Cannot delete ‘Windows.old’ in Windows 8.1

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The upgrade to Windows 8.1 went without a hitch but I am left with three empty nested folders Windows.oldWindowsPrefetch which I have found impossible to delete. I have used administrative tools/ disc cleanup/clean up system files tried it from Safe Mode but nothing works. Error 0x80070091 The directory is not empty but according to File Explorer they are all empty. Any advice would be appreciated.

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I suppose you have rebooted after having Disk Cleanup delete it?

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Yes I have but it was a pertinent question to ask. Thank you.

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Check if options 2 and 3 here help solve your issue: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2527-windows-old-folder-delete-windows-8-a.html

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The disk cleanup has always worked for me. It is actually the method outlined by MSto delete windows.old

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If all else fails, boot with a Puppy Linux or Ubuntu CD. Either boots into a Linux environment without installing to the hard drive. I have successfully deleted files/folders using this method when unable to do in Windows.

Rich

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Disk Cleanup with admin privileges always works, please try this method: http://techzend.com/delete-windows-old-folder-81/.

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Thank you for your replies. I followed them all but no joy. I even restored a pre 8.1 image upgraded again and did a system file cleanup, like the first time all the files were deleted but the three empty nested folders Windows.oldWindowsPrefetch remain. I tried Puppy Linux setup but could not get it to work, it had some problem on my machine. What I need is a boot disc with a file manager included. Thank you all.

Peter

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Thank you for your replies. I followed them all but no joy. I even restored a pre 8.1 image upgraded again and did a system file cleanup, like the first time all the files were deleted but the three empty nested folders Windows.oldWindowsPrefetch remain. I tried Puppy Linux setup but could not get it to work, it had some problem on my machine. What I need is a boot disc with a file manager included. Thank you all.

Peter

I think the operative word here is “empty”. Personally, I would not go through this much effort to remove empty folders.
But, I have a wife who would, so I understand.
If you couldn’t get Puppy Linux to work, try Ubuntu.
If you want to stay within the Windows boot disk realm with a file manager included, you could try Ultimate Boot CD for Windows. That, however is getting long in the tooth and might not recognize SATA disks.
And if you want to continue trying, download the Windows Automated Installation Kit. Use it to create a PE disk. Boot to PE and use the command line to delete the folders.

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Install TakeOwnership, right click the folder, “take ownership” of it and then try the delete as if it was a normal folder:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2814-take-ownership-add-context-menu-windows-8-a.html

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Have done that many times, says ‘An unexpected error is keeping you from deleting this folder. If you continue to receive this error, you can use the error code to search for help with this problem. Error 0x80070091: The directory is not empty.’ I checked that error and cannot find a fix applicable to Windows 8.1 that works.

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Do you have explorer configured to show hidden and systems files? Have you tried going inside down to the bottom of the folder hierarchy and see what is there, preventing the deletion?

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It may seem like a lot of work, but this always works; remove the hard drive, then use a sata to usb adapter to attach the HD to another computer. It will show as an additional hard drive. Open the drive, find the file, and delete it that way. In cases where I’m going to format anyway, I’ve been able to delete any & all parts of the operating system like this.
If you don’t have a sata to usb adapter, all I can say is everybody should have one. It the handiest tool I’ve run across in years.

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The following is an addition to the registry which allows you to Take Ownership of a resource by Right Clicking. Paste it into Notepad and save it as a .REG file. Then double click it and load it into the registry. To use it navigate to folder you wish to own, right click and select Take Ownership. If the folder has a lot of files then make yourself a coffee while you wait. I got these from somewhere but I can’t recall where now.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*shellrunas]
@=”Take Ownership”
“NoWorkingDirectory”=””

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*shellrunascommand]
@=”cmd.exe /c takeown /f “%1” && icacls “%1″ /grant administrators:F”
“IsolatedCommand”=”cmd.exe /c takeown /f “%1” && icacls “%1″ /grant administrators:F”

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryshellrunas]
@=”Take Ownership”
“NoWorkingDirectory”=””

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryshellrunascommand]
@=”cmd.exe /c takeown /f “%1” /r /d y && icacls “%1″ /grant administrators:F /t”
“IsolatedCommand”=”cmd.exe /c takeown /f “%1” /r /d y && icacls “%1″ /grant administrators:F /t”

and here is the undo for the previous .REG file. It removes it from the registry.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*shellrunas]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryshellrunas]

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Success at last. After trying everything I ran a disc check on my SSD C: boot drive and I was able to delete Windows.oldwindowsprefetch. Not sure why this worked. Thank you all for the interest you have shown.

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Thanks for posting about the solution. It may be of use to someone else :).

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FWIW Department:

I’ve run into this phenomenon a number of times in my dissections and reconstructions of Windows (moving the contents of folders to another HDD, then deleting the folder(s). The method that has always worked for me is to open an elevated Command Prompt, navigate to the lowest-level “empty” folder and run the command

Del *.* /s /q

then

CD..

followed by

RD [subfoldername]

then repeat with Del *.* /s /q

and continue this sequence up the chain of subfolders until I have removed the last “empty” folder.

Often an error message “file not found” will result from the Del command, but I just continue the sequence all the way up.

This has never failed me. YMMV

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Pledden…Seems that those folders had a problem with the file index or some such.

The advice about Linux and Ubuntu for this stuff is usually sound. I’m no good with these OSes, but if you make yourself a Kaspersky Rescue CD it has a file manager that can do the job, and boots on everything but some really old P4s. The Kaspersky disk is some form of Linux, and you can scan for malware if you want.

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Thank you John-O. I do have a CD copy of Kaspersky but I am reluctant to install it as I already run Norton 360. Is it possible to make a rescue CD without installing first?

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If Disk Check worked, then you had corrupt data in the directory (or associated pointers) that windows could not decipher and therefore, could not delete. It will not touch locked or corrupt data performing delete functions. Considered a safety feature by some of us.

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Hello All

Very Thx pledden.. i had the same problems than you. In the past (from windows 7 to windows 8 update), i used the cleanup tool to delete windows.old and had no problems.
but nothing to do since i updated from windows 8 to windows 8.1. and i tried all the things you tried.. linux cd, unlocker tool, del /q /s ect ect ect ect

i tried many things but notin worked
and i read you post today.. and i used checkdisk like you said

the exact command
chkdsk /I /F /scan

windows 8.1 rebooted, scanned the disk and i was able to delete de folder/subfolder windows.old

youpiii
very nice… i tried alot of things and notin worked excep this
very thx for this info
Sincerely
Mike

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