"$WINDOWS.~TMP" on USB drive

MrCat1421 66 Reputation points
2022-01-29T15:31:12.677+00:00

Hello Q&A users!

Recently I have done a Windows 11 upgrade.
And it asked me to insert my usb.

After the Windows 11 upgrade this folder is on my USB:
169584-image.png

Is it safe to delete it?
Its 4GB so it takes many space.
Please tell me.

Windows 11
Windows 11
A Microsoft operating system designed for productivity, creativity, and ease of use.
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5 answers

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  1. Reza-Ameri 16,836 Reputation points
    2022-01-29T17:29:11.397+00:00

    In case your upgrade has been successful and you don't need to use Windows installer again, you may remove it.
    This folder contains temporary data for Windows installation.
    I believe you have limit in your storage space and it download installer files into USB and since installation was successful, you may remove it.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Docs 15,146 Reputation points
    2022-01-29T22:42:12.23+00:00

    Did the folder display access denied or were you able to view the contents?

    Please post an image of disk management (widen these columns: Volume and Status; widen these rows: disk 0, disk 1, etc.)

    Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:

    dism /online /get-osuninstallwindow
    dism /online /set-osuninstallwindow /value:30

    The above steps extend the default go back period from 10 to 30 days.

    During this time you can delete the temporary file and return to Windows 10 with the Windows.old.

    If you want more time you can use up to 60 days and rerun the command during the 60 day period for additional days.

    If you need the drive free space you can manually delete the windows.old.

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  3. Docs 15,146 Reputation points
    2022-01-30T08:06:40.417+00:00

    Please post an image of disk management expanding columns and rows so that no characters are cut off.
    It may be possible to decide based upon what is seen within the folder.
    Please post images or share links displaying the contents.

  4. Castorix31 81,746 Reputation points
    2022-01-30T08:45:24.887+00:00

    Is it safe to delete it?

    Yes.
    Any file/folder named .tmp, .~tmp, .bak, .old, ... can be deleted

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  5. Docs 15,146 Reputation points
    2022-01-30T10:40:06.617+00:00

    Wasn't there a disk 0 with primary C: partition in disk management with ESP and recovery partitions that were omitted in the disk management image?

    If you post this then it may be possible to find why the temporary files were not created in C: and had to be created in the flash drive.

    If there are absolutely no plans or factors where you had to return to Windows 10 then you can delete windows.old.

    Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste: (all at one time)

    diskpart
    lis dis
    lis vol
    sel dis 0
    det dis
    lis par
    sel par 1
    det par
    sel par 2
    det par
    sel par 3
    det par
    sel par 4
    det par
    sel par 5
    det par
    sel par 6
    det par
    sel dis 1
    det dis
    lis par
    sel par 1
    det par
    sel par 2
    det par

    Post images of the commands with results into this thread.

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