Where have my Windows 10 installation files gone?

For a few weeks I've had folders on C:\ $WINDOWS.~BT and $Windows.~WS which totalled several GB and contained the Windows 10 downloaded installation files. I've noticed this evening that the actual install files are no longer there. I can see them on my archive so I know they were there.

Going by file dates & times it looks as if they were removed when I re-downloaded the Windows 10 .iso a couple of days ago.

Why would they have disappeared and how do I get them to download again (without actually initiating the install)?

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

For a few weeks I've had folders on C:\ $WINDOWS.~BT and $Windows.~WS which totalled several GB and contained the Windows 10 downloaded installation files.

Have just checked mine & they are still there!!

Have you downloaded the ISO recently?

I believe that after 30 days Windows automatically deletes the "windows.old" folder and the installation files to free up disk space.

Nobody's told them discs are bigger these days?

Just download the.... installation thingy from the Microsoft website, you don't need to worry about the stuff in those folders.

I've realised that I hadn't siad that I'm still running Windows 7. Apologies.

I haven't yet done the upgrade. I'm still running Windows 7 but had for the files for when I did do the upgrade. As I've already done on my laptop.

Edited by cheshire_man (Tue 03-Nov-15 21:24:37)

A lot of computers nowadays, particularly ultra-portable ones, have quite small SSDs. 64 or 128GB is not uncommon, and you don't want to waste that sort of space.

Ah. In that case I guess that Windows is intelligent enough to realize that, having downloaded the ISO, you no longer need those install files.

In which case it's a wrong assumption, and an arrogant decision to make without asking. All too typical of many software writers these days.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

In which case it's a wrong assumption, and an arrogant decision to make without asking. All too typical of many software writers these days.

It works the other ways as well with MS downloading the files in the first place. they are making the assumption and arrogant decision that we all want several gigabyte of files dumped on our computers.

Why do you want to keep them on your computer when you got the ISO anyway?

In reply to a post by TinyMongomery:

A lot of computers nowadays, particularly ultra-portable ones, have quite small SSDs. 64 or 128GB is not uncommon, and you don't want to waste that sort of space.

Correct, I know someone who have a netbook and only got a 120GB drive, also my main drive is only 120GB and since these files are put onto the main drive, it takes up room I and other people do not have.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

Why do you want to keep them on your computer when you got the ISO anyway?

Simple - so I have the choice of upgrade method, not have it forced on me.

What's the problem? You have the files in your archive.

Some people would complain if the installation files were left there when they were not needed, some people complain because they are deleted when not needed. Ask for your money back if you're not satisfied.

Does the ISO do a reversible upgrade, as I understand the original downloaded files do? Or does it just wipe the previous OS?

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

Simple - so I have the choice of upgrade method, not have it forced on me.

Mmm, From next year those files that was on your computer will try to install windows 10 as MS uses another tactic to bully people into updating.
So maybe you are better off with not having them on your computer.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Does the ISO do a reversible upgrade, as I understand the original downloaded files do? Or does it just wipe the previous OS?

Absolutely, one of my concerns. I probably won't want to reverse it, but I'd like to have the option.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

Mmm, From next year those files that was on your computer will try to install windows 10 as MS uses another tactic to bully people into updating.
So maybe you are better off with not having them on your computer.

Long before then I will upgrade my desktop to Windows 10, as I have done with my laptop, and am quite happy with it. I've set all the privacy settings to suit me. And I've installed Classic Shell to give me a Windows 7-like Start menu - the Windows 10 was ok, but didn't seem to give me a way of setting it up to suit me.

I just need to find the time to upgrade my desktop.

DVDs have always worked this way with previous versions of Windows, so I doubt it is any different this time. Having said that, I never upgrade Windows without taking an image of the disk first as a precaution.

In reply to a post by cheshire_man:

Long before then I will upgrade my desktop to Windows 10, as I have done with my laptop, and am quite happy with it. I've set all the privacy settings to suit me. And I've installed Classic Shell to give me a Windows 7-like Start menu - the Windows 10 was ok, but didn't seem to give me a way of setting it up to suit me.

I just need to find the time to upgrade my desktop.