It is usually impossible to delete files in the Windows folder that remained on the disk after installing the operating system on it using standard methods, since the user does not have sufficient rights to perform such an operation. But there are ways to accomplish this task.
Instructions
Step 1
Press the "Start" button to bring up the main menu of the system and go to the "All Programs" item.
Step 2
Select "Standard" and select "Service".
Step 3
Open the "Disk Cleanup" link by clicking on the application shortcut and select the drive containing the Windows.old folder in the "Disk Cleanup: Device Selection" dialog box that opens.
Step 4
Click OK to confirm the command execution and go to the Disk Cleanup tab in the main program window.
Step 5
Check the box next to "Previous Windows installations" in the "Remove the following files" section and click OK to confirm your choice.
Step 6
Click the Delete Files button in the new dialog box to confirm the selected changes are applied. Alternatively, you can use the regular delete method to delete unnecessary files from the Windows folder. However, it should be borne in mind that the condition for the success of the operation performed is:
- the administrative record from under which the deletion occurs is the owner of the selected folder and all subfolders and files;
- the administrative record from under which the deletion takes place has full access to the selected folder and all subfolders and files.
Step 7
Call the service menu by right-clicking on the Windows.old folder shortcut and go to the "Properties" item.
Step 8
Go to the Security tab of the dialog box that opens and click the Advanced button.
Step 9
Click the Owner tab of the new Advanced Security Settings for Windows.old dialog box and click the Change button.
Step 10
Specify the desired owner of the folder in the "Change owner" field and apply the checkbox to the "Change owner of subcontainers and objects" field.
Step 11
Click the "Apply" button and go to the "Permissions" tab in the main program window.
Step 12
Click the "Change" button and specify the previously selected account in the "Permission Items" field.
Step 13
Click the "Change" button and select "For this folder, its subfolders and files" in the "Apply" drop-down list of the "Permission item for Windows.old" dialog box that opens.
Step 14
Apply the checkbox to the "Full Control" box in the "Permissions" section and click OK to confirm that the changes are applied.
Step 15
Apply the check boxes for "Add inheritable permissions from parent objects" and "Replace all inherited permissions for all descendants with new inherited permissions from this object" and click OK to confirm the command.
Step 16
Click the Yes buttons on the security alert windows that appear to apply the selected changes.
