Windows.old

Will Windows eventually delete the files in the Windows.old directory or
does that need to be done manually?

On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:39:27 -0600, Walter Boyd
wrote:

Will Windows eventually delete the files in the Windows.old directory or
does that need to be done manually?

I believe Windows keeps it for thirty days before removing it
automatically.

On 21/11/2017 1:29 AM, KenW wrote:

It will remove them, may take up to 30 days.

If you were confident that your upgraded Window$ had no problems, just
delete it yourself saving the wait. I did that many times.

--
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/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
^ ^ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.39.3
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On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 02:38:04 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
wrote:


On 21/11/2017 1:29 AM, KenW wrote:


It will remove them, may take up to 30 days.


If you were confident that your upgraded Window$ had no problems, just
delete it yourself saving the wait. I did that many times.




My advice is the exact opposite. It's easy to have unwarranted
confidence. The wait doesn't matter. Unless you are short of disk
space, I'd keep it for a long time. In fact, I recommend coping it to
a DVD before it's deleted, whether it's deleted automatically or
manually.

On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 11:57:54 -0700, Ken Blake
wrote:

On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 02:38:04 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
wrote:

On 21/11/2017 1:29 AM, KenW wrote:

It will remove them, may take up to 30 days.

If you were confident that your upgraded Window$ had no problems, just
delete it yourself saving the wait. I did that many times.



My advice is the exact opposite. It's easy to have unwarranted
confidence. The wait doesn't matter. Unless you are short of disk
space, I'd keep it for a long time. In fact, I recommend coping it to
a DVD before it's deleted, whether it's deleted automatically or
manually.

I haven't even looked at how it can be restored. Moving it someplace
else may make it not recoverable.


KenW

On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 12:38:32 -0700, KenW
wrote:


On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 11:57:54 -0700, Ken Blake
wrote:


On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 02:38:04 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
wrote:


On 21/11/2017 1:29 AM, KenW wrote:

It will remove them, may take up to 30 days.

If you were confident that your upgraded Window$ had no problems, just
delete it yourself saving the wait. I did that many times.




My advice is the exact opposite. It's easy to have unwarranted
confidence. The wait doesn't matter. Unless you are short of disk
space, I'd keep it for a long time. In fact, I recommend coping it to
a DVD before it's deleted, whether it's deleted automatically or
manually.


I haven't even looked at how it can be restored. Moving it someplace
else may make it not recoverable.



You could always put it back where it was.

On 20/11/2017 17:29, KenW wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:39:27 -0600, Walter Boyd
wrote:

Will Windows eventually delete the files in the Windows.old directory or
does that need to be done manually?
It will remove them, may take up to 30 days.


KenW


It is 10 days these days because of constant updates!!!! Microsoft
doesn't want latest updates to interfere with nutters trying to restore
their machine!!!




--
With over 500 million devices now running Windows 10, customer
satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows.

On 20/11/2017 18:27, Doomsdrzej wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:39:27 -0600, Walter Boyd
wrote:

Will Windows eventually delete the files in the Windows.old directory or
does that need to be done manually?
I believe Windows keeps it for thirty days before removing it
automatically.
Your belief is wrong this time. It is 10 days these days because of
constant updates!!!! Microsoft doesn't want latest updates to interfere
with nutters trying to restore their machine!!!

You have been correct most of the time but this time you haven't kept
yourself up-to-date.




--
With over 500 million devices now running Windows 10, customer
satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows.

Doomsdrzej wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:39:27 -0600, Walter Boyd
wrote:

Will Windows eventually delete the files in the Windows.old directory or
does that need to be done manually?

I believe Windows keeps it for thirty days before removing it
automatically.

It was 30 days on the original release of Windows 10,
but at some point, it dropped to 10 days.

If you're in a rush, there is "cleanmgr.exe" and it
has a system file cleanup button.

Windows.old should not be deleted by hand, because one
folder in there is "booby-trapped". I'm sure at some
point, someone here will try this for themselves, and
I await your test results :-) Most of the Windows.old
isn't a problem, but leave it to Microsoft to do that.

The unremovable folder is something like this. VFS stands
for virtual file system, at a guess. And it appears to be
a reparse point. The regular Linux NTFS mounter won't touch
it (says reparse points not supported). It's possible the
FUSE version of NTFS can do it, but I haven't gotten around
to testing that yet. Working on this is not a priority, except
if a bar bet is involved.

C:\Window.old\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.MicrosoftOfficeHub_17. 8010.5926.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\VFS

Paul

On 21/11/2017 2:57 AM, Ken Blake wrote:

My advice is the exact opposite. It's easy to have unwarranted
confidence. The wait doesn't matter. Unless you are short of disk
space, I'd keep it for a long time. In fact, I recommend coping it to
a DVD before it's deleted, whether it's deleted automatically or
manually.

