[davidkimdd]

Hello,

I'm trying to delete windows.old folder but it just won't go away. Size is at 0KB.

When I go to my C drive, my computer will slow down drastically. I can barely click on the sub-folders. If I perform something, it will happen after 1-2 minutes.

1. In C drive when trying to delete it - It will load a "Recycling/Deleting" window and the computer will freeze. Every 30 minutes it will work for only 5-10 seconds then freeze again. I need to turn my computer off manually.

2. If in cmd I do a rmdir /s /q windows.old - this appears "c:\windows.old\windows\system32\config - The directory is not empty". Computer will still function normally.

3. If in cmd I go to the config directory above and do a del "." - I'm not allowed to type a new line. Computer will restart after about 15 minutes.

4. If in cmd I go to the config directory and type dir - I see one directory appearing with the name "." and the computer hangs. Same symptom as 1.

5. I go to disc cleanup - Previous windows installation is not an option after I scan. Can't remove it from here.

As long as I don't open C drive manually, the computer will function normally.


I also had a windows.old.000 which was removed successfully using the method 1. It looks like something in config folder is preventing me from removing windows.old (it's parent directory) and is hanging my computer whenever I try to remove.

I need help fast! Please assist!

Thank you very much
Dave

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Download, and install Unlocker: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
Restart computer.
It'll install under right click menu.

Open Windows Explorer.
Navigate to offending folder/file.

Right click on a folder/file. Click Unlocker
Select Delete from drop-down menu:



Click OK.
A folder/file will refuse to be deleted, but Unlocker will give you an option to delete on reboot:



Click Yes.
Restart computer.

==============================================================

If the above doesn't work, try...

LockHunter: http://lockhunter.com/

FileASSASSIN: http://www.snapfiles...leassassin.html

[Broni]

Download, and install Unlocker: http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/
Restart computer.
It'll install under right click menu.

Open Windows Explorer.
Navigate to offending folder/file.

Right click on a folder/file. Click Unlocker
Select Delete from drop-down menu:



Click OK.
A folder/file will refuse to be deleted, but Unlocker will give you an option to delete on reboot:



Click Yes.
Restart computer.

==============================================================

If the above doesn't work, try...

LockHunter: http://lockhunter.com/

FileASSASSIN: http://www.snapfiles...leassassin.html

[davidkimdd]

Lockhunter - Checked that the directory is not in use, clicked on delete it and computer hangs. Need to shut down manually
FileAssassin - Doesn't take windows.old directory. I went into the subfolder I mentioned above (config), and computer hangs. Need to shut down manually

Unlocker - Using the Windows Explorer (left pane), I get this window. I changed the drop-down to Delete and clicked on Unlock All. "Recyclying/Deleting" window pops up and computer hangs. Need to shut down manually.

[Broni]

Try Unlocker from Safe Mode.

[davidkimdd]

Tried opening unlocker from safe mode but it won't open. None of the programs are working actually.

One thing I did notice is that windows.old is in "read-only". I tried unchecking this and I see the process saying changing attribute to windows.old\...\config directory but my computer restarts after 5 minutes. windows.old still remains.

Any other suggestions?

[Broni]

Did you try rmdir /s /q windows.old from Safe Mode?
Is this Vista computer?

Also, this command:

If in cmd I go to the config directory above and do a del "."

is incorrect.
It should be:
del *.*

[davidkimdd]

Yes, tried that in safe mode too. This is a windows 7 64-bit (Gateway DX4831-01c.)

I've tried removing windows.old already from a laptop of mine, and it was gone good. This desktop is having problems though.

I think I've done that actually, *.*, but mistyped it. It's the same thing I use when browsing directories to show all extensions.

Anything else I can try (except to take this computer to let's say future shop...)?

Edited by davidkimdd, 13 September 2010 - 08:25 PM.

[Broni]

If you have Vista/7 DVD...

start with step 2

If you don't have Vista/7 DVD...

1. Create Vista/7 Recovery Disc.

Option 1 :
Vista: http://www.c4consult... SOLUCTIONS.htm
Windows 7: http://www.guidingte...disc-windows-7/

Option 2:
Download Vista Recovery Disc iso image: http://neosmart.net/...-disc-download/
Download Windows 7 Recovery Disc iso image: http://neosmart.net/...m-repair-discs/
Burn it to CD, or DVD: http://neosmart.net/... to a CD or DVD

2. Boot from created disk.
At first screen click on Repair your computer:

This will bring you to a new screen where the repair process will look for all Windows Vista installations on your computer. When done you will be presented with the System Recovery Options dialog box:

After this, it will present you with a list of options including startup repair, system restore and command prompt:

Select Command Prompt

Try your commands from there.

[davidkimdd]

Just went there as you suggested, but windows.old directory does not show up. There are two drives x: and c: but c: only has temp folder. x: has windows, users, program files. Typed dir and windows.old doesn't exist.

Am I missing something?

[Broni]

Hmmm.....I'm not sure

Try this...

Please download OTLPE (filesize 120,9 MB)

• When downloaded double click on OTLPENet.exe and make sure there is a blank CD in your CD drive. This will automatically create a bootable CD.
• Reboot your system using the boot CD you just created.

You'll end up at almost regular desktop and you can use File Manager to look around.

[davidkimdd]

That loaded for 5 minutes, and tried to start windows in xp...then i got the blue screen. Don't think this is a good method.

[Broni]

It takes time to load. Be patient.
It should work.
Retry.

[davidkimdd]

I've done it twice, it gives me the blue screen telling me to restart. I don't want to use this method if it's going to give me the blue screen again. Any other way?

[davidkimdd]

Please tell me I'm wrong...but something just came to my mind after looking at the screenshot for unlocker which I attached above.

It says that path c:\windows.old is locked, but process path is c:\windows\explorer.exe. Could it be because that this file is interlinked between windows and windows.old? If it is, then removing this directory does not help me at all...but destroy my computer permanently. Is there a way to break this link?

[Broni]

No. For some reason, explorer is locking that folder.
That path is for explorer, not for windows.old.
It simply tells you, where explorer is located.