How to remove old Windows installations from the non-primary disk

[Scougar]

So yesterday I had a problem where I couldn't delete an old windows installation from my second drive. I tried changing permisions, I tried changing ownership etc, but that only got me so far. I couldn't get rid of the vast majority of the data.

So what worked?

Create a folder on that drive called 'Windows.old'.
Cut and paste all the old folders you want removed. (for me Windows, Programs Files and Program Files (x86))
Run Disk Cleanup on that drive and cleanup system files.

Bingo.. you just cleared up a lot of free space your drive.


(on a side note, I was thinking about getting a new hard drive as I was runing out of space. I went on a small cleanup exercise and free'd up about 300GB, from duplicate or unnecessary files), and that was just the quick cleanup)

 

[something daft already!!]

The windows.old folder is created when you upgrade the OS. You need to access disk cleanup and click system files and remove the old install from there (remove previous windows installs). Otherwise you will have loads of files you do not have access to delete unless you take ownership but even then it can be problematical.

 

[Scougar]

I am well aware when that folder automatically created. I manually created that one, and as the hdd is just a data disk now, cleanup did literally nothing before i created that folder. Doing this saves a lot of hassle. I hope it might save some people time rather than trying the permissions route.