One more thing: it's better to do a clean install than doing an upgrade.
You will have a clean system. Of course, backup all your data before
doing it.

--
@~@ Remain silent! Drink, Blink, Stretch! Live long and prosper!!
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty!
/( _ )\ May the Force and farces be with you!
^ ^ (x86_64 Ubuntu 9.10) Linux 2.6.39.3
�借貸! ��騙! ��交! �打交! �打劫! �自殺! 請考慮綜� (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...sub_addressesa

On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 23:34:40 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
wrote:

On 21/11/2017 2:57 AM, Ken Blake wrote:

My advice is the exact opposite. It's easy to have unwarranted
confidence. The wait doesn't matter. Unless you are short of disk
space, I'd keep it for a long time. In fact, I recommend coping it to
a DVD before it's deleted, whether it's deleted automatically or
manually.

One more thing: it's better to do a clean install than doing an upgrade.
You will have a clean system. Of course, backup all your data before
doing it.

Backing up data does not reinstall your programs and find all the
registration information. Paint Shop Pro 9 cannot be installed on 1709
yet works fine with upgrade.


KenW

On Tue, 21 Nov 2017 23:34:40 +0800, "Mr. Man-wai Chang"
wrote:


On 21/11/2017 2:57 AM, Ken Blake wrote:


My advice is the exact opposite. It's easy to have unwarranted
confidence. The wait doesn't matter. Unless you are short of disk
space, I'd keep it for a long time. In fact, I recommend coping it to
a DVD before it's deleted, whether it's deleted automatically or
manually.


One more thing: it's better to do a clean install than doing an upgrade.
You will have a clean system. Of course, backup all your data before
doing it.




My advice on that statement is also the exact opposite of yours.
Although many people will tell you that formatting and installing
cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous
versions of Windows, when doing an upgrade was often a mistake, an
upgrade to Windows XP or later replaces almost everything, and usually
works very well.

The only real exception is when you are having problems; in that
situation, an upgrade often worsens problems, rather than solving
them.

My recommendation is to at least try the upgrade, since it's much
easier than a clean installation. You can always change your mind and
reinstall cleanly if problems develop.

However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the need
to backup your data, etc. before beginning. Before starting to
upgrade, it's always prudent to recognize that things like a sudden
power loss can occur in the middle of it and cause the loss of
everything. For that reason you should make sure you have backups and
anything else you need to reinstall if the worst happens.

On 20/11/2017 18:29, KenW wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:39:27 -0600, Walter Boyd
wrote:

Will Windows eventually delete the files in the Windows.old directory or
does that need to be done manually?

It will remove them, may take up to 30 days.


Really? After almost 2 years since upgrade to Win 10, my 'Windows.old'
folder is still there. (Not much in it, but the folder has never been
removed)

occam wrote:
On 20/11/2017 18:29, KenW wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:39:27 -0600, Walter Boyd
wrote:

Will Windows eventually delete the files in the Windows.old directory or
does that need to be done manually?
It will remove them, may take up to 30 days.


Really? After almost 2 years since upgrade to Win 10, my 'Windows.old'
folder is still there. (Not much in it, but the folder has never been
removed)


Try this method.

1) Left-click the Start orb and select the Settings icon.

2) In settings is a search box at the top.
Enter the word "Storage" in the search box.

3) The first item in the returned list is "Storage". Click it.

4) When the Storage settings subsection opens, there is
a "Storage sense" section, set to "Off". You don't
need to change that slider, it's fine as is.

Just below it, is "Change how we free up space".
Click that blue link, for a one-shot cleanup.

5) Now, a neat thing happened. To test this, I created
a "fake" Windows.old with two text files in it. Normally,
the cleanup methods won't touch that. However in this
case, the presence of Windows.old caused a new box
to appear near the bottom.

"Delete previous versions of Windows".

So it thinks my fake, is a real one.

Tick that box, and untick the others, so we can test
just that feature.

6) Click the "Clean now" at the bottom.

I tested that, and it removed my fake Windows.old :-)

Have fun,

Paul

Paul wrote:
occam wrote:
On 20/11/2017 18:29, KenW wrote:
On Mon, 20 Nov 2017 10:39:27 -0600, Walter Boyd
wrote:

Will Windows eventually delete the files in the Windows.old
directory or does that need to be done manually?
It will remove them, may take up to 30 days.


Really? After almost 2 years since upgrade to Win 10, my 'Windows.old'
folder is still there. (Not much in it, but the folder has never been
removed)


Here is a picture to go with it.

https://s7.postimg.org/q47k01a9n/storage_panel.gif

Paul