What is Windows.old? Is it delete-able?

[jcramer]

I have an HP tx2110us touch-screen laptop, the operating system of which was recently updated from Windows Vista Home to Windows 8 Pro. After the installation, in addition to the expected Windows folder, there was a folder called Windows.old. This folder occupied about 11 GB of disk space.

Is it needed, or is it some backup in case I want to revert to Vista? In particular, can i delete it?

 

[SIW2]

is it some backup in case I want to revert to Vista?

Yes, but it isn't easy to do.

You should be able to dig out your programs from there, too.

If you have Vista install media - e.g. you ran off the manufacturer recovery discs before you installed 8 - then you don't need windows.old.

 

[elbmek]

When I upgraded from 7 to 8, it created a windows.old, after adjusting the front end on 8; I went into windows.old and transfered images, documents etc into Win 8 - everything escept executable stuff. But also I was able to transfer my downloads folder so did not have to run around hunting for what I could remember was in 7!

 

[elbmek]

When I upgraded from 7 to 8, it created a windows.old, after adjusting the front end on 8; I went into windows.old and transfered images, documents etc into Win 8 - everything escept executable stuff. But also I was able to transfer my downloads folder so did not have to run around hunting for what I could remember was in 7!

You can delete win.old but some folders might 'argue' - I just opened the folder, deleted contents, then the folder will be deletable. Depends on what, and how much, you want to migrate - when done, delete, especially if disk space is at a premium.