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I have two Windows 7, one in drive C and other in drive D. I use the one in drive D. I want to remove the one present in drive C, to find more free disk space.

But I cannot delete the Windows folder present in drive C. It says you need permission something. Also when my computer starts it asks me which OS I want to use, the two OS names are the same "Windows 7". I chose the upper one, this is the one present in Drive D. However when I choose the other one that does not run, computer restarts after sometime before logging in. This is because I have deleted everything associated with the previous Windows, except the Windows folder. Because I can not delete it.

How can I delete this Windows folder present in drive C, which I cannot use ( and I don't want to use). Please tell me the simple way, ASAP.

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    You need to take ownership of the second partition, and then change your boot loader to remove the second instance of Windows.
    – user3463
    Aug 20, 2011 at 18:37
  • Are C: and D: different volumes on the same physical drive, or two separate physical drives? I'm just guessing, since you didn't mention any boot managers, C: is probably the boot drive containing the active partition. If this is two physical drives, and not just two volumes on one drive, you could make D: a boot disk, and its volume "active", such that the system boots to the installation you wish to keep. Then you should be able to format the undesired installation (the old "C:" volume), clobbering all the files. Copy any desired files from the old C: to D: before doing so. Aug 20, 2011 at 22:20
  • @ Randolph West , I have changed the ownership of C:\Windows folder and its contents to the user account that I use, now i think I can delete this folder and its contents, But I have a doubt that, if I delete these files, would there by any problem starting the windows 7 that I have installed in Drive D ? And is this necessary to change the boot loader to remove the second instance of Windows, actually I dont know how to do that. Please tell me.
    – Shanks
    Aug 21, 2011 at 10:56

1 Answer 1

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About dirty Windows folder:

a) Simplest way: Browse C:\Windows, hit the F3, search for everything. When searching complete, select all items and delete them, skip protected items. Then move C:\Windows under the carpet. Now you freed the space. If you really want to delete the remained files; take their ownership, then delete them again.

b) If you have Windows 7 Install disk, boot the PC from install DVD. Format the drive C:, go back and repair your Windows 7 -because probably it won't boot. Or it will.

c) Boot form Windows 7 Install disk. Open a command prompt. Type del c:\windows /s or Format c:

P.S: If you don't have the DVD, Win 7 has embedded recovery tools, just turn the power down, next boot, it will ask for recovery.

About boot menu:

Right click My Computer > choose Properties. At the left side click Advanced System Settings link. Select Advanced tab. There is a Startup & Recovery button. You can choose the default OS and menu duration. If you set 0 as duration, menu won't appear next time. If you want to totally rip the older OS menu item, there are a few tools that modify startup menu.

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  • how to take the ownership of the remaining files ? I want to delete them, they are worth 10 GB of space.
    – Shanks
    Aug 21, 2011 at 10:44
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    You can feel free delete C.\windows + c:\users + c:\programs with their subfolders.
    – Nime Cloud
    Aug 21, 2011 at 13:31
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    You need to set permissions. Now you are owner of c:\windows and you can modify the permissions.
    – Nime Cloud
    Aug 22, 2011 at 8:11
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    Just delete c:\windows. If you can it's ok. Remove all permissions then add Everyone with full permissions.
    – Nime Cloud
    Aug 22, 2011 at 8:39
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    RecycleBin or System Volume Information? Try to show all files including hidden & system.
    – Nime Cloud
    Aug 22, 2011 at 11:48

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