How do I get to Windows old?

You can access the Windows.old folder by navigating through File Explorer to the root of your Windows installation drive, typically C:.

The Windows.old folder is a special directory created by Windows during an operating system upgrade. It serves as a backup of your previous Windows installation, allowing you to potentially revert to the older version or recover personal files.

How to Access the Windows.old Folder

Follow these steps to locate the Windows.old folder on your computer, incorporating information from the provided reference:

Open File Explorer: Use the search box in your taskbar to type "Computer" (or "File Explorer" / "This PC" in newer Windows versions) and click on the result that appears (as per the reference, you would "tap or click Computer in the search results").
Navigate to the Windows Drive: In the File Explorer window that opens, you will see a list of drives. Find and double-click the drive where Windows is installed. This is almost always the C: drive. It might be labeled something like "Local Disk (C:)".
Locate the Windows.old Folder: Once you have opened the C: drive, you will see various folders like "Program Files," "Users," and "Windows." Look for the folder specifically named Windows.old.
Open the Folder: Double-click the Windows.old folder to explore its contents (as per the reference, you would "Double-tap or double-click the Windows. old folder" - noting the slight typo in the reference, the folder is correctly named Windows.old without a space).

What You Can Find Inside

Inside the Windows.old folder, you'll find a structure similar to your previous Windows installation. Key subfolders include:

\Users: This is the most useful folder for most people. It contains the user profile folders from your old Windows setup, allowing you to access your old Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and other personal files.
\Program Files and \Program Files (x86): These may contain the files for programs installed in the previous Windows version. However, you typically cannot run programs directly from here; you would need to reinstall them in your new Windows version.
\Windows: Contains the core system files of the previous Windows installation.

Why You Might Need to Access It

The primary reason users access the Windows.old folder is for file recovery. If you upgraded Windows and realized you forgot to back up certain documents, photos, or other personal files, you can often find them within the \Users subfolder of Windows.old and copy them to your current system.

Important Notes

Permissions: You might encounter permission prompts when trying to open folders or copy files from Windows.old, especially within system directories or even your old user folder. You may need to grant yourself access or use an administrator account.
Disk Space: The Windows.old folder consumes a significant amount of disk space. Windows is designed to automatically delete this folder after a certain period (usually 10-30 days) to free up space.
Deletion is Permanent: Once Windows automatically deletes Windows.old, or if you manually delete it (often done via Disk Cleanup), you cannot easily recover it or revert to the previous Windows version.

Accessing the Windows.old folder is a straightforward process involving basic navigation within File Explorer to retrieve files from your prior Windows installation.