windows.old cannot be deleted...

[fustigamatti]

Hi.

I reinstalled Vista (x64 ultim., in Italian) upon a previous
installation, then another time, 'cause the previous one went bad
(drivers' issues; black screen); so I've got "windows.old" and a
"windows01.old" folders.

I easily deleted the latter, then I rebooted and tried to delete the
former. Thus I hit "DEL", and deleted the folder (some 10 gb).
Thereafter I rebooted, but... windows.old is still there on the root!

Thus I tried to delete it, but the prompt said (I approximate a
"translation" from italian to English)

"impossible to find the item; it is no more present in c:. please
check the item's path and try again"

OMG! But how! I see it! It is still there!

What can I do please? I want to remove it at all costs; it is like a
challenge, 'cause I feel very frustrated that I have installed a OS
behaving such a way!

Thanks.

 

[AJR]

Try deleting via diskcleanup.

 

[fustigamatti]

Try deleting via diskcleanup.

I already tried to delete it using for the window's disk cleanup
utility (following the process given in the very microsoft's site),
but it failed.
The damn folder still remains there. :-(

 

[Bill Yanaire]

I already tried to delete it using for the window's disk cleanup
utility (following the process given in the very microsoft's site),
but it failed.
The damn folder still remains there. :-(

Try booting in Safe Mode and see if you can delete.

 

[fustigamatti]

Try booting in Safe Mode and see if you can delete.

Done.

Still getting the same error messages ("impossible to find the item;
it is no more present in c:. please
check the item's path and try again").

It won't disappear.

I find that issues like this are very frustrating.

Microsoft must take note of these embarassing inconveniences, before
asking 600+ euros for such "operative systems".......

 

[gls858]

Done.

Still getting the same error messages ("impossible to find the item;
it is no more present in c:. please
check the item's path and try again").

It won't disappear.

I find that issues like this are very frustrating.

Microsoft must take note of these embarassing inconveniences, before
asking 600+ euros for such "operative systems".......

I had a similar issue and it was solved by re-indexing the drive,
assuming that you have it turned on. It seems that Vista fails to remove
the file name from the index file so it still shows in Explorer. YMMV

gls858

 

[fustigamatti]

I had a similar issue and it was solved by re-indexing the drive,
assuming that you have it turned on. It seems that Vista fails to remove
the file name from the index file so it still shows in Explorer. YMMV

gls858

Hi. Can you tell me please in detail what did you did it (I'm not sure
I understand what do you mean for "re-indexing"). Thanks.

 

[fustigamatti]

Sorry for the "bouncing", but maybe I wasn't clear: perhaps with "re-
indexing" you meant to uncheck the checkbox from "properties > general
__ indicizza l'unità per una ricerca più rapida dei file" (I don't
know the exact counterpart in english), then wait for the de-indexing
of the drive, and check again the ckeckbox?

BTW, I see anyway how discouraging is that nobody knows a real
solution for issues like these.

 

[fustigamatti]

Solved with cmd.exe > rd /s /q c:\windows.old from command prompt.

Thereupon I came and found it there

http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t595701.html


How many "SOLUTIONS"..... In the very Microsoft's site! That's very
shameful.