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Windows.old

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by Old Man, Sep 26, 2023.

  1. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

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    I want to delete Win. old to save space on my small PC. After trying to delete I was given the error that I do not have permission. But, I am the administrator and it still will not accept my command. The .old has been on my system for many weeks now and Windows has not deleted them automatically as I supposed it would. So, how can I get this old Windows file deleted?
    Thanks for your help and have a great day.
     

    Attached Files:

    Old Man, Sep 26, 2023
    #1
  3. plodr

    plodr CHF Advisor CHF Advisers

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    plodr, Sep 27, 2023
    #2
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  4. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

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    I ran that thrice but still had the Win.old file. See attachment. Thanks.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Sep 28, 2023
    Old Man, Sep 28, 2023
    #3
  5. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    When you received this error, are you given the option to Continue? I think it's a button on the lower left of the message.

    Also, try restarting your computer.
     
    Tony D, Sep 28, 2023
    #4
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  6. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

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    I ran it again to make sure and what I got was "Clean Now" so I clicked on that and it did run but came back with the same message and response. There was no continue button anywhere. My pc has been restarted several times since. Thanks.
     
    Old Man, Sep 28, 2023
    #5
  7. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    Go back to the beginning where you see the folder. Click on it as you did originally and try to delete it. You got a message saying that you don't have permission to delete it. Do you get that "Continue" button at that point? This often comes up and users miss the opportunity to use the Continue button to finish the job.

    If the methods that plodr suggested didn't work, you can try booting in Safe Mode to delete the folder.
    - To boot in Safe Mode, hold the Shift key while restarting your computer. When it restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup settings & then click the Restart button.
    - When it restarts the second time, you should be given a menu with selections. 4 should be Safe Mode. Just tap the 4 button and it'll start in Safe Mode. Take note that it'll take a little longer to start.
    Once it's started, try deleting that folder.
     
    Tony D, Sep 29, 2023
    #6
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  8. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

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    I thought you were talking about a Continue button while in the settings. Yes, if I go back to the folder, right-click, and try delete again I do get the continue button. I tried that again but got the same results. Windows apparently has this so well-protected that it cannot be deleted. Even my Eraser program could not do it. Why would going into Safe Mode change the outcome? I'll just live with it, maybe Windows will eventually delete it. Thanks.
     
    Old Man, Sep 29, 2023
    #7
  9. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    When booting in Safe Mode, Windows runs with only the bare necessities to get going. Whatever is blocking you from deleting the .old folder may not be running while in Safe Mode.
     
    Tony D, Sep 29, 2023
    #8
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  10. Old Man

    Old Man Registered Members

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    Apparently, that did the trick. I went into Safe Mode and right-click to delete and the Win.old moved to the recycle bin then I emptied the bin and that was that. Thanks for your help and have a great day.
     
    Old Man, Sep 30, 2023
    #9
    Tony D likes this.
  11. Tony D

    Tony D Administrator Administrator

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    Good to hear that worked and that you've reclaimed some disk space.
     
    Tony D, Sep 30, 2023
    #10
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