old windows directory

I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message

I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

I also am in the same boat. If ANYONE gets a solution, please post it so i can get on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:

One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:

One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

That's because the html web based news access has been doing this for months and the lazy community people who run it won't get off their ass to fix it. Use Win Mail or OE's NNTP news reader for access and this won't happen.
CH
"GURU_IT" wrote in message

OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

Guru--
Try this to get rid of it: ( I have found that Doug Knox's Delete Undeletable folders as well as Delinv as well as trying from safe mode may not delete some files in Windows Old depending on the files):
That'd be these two:
Doug Knox Dlete Undeletable files/folders http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
Utility for Deleting Invalid Files http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm
You can try out WhoLockMe, a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete the file. This would be particularly useful in fighting persistent spyware.
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/WhoLockMe104.zip
Site for WhoLockMe:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php
-------------------
Try this--it should work:
1)Restart Vista and at the boot screen hit the <f8> key tapping it once per second andboot into "safe mode with command prompt" 2) rename windows.old to windows.old1 following this convention: http://www.computerhope.com/renamehl.htm#03
3) use the following command to delete the folder and it's contents
4) del windows.old1\*.* /F /S /Q
/F : force delete on read-only files /S : include subfolders /Q : suppress confirmation prompts
Good luck,
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message

OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

CH.
rename folder of windowsvista to windowsvista.old didnt work on the dual boot scenario in safe mode and was not able to delete the files. I was able to get rid of the windows.old folder though lol -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:

Guru--
Try this to get rid of it: ( I have found that Doug Knox's Delete Undeletable folders as well as Delinv as well as trying from safe mode may not delete some files in Windows Old depending on the files):
That'd be these two:
Doug Knox Dlete Undeletable files/folders http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
Utility for Deleting Invalid Files http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm
You can try out WhoLockMe, a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete the file. This would be particularly useful in fighting persistent spyware.
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/WhoLockMe104.zip
Site for WhoLockMe:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php
-------------------
Try this--it should work:
1)Restart Vista and at the boot screen hit the <f8> key tapping it once per second andboot into "safe mode with command prompt" 2) rename windows.old to windows.old1 following this convention: http://www.computerhope.com/renamehl.htm#03
3) use the following command to delete the folder and it's contents
4) del windows.old1\*.* /F /S /Q
/F : force delete on read-only files /S : include subfolders /Q : suppress confirmation prompts
Good luck,
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

When in doubt, don't use windows! or rather, don't use something that exists on the hard drive. Used a Bootable CD, or Jump Drive with an OS on it, BootPE, aVast's rendition, ect. Raw file access, everyone should have at least one of these CD's if you have any hope of every recovering from hardware failure, bad OS installations, and Virii.
"GURU_IT" wrote:

CH.
rename folder of windowsvista to windowsvista.old didnt work on the dual boot scenario in safe mode and was not able to delete the files. I was able to get rid of the windows.old folder though lol -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:
Guru--
Try this to get rid of it: ( I have found that Doug Knox's Delete Undeletable folders as well as Delinv as well as trying from safe mode may not delete some files in Windows Old depending on the files):
That'd be these two:
Doug Knox Dlete Undeletable files/folders http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
Utility for Deleting Invalid Files http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm
You can try out WhoLockMe, a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete the file. This would be particularly useful in fighting persistent spyware.
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/WhoLockMe104.zip
Site for WhoLockMe:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php
-------------------
Try this--it should work:
1)Restart Vista and at the boot screen hit the <f8> key tapping it once per second andboot into "safe mode with command prompt" 2) rename windows.old to windows.old1 following this convention: http://www.computerhope.com/renamehl.htm#03
3) use the following command to delete the folder and it's contents
4) del windows.old1\*.* /F /S /Q
/F : force delete on read-only files /S : include subfolders /Q : suppress confirmation prompts
Good luck,
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

Did the cat get your tongue before you said how?
Obviously you didin't say how you got rid of it which makes me wonder about the point of your post. Formatting was certainly one way to get rid of it, but often people have Vista installed that they don't want to format which parked the Windows.old folder or folders there in the first place.
We're always open here for you to add to the possibilities instead of lol just posting that you can get rid of it.
CH
"GURU_IT" wrote in message

