SOLUTION: Applies to Windows 7
If you install Windows 7 by performing a custom installation and don't format
the partition during the installation process, files that were used in your
previous version of Windows are stored in the Windows.old folder. The type of
files in this folder depends on your computer. After you’ve used Windows 7 for a while—for example, one or
two weeks—and you’re confident that
your files and settings are back to where you want them to be, you can safely
reclaim disk space by using Disk Cleanup to delete the Windows.old folder.
(1) Open Disk Cleanup by clicking
the Start button. In the search box, type Disk
Cleanup, and then, in the list of results, click Disk Cleanup.
If
you're prompted to choose a drive, click the drive you just installed Windows
on, and then click OK.
(2) In the Disk Cleanup dialog box,
on the Disk Cleanup tab, click Clean up
system files.
If
you're again prompted to choose a drive, click the drive you just installed
Windows on, and then click OK.
(3) Select the Previous Windows
installation(s) check box, and any other check boxes for the files you
want to delete, and then click OK.
(4) In the
message that appears, click Delete Files.
[N.B: Before you use Disk Cleanup,
make sure that all of your files and settings are in Windows 7 where you
expect them to be. Deleting the Windows.old folder can’t be undone]
