again. Thanks very much!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Glad to help - I had trouble with the flash folder, but after several reboots, and another take ownership, I deleted the file inside the folder, then the folder.

I had noticed that I was continually being asked in my (Maxthon) browser to install a different version of flash, but after 4 or 5 (failed) attempts, gave up. The fact that this folder remained and I had failed to install flash must surely be connected, but I can't think why
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w8 pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    i7-3770K 3.5
    Motherboard
    AsusP8Z77-V LX
    Memory
    8Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 Optiquest
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Vertex3 120Gb
    WD Velociraptor 600Gb
    PSU
    BeQuiet 600W 80+
    Cooling
    ArcticFreezer13
    Keyboard
    Xenta
    Mouse
    Wacom CTE640 tablet
Is yours the production version of W8? I downloaded this copy on friday.
View attachment 10375

Yes, I also downloaded on Friday..

Seller of Record
arvato digital services, llc
29011 Commerce Center Drive
Valencia, CA 91355
USA

Burned the .iso and installed from the following folder \Sources\setup.exe.
I've no idea why your "Clean up system files" has gone missing. Sorry :(

But here's your chance to try out that new "Reset" feature...ha ha
Ok ok, not very funny :(

Anyways, good luck
Windunce
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7-8 Dual Boot on a Commodore 64
I downloaded the upgrade version Win 8 Pro on Saturday so its probably the same as yours - my Clean up system files is still there -

2012-11-01_190827.png

I tried the "keep my files" option 3 times, without success, then settled on the "keep nothing" option, so I was surprised to find the setup had preserved my old (W7) windows file. I became suspicious when I saw the space taken up on my 160Gb SSD, so I started exploring and found the file which I think mickchev was complaining about. The system would not let me delete or open it, so I left it until I was happier with the new W8
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w8 pro x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    i7-3770K 3.5
    Motherboard
    AsusP8Z77-V LX
    Memory
    8Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    onboard
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 Optiquest
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Vertex3 120Gb
    WD Velociraptor 600Gb
    PSU
    BeQuiet 600W 80+
    Cooling
    ArcticFreezer13
    Keyboard
    Xenta
    Mouse
    Wacom CTE640 tablet
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