CH.
rename folder of windowsvista to windowsvista.old didnt work on the dual boot scenario in safe mode and was not able to delete the files. I was able to get rid of the windows.old folder though lol -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:
Guru--
Try this to get rid of it: ( I have found that Doug Knox's Delete Undeletable folders as well as Delinv as well as trying from safe mode may not delete some files in Windows Old depending on the files):
That'd be these two:
Doug Knox Dlete Undeletable files/folders http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
Utility for Deleting Invalid Files http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm
You can try out WhoLockMe, a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete the file. This would be particularly useful in fighting persistent spyware.
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/WhoLockMe104.zip
Site for WhoLockMe:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php
-------------------
Try this--it should work:
1)Restart Vista and at the boot screen hit the <f8> key tapping it once per second andboot into "safe mode with command prompt" 2) rename windows.old to windows.old1 following this convention: http://www.computerhope.com/renamehl.htm#03
3) use the following command to delete the folder and it's contents
4) del windows.old1\*.* /F /S /Q
/F : force delete on read-only files /S : include subfolders /Q : suppress confirmation prompts
Good luck,
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

Guru you failed to say if you also tried using Who Lock Me to see what program might be preventing you from deleting.
1) Undelete 2) Doug Knox's methods
I doubted those two would work.
You further failed to state whether you tried the command switches properly because they work for most people on Vista forums if they type the cmds correctly and if you were successful besides formatting, precisely what did you do? When people use their time to help you, they like to get feedback rather than the assertion that you were successful which produces nothing in the way of learning for people reading the group.
CH
"Chad Harris" <Bushisamoron.net> wrote in message

Did the cat get your tongue before you said how?
Obviously you didin't say how you got rid of it which makes me wonder about the point of your post. Formatting was certainly one way to get rid of it, but often people have Vista installed that they don't want to format which parked the Windows.old folder or folders there in the first place.
We're always open here for you to add to the possibilities instead of lol just posting that you can get rid of it.
CH
"GURU_IT" wrote in message CH.
rename folder of windowsvista to windowsvista.old didnt work on the dual boot scenario in safe mode and was not able to delete the files. I was able to get rid of the windows.old folder though lol -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:
Guru--
Try this to get rid of it: ( I have found that Doug Knox's Delete Undeletable folders as well as Delinv as well as trying from safe mode may not delete some files in Windows Old depending on the files):
That'd be these two:
Doug Knox Dlete Undeletable files/folders http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
Utility for Deleting Invalid Files http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm
You can try out WhoLockMe, a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete the file. This would be particularly useful in fighting persistent spyware.
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/WhoLockMe104.zip
Site for WhoLockMe:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php
-------------------
Try this--it should work:
1)Restart Vista and at the boot screen hit the <f8> key tapping it once per second andboot into "safe mode with command prompt" 2) rename windows.old to windows.old1 following this convention: http://www.computerhope.com/renamehl.htm#03
3) use the following command to delete the folder and it's contents
4) del windows.old1\*.* /F /S /Q
/F : force delete on read-only files /S : include subfolders /Q : suppress confirmation prompts
Good luck,
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

I just tried what you had said about renaming the windows.old file and deleting it in the command prompt with:
del <renamed folder> /f /s /q
and it deleted it with no problem.
The issue that I am still having is that on this computer is that I had installed vista on my d: drive as a dual boot with XP Pro on my C: Drive and I decided to get rid of vista on this computer and put it on another as a clean install and now I cant get rid of the vista windows folder off my D: drive. I cant seem to get wholockme to work at all nor the delete program PurgeIE which i bought the pro version of which didnt work either. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:

