Keep Windows.old?

Question

How to keep Windows.old folder?

Answer 1

You can try it. You might have to Take Ownership first using this handy tool that will install to your right click mouse button: https://www.askvg.com/add-take-ownership-option...

Answer 2

What happens if you rename the Windows.old folder then?

Answer 3

Hi Bash. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, specializing in Installation, Performance, Troubleshooting and Activation, here to help you.

Windows.old is not a place to back up your files as many have lost theirs by trusting it too long and then suddenly it disappears. So while I can show you the best way to try to keep it, you MUST copy your files out now to their User folders or backup to protect them.

If you still want to keep it and it's there after a Feature Update or Windows Upgrade, the Task Scheduler will be programmed with a listing to delete it after ten days. You can go into the Task Scheduler to find and delete the task following this guide to manage existing tasks in Task Scheduler:

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-manage-exis...

But there's really no reason to keep it once you get the files out and know you are not going to need it to Go Back to the old Version or OS. If you think you need more time to decide about going back in WIndows 11 Upgrade, you can extend it up to 60 days here:

https://www.droidwin.com/extend-10-day-windows-...

And if you want to get rid of it sooner do that in Disk Cleanup for System Files: Open Disk Cleanup, run it, when it reports choose the button for System Files, then run it again and clean up what it finds.

Tutorial here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/d...

I hope it helps to have all options. Feel free to ask back any questions and I will be here to help.

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