How to delete a Windows old folder from a computer through the command line or special programs

Each computer user is faced with the need to install a new version of Windows or reinstall the old one. Sometimes the Windows directory appears in the system partition. This happens, as a rule, if you do not format the partition under OS.Many people are faced with the problem that the folder that takes up to 10 GB is not deleted.

How to Remove Windows Old Disk Cleanup

There are several methods to get rid of the residual files of the previous OS.One of the easiest ways to remove a Windows folder is the old system function "Disk Cleanup".For novice computer users, use this method. Instruction for using the tool:

1. Start the "Start" menu, go to the "All Programs" tab, select the "Standard" section.
2. Inside, you will need the "Service" section, which contains the "Disk Cleanup" line. Click on it with the left button.
3. The scanning process will start, which will delete all junk files from the system.

It should be noted that in the 10th version of the OS this function is automatic and is carried out every month independently. For owners of Windows 8.1 this instruction is not suitable. To start the operation, you need to click on the screen with the tiles and find the disk cleaning through the search line. The system itself will offer to activate this procedure. You will only need to select a location on the computer where the old system is stored. There is another option to run this utility:

1. Open the explorer. Right click on the section C.
2. In the menu, click on "Properties".
3. Find the button with the function name.
4. Confirm the start of the procedure.

How to delete a folder through the command line

Sometimes, using the previous method, you can not get rid of all files, there are some documents. Some of them require administrative access with full rights to transfer to the trash. You can delete the file through the command line, which is closed to ordinary users. The WinPE environment opens more opportunities. This is another way how you can delete the Windows folder old, the instruction is as follows:

1. Find the command line( cmd) through the search, right-click and select the start option with administrator rights.
2. Next, copy this command without the quotes "C: \ Windows \ System32 \ shutdown.exe / r / o / f / t 0" to boot the system with the necessary rights.
3. A special menu opens, where you will need to go to "Troubleshoot", then you need to go to the "Advanced options - & gt;Command Prompt ».
4. You will need a command that will start deleting the required folder: rd / s / q "C: \ Windows.old".
5. Copy this code and after a few seconds the procedure will be completed.

How to delete the Windows folder Old program CCleaner

You can get rid of old OS documents by third-party programs. One of the best for working with files is CCleaner. Downloading the utility is free, you do not need to buy a license for use. How to remove the Windows folder old:

1. Download and install CCleaner. Launch the application.
2. Click in the left menu of the program on the item "Cleaning".
3. Uncheck all the checkboxes, except the item "Old Windows installation".
4. Follow the procedure by pressing "OK".
5. After a few minutes, the removal process is complete.

This program is good not only for getting rid of old OS documents, but also for general computer scan. On disks there are always "tails" from programs, utilities, they clog the registry, slow down the OS.Through the "Cleaning" section you can get rid of all the "garbage" that accumulated on the hard drive. If you decide to clean the registry, be sure to do "backup" before this, the utility will offer it before the procedure. It will be needed in case CCleaner destroys an important file and some of the programs stop working.

Deleting old versions of the permissions on

folders

Some OS documents are closed from the user, they can not be changed, deleted or moved. The same applies to Windows Olds, so you have to use forced deletion of the folder. This option is better suited if the standard cleaning function does not work or there are some "garbage" files. This method will help you get rid of manually from the old system directory. For this, the user will have to fulfill two main conditions:

1. Go to the account management mode with administrator rights.
2. This account must have full rights and access to the necessary directory.

Most computer owners have only one user for Windows, so he is also an administrator. If you have done otherwise, then restart your PC and select an administrative account. Go through the explorer in the C section and on the Windows Olds, right-click. Open the "Properties" item and do the following:

1. Go to the "Security" tab.
2. Click "Advanced".
3. Proceed to the "Owner" section.
4. Click "Change".
5. In a new window, click the cursor on the main account of the owner of the directory, opposite the line "Replace the owner of subcontainers and objects", check the box.
6. Close the tab by clicking the "OK" button.
7. Go to the "Permissions" tab, click on "Change".
8. In this window you will need the line "Apply for this directory, its subfolders and files" from the drop-down list. Click on the "Full access" line. Click Ok.
9. You find yourself in the previous horse. Check for the items "Replace all inherited permissions for all children by new inheritable permissions from this object" and "Add permissions inherited from the parent objects".Click "Ok".
10. Go to drive C and delete the desired directory with the "delete" button.

Video: how to remove a folder from the command line