Guru you failed to say if you also tried using Who Lock Me to see what program might be preventing you from deleting.
1) Undelete 2) Doug Knox's methods
I doubted those two would work.
You further failed to state whether you tried the command switches properly because they work for most people on Vista forums if they type the cmds correctly and if you were successful besides formatting, precisely what did you do? When people use their time to help you, they like to get feedback rather than the assertion that you were successful which produces nothing in the way of learning for people reading the group.
CH
"Chad Harris" <Bushisamoron.net> wrote in message Did the cat get your tongue before you said how?
Obviously you didin't say how you got rid of it which makes me wonder about the point of your post. Formatting was certainly one way to get rid of it, but often people have Vista installed that they don't want to format which parked the Windows.old folder or folders there in the first place.
We're always open here for you to add to the possibilities instead of lol just posting that you can get rid of it.
CH
"GURU_IT" wrote in message CH.
rename folder of windowsvista to windowsvista.old didnt work on the dual boot scenario in safe mode and was not able to delete the files. I was able to get rid of the windows.old folder though lol -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:
Guru--
Try this to get rid of it: ( I have found that Doug Knox's Delete Undeletable folders as well as Delinv as well as trying from safe mode may not delete some files in Windows Old depending on the files):
That'd be these two:
Doug Knox Dlete Undeletable files/folders http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
Utility for Deleting Invalid Files http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm
You can try out WhoLockMe, a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete the file. This would be particularly useful in fighting persistent spyware.
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/WhoLockMe104.zip
Site for WhoLockMe:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php
-------------------
Try this--it should work:
1)Restart Vista and at the boot screen hit the <f8> key tapping it once per second andboot into "safe mode with command prompt" 2) rename windows.old to windows.old1 following this convention: http://www.computerhope.com/renamehl.htm#03
3) use the following command to delete the folder and it's contents
4) del windows.old1\*.* /F /S /Q
/F : force delete on read-only files /S : include subfolders /Q : suppress confirmation prompts
Good luck,
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

Guru--
There are times when I can't delete programs via Purge IE which is why I suggested using the command and the switches.
I want you to take a look at two programs that have been written in response to dual boot issues, fixing or modifying boot loaders, and I believe issues like yours.
Take a look at
Easy BCD http://neosmart.net/blog/archives/185
and
Vista Boot Pro http://www.pro-networks.org/vistabootpro/intro.php
Coming soon VBP 2.0
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message

I just tried what you had said about renaming the windows.old file and deleting it in the command prompt with:
del <renamed folder> /f /s /q
and it deleted it with no problem.
The issue that I am still having is that on this computer is that I had installed vista on my d: drive as a dual boot with XP Pro on my C: Drive and I decided to get rid of vista on this computer and put it on another as a clean install and now I cant get rid of the vista windows folder off my D: drive. I cant seem to get wholockme to work at all nor the delete program PurgeIE which i bought the pro version of which didnt work either. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:
Guru you failed to say if you also tried using Who Lock Me to see what program might be preventing you from deleting.
1) Undelete 2) Doug Knox's methods
I doubted those two would work.
You further failed to state whether you tried the command switches properly because they work for most people on Vista forums if they type the cmds correctly and if you were successful besides formatting, precisely what did you do? When people use their time to help you, they like to get feedback rather than the assertion that you were successful which produces nothing in the way of learning for people reading the group.
CH
"Chad Harris" <Bushisamoron.net> wrote in message Did the cat get your tongue before you said how?
Obviously you didin't say how you got rid of it which makes me wonder about the point of your post. Formatting was certainly one way to get rid of it, but often people have Vista installed that they don't want to format which parked the Windows.old folder or folders there in the first place.
We're always open here for you to add to the possibilities instead of lol just posting that you can get rid of it.
CH
"GURU_IT" wrote in message CH.
rename folder of windowsvista to windowsvista.old didnt work on the dual boot scenario in safe mode and was not able to delete the files. I was able to get rid of the windows.old folder though lol -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:
Guru--
Try this to get rid of it: ( I have found that Doug Knox's Delete Undeletable folders as well as Delinv as well as trying from safe mode may not delete some files in Windows Old depending on the files):
That'd be these two:
Doug Knox Dlete Undeletable files/folders http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
Utility for Deleting Invalid Files http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm
You can try out WhoLockMe, a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete the file. This would be particularly useful in fighting persistent spyware.
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/WhoLockMe104.zip
Site for WhoLockMe:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php
-------------------
Try this--it should work:
1)Restart Vista and at the boot screen hit the <f8> key tapping it once per second andboot into "safe mode with command prompt" 2) rename windows.old to windows.old1 following this convention: http://www.computerhope.com/renamehl.htm#03
3) use the following command to delete the folder and it's contents
4) del windows.old1\*.* /F /S /Q
/F : force delete on read-only files /S : include subfolders /Q : suppress confirmation prompts
Good luck,
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks

I second Chad's recommendations for these two progs.
"Chad Harris" <Bushisamoron.net> wrote in message

