In a situation where the computer starts to work slowly, the only correct solution among the recommendations for setting up the computer yourself, you will find reinstalling the operating system, but this is not always done correctly, so then there is a need to remove the old Windows after installing the new one. Usually the OS is installed on a clean partition, but if it so happens that you installed a new operating system Windows system in the same place (in the same logical drive) as the old one, it will automatically remove the files of the old operating system into a folder called “Windows.old”. After all the necessary files have been saved, the folder with the old OS can be deleted. Moreover, there is never too much space on your hard drive. There are two ways to do this.
Removal using Windows
Cleaning the boot menu
After you have installed the new operating system in the same section, you may have a problem in the form of a menu that, when loading, asks you to choose which OS to choose. This problem is quite easy to solve.
- Click "Start";
- In the search bar, type msconfig;
- Select this program in the search results;
- In the next window, go to the “Download” tab;
- Select the old operating system;
- Click the “Delete” button, after which the program will inform you about the need to reboot;
- Restart your computer.
After all the above steps, the operating system will boot in normal mode and the menu for selecting the operating system will no longer appear.
There is nothing complicated about how to remove old Windows installations; the main thing is to decide on the method of execution. Now you can start setting up sound on your computer, setting up drivers, networking, and other things with peace of mind. Remember: in order to avoid the procedure of uninstalling previous versions of operating systems, it is recommended to install Windows on a pre-formatted partition. Thus, you will save your new operating system from garbage in the form of programs and files of the previous version of Windows.
Today there will be a post on how to remove the old Windows and cleanly install the new operating system. I'll tell you how to completely remove Windows. For some reason, many people don't understand this.
What does it mean to demolish Windows?
Removing Windows means formatting the disk with Windows installed and installing it on a blank disk. If we talk in simple words, demolishing Windows means correctly removing the old Windows.
Windows installers are divided into 2 types.
The first ones write it to disk. Launch the disk from under the old Windows and begin the installation. This WRONG SOLUTION installation of any Windows.
For correct installation Windows Xp, 7, 8, 10 - you will need to start the disk or bootable USB flash drive AFTER restarting the computer and BEFORE loading the old Windows.
First, you need to restart your computer and go into bios. In some cases, you need to set support for a USB adapter in the BIOS settings (if the keyboard and mouse do not respond to pressure and the disk with the Windows installation does not start)
After this, you need to set either disk loading or flash drive loading (depending on what you are doing the demolition of Windows and a clean installation of Windows)
If the key is not pressed, then you should set usb support (this is written above)
So the disk started loading. We wait and press Next. We need a moment when we can delete partition C:
Windows is demolished after deleting the C: partition (most likely Windows is installed there)
Now, select the unallocated area and install Windows there.
This way you will remove ALL operating systems from your computer and install just one. This method is suitable for any Windows Xp/7/8/10. Now you know how to properly remove Windows and install a new Windows Xp/7/8/10, as I advise you to do in every manual!
P.S: This method is suitable for installing any builds of Windows. It is recommended to install any build of Windows according to this manual. Do not run the disk under Windows, load it correctly!
All the best
Good afternoon, friends. I think every user has noticed that after he installed a new operating system, this OS begins to work like a well-oiled clock. Everything loads quickly and correctly. It's a pleasure to work with such a system.
But time goes by, and the system begins to slow down. There is a long loading time when turned on, and the system also takes a very long time to turn off. The same thing happens with programs installed on this system. They take a long time to load and do not work correctly.
You need to start working by searching for the necessary drivers for hard drive. Often, when trying to install Windows XP on a laptop, problems arise with recognizing the hard drive. You can avoid such a disaster by finding the necessary drivers on the laptop manufacturer’s website (“by default” your laptop will not have them).
In the Download Center, you need to download the files you need, unzip them and copy them to a flash card (you can use an external hard drive with a USB connector).
You will need to download the Windows installation disk image and burn it to disk (you can use the ISO File Burning program). Do not remove this disc after recording is complete, insert the flash card with the recorded hard drive drivers and reboot your laptop.
When the laptop starts booting, press and do not release the F8 key; when the menu for quickly changing the boot device appears, use the Internal DVD-Rom item, click on any key to start booting from the disk.
Next, follow the step-by-step menu instructions when the download program prompts you to select partitions, or says that hard drive absent. You need to select the “Install drivers” menu item, for which write down the path to the USB drive. After the driver installation is complete, remove the flash card.
When the program detects the hard drive, find the partition with Windows 7 installed. Then select “Format to NTFS” and click Enter.
During the installation of OS XP, the laptop will reboot several times on its own. Do not pay any attention to this and do not try to interfere with it, the device will boot from the hard drive itself.
Now all you have to do is go to the laptop manufacturer’s website and download drivers for the motherboard and other devices necessary for the normal functioning of the laptop. Just don't forget that you need drivers for Windows XP.
That's all, actually. Good luck with your work on the usual XP.
More recently, when he first appeared new version OS and system updates, many have become interested in the question of how to remove windows old in Windows 10, and today we will talk about all the ways to delete an archive folder.
Windows.Old – storage of components and files of the “previous” one installed system. This folder is created when installing the system on the same partition where the operating system was previously installed or when updating to a new build. Also, this is a backup copy of the data necessary to return to a previous version of Windows (in case of an update) or restore personal files when reinstalling the system on the same partition.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to restore applications if reinstalled ( using standard methods). Basically, personal data will be stored here (Users folders, respectively Downloads, Documents, Photos, desktop, etc.), application settings (*Outlook pst files, saved games, application configurations), application data (databases) .
The folder is stored from 10 to 28 days, depending on the actions performed.
- 10 days – update of the “tens” to the new build (1511->1607, 1607->1703). This period is necessary for a painless return to the previous version of the system.
As part of the cleanup, these applications may delete or clear the Windows.Old folder, making it difficult or impossible to return to a previous version of the operating system.
- 28 days – this period is provided after an update (7 -> 8; 8.1 -> 10, etc.), as well as in case of reinstallation to the same partition (where the OS was previously installed or there was a system folder with files).
If all files have been transferred or the OS update was successful, and this folder is simply in the way and takes up free space on the disk, then use the following recommendations to delete it:
- Uninstalling via the Options window
- Removing via Disk Cleanup
- Uninstall via Command Line
Uninstalling via the Options window
To clear your disk of an unwanted folder through the Options menu, you should run next steps:
Removing via Disk Cleanup
Also, cleaning the disk can help you, to do this you should follow these steps:
Uninstall via command line
If the above methods did not help, then we will delete it through the command line window:
Call window Command line by entering cmd in the search or Command line, run the application as Administrator and enter the following commands one by one:
- takeown /F C:\Windows.old\* /R /A
A lengthy redefinition of rights to the contents of the folder will take place. You will be asked to confirm your actions by pressing the Y key. - cacls C:\Windows.old\*.* /T /grant Administrators:F
You will be asked to confirm your actions by pressing the Y key. - rmdir /S /Q C:\Windows.old\
Removing the Windows.Old folder
Windows.Old can store both personal data from past Windows installations, and can store a “backup” copy of the operating system, so that it would be possible to return to a working state in case of an update error or unforeseen situations, such as turning off the lights. If you are sure that you will no longer need this folder, then feel free to delete it, according to the instructions that were described in this article.
Often, in order to maintain the functionality of some software tools or computer games, we leave the previous version of the operating system. Meanwhile, we are actively using new system, so to speak, we are settling it. The time comes to abandon the outdated version for a number of reasons...
How to remove a previous version of Windows?
Everything is much simpler than it might seem! First, we will need to boot into a more recent operating system, for me it is Windows 7, and we will remove the outdated WindowsXP. Already from the active system we will configure the computer boot and clean up unnecessary files!
Cleaning up previous Windows files
The main part is completed, after the above steps, when you turn on the PC, the list of available operating systems will not be displayed. Now you can move the required files from one system to another - the active one.
To do this, use a file manager (for example TotalCommander) or the “ Windows Explorer" You may have office documents, photographs or other personal data saved.
After the files have been copied to the active Windows directory, you should delete the associated directories of the previous version (be careful when cleaning system files)!
Instead of an afterword, we remove the download entries
Actually, you can stop, since the operating system cannot physically be loaded, but there are saved records about loading in active system and it would be nice to get rid of them too:
