Remove previous Windows installation files to free up hard drive space. If you’ve upgraded to a new version of Windows at some point, then a significant portion of your previous operating system’s files are likely still sitting on your hard drive in a folder named Windows. old. Deleting these files can free up some precious space.
How to delete Windows. old in Windows 10, 8, or 7.
Please follow the steps below to delete Windows. old in Windows 10, 8, or 7.
Step 1- Enter the following text in the Windows search field, located in the lower left-hand corner of your screen or accessible via the Start Menu button in older operating system versions: disk cleanup
Step 2-Click on the Disk Cleanup option, if necessary.
Step 3-The Disk Cleanup application should now appear, overlaying your desktop. Click the Cleanup system files button. There will be a brief delay at this point, as Disk Cleanup analyzes your hard drive and calculates how much space it might be able to clear up. The length of this delay will vary based on the size of your drive and the number of files currently stored on it.
Step 4-Once scanning and analysis are complete, the main Disk Cleanup window will re-appear with new options listed in the Files to delete: section. Locate the option labeled Previous Windows installation(s). This might be labeled Older versions of Windows instead, depending on your operating system. Place a checkmark next to this option by clicking on its accompanying check box once.
Step 5-Remove the check marks next to other items in the list, unless you want to remove those from your hard drive as well.
Step 6-Click on the OK button to initiate the deletion process. Once complete, Windows. old and its contents should be completely removed from your PC.