Guru--
There are times when I can't delete programs via Purge IE which is why I suggested using the command and the switches.
I want you to take a look at two programs that have been written in response to dual boot issues, fixing or modifying boot loaders, and I believe issues like yours.
Take a look at
Easy BCD http://neosmart.net/blog/archives/185
and
Vista Boot Pro http://www.pro-networks.org/vistabootpro/intro.php
Coming soon VBP 2.0
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message I just tried what you had said about renaming the windows.old file and deleting it in the command prompt with:
del <renamed folder> /f /s /q
and it deleted it with no problem.
The issue that I am still having is that on this computer is that I had installed vista on my d: drive as a dual boot with XP Pro on my C: Drive and I decided to get rid of vista on this computer and put it on another as a clean install and now I cant get rid of the vista windows folder off my D: drive. I cant seem to get wholockme to work at all nor the delete program PurgeIE which i bought the pro version of which didnt work either. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:
Guru you failed to say if you also tried using Who Lock Me to see what program might be preventing you from deleting.
1) Undelete 2) Doug Knox's methods
I doubted those two would work.
You further failed to state whether you tried the command switches properly because they work for most people on Vista forums if they type the cmds correctly and if you were successful besides formatting, precisely what did you do? When people use their time to help you, they like to get feedback rather than the assertion that you were successful which produces nothing in the way of learning for people reading the group.
CH
"Chad Harris" <Bushisamoron.net> wrote in message Did the cat get your tongue before you said how?
Obviously you didin't say how you got rid of it which makes me wonder about the point of your post. Formatting was certainly one way to get rid of it, but often people have Vista installed that they don't want to format which parked the Windows.old folder or folders there in the first place.
We're always open here for you to add to the possibilities instead of lol just posting that you can get rid of it.
CH
"GURU_IT" wrote in message CH.
rename folder of windowsvista to windowsvista.old didnt work on the dual boot scenario in safe mode and was not able to delete the files. I was able to get rid of the windows.old folder though lol -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"Chad Harris" wrote:
Guru--
Try this to get rid of it: ( I have found that Doug Knox's Delete Undeletable folders as well as Delinv as well as trying from safe mode may not delete some files in Windows Old depending on the files):
That'd be these two:
Doug Knox Dlete Undeletable files/folders http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_undeletable_file.htm
Utility for Deleting Invalid Files http://www.purgeie.com/delinv/index.htm
You can try out WhoLockMe, a freeware Windows Explorer shell extension that will tell you what processes are locking a file. You can then attempt to stop the processes, making it possible to delete the file. This would be particularly useful in fighting persistent spyware.
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/WhoLockMe104.zip
Site for WhoLockMe:
http://www.dr-hoiby.com/WhoLockMe/index.php
-------------------
Try this--it should work:
1)Restart Vista and at the boot screen hit the <f8> key tapping it once per second andboot into "safe mode with command prompt" 2) rename windows.old to windows.old1 following this convention: http://www.computerhope.com/renamehl.htm#03
3) use the following command to delete the folder and it's contents
4) del windows.old1\*.* /F /S /Q
/F : force delete on read-only files /S : include subfolders /Q : suppress confirmation prompts
Good luck,
CH

"GURU_IT" wrote in message OMG, This is getting ridiculas when trying to reply. I keep getting a page saying error in posting. Here goes AGAIN. If ANYONE gets a solution to this windows folder thing then please post so I can go on with my life. -- Only you limit yourself to the possibilities
"AJR" wrote:
One tough problem - There are several files (two in Windows Defender alone) that do not permit setting the delete permission - Administrator or not! I have tried: safe mode, Command prompt, Change file, ownership, etc. Spent time deleting individual files and managed to delete Windows.old.001 and greatly reduced size of Windows.old.000. Note that if you install Vista again another Windows.old.*** folder is generated. Have tried Microsoft support and Google with no success. Please post if you get an answer.
"waltbros" wrote in message I tried posting this earlier as "deleting windows folder" but I received an error the said it had not been posted so I'll try again.
I originally installed Vista Beta 2 to my D drive because I wanted dual boot capabilities with WinXP. I have since deecided that since this is just a test machine (spare computer) I no longer need dual boot capabilities. So I installed Vista Beta 2 again this time choosing C drive and Vista formatted my C drive and installed without a hitch and is working good.
Now I have a "Windows" (vista) folder on my D drive that consumes 7 plus gigs. I have tried to delete that old Windows folder but Vista tells me that for security reasons it is unable to complete the operation. I don't want to format my D drive because there is a lot of other stuff on it I want to keep. Is there a way to delete thei old Vista folder?
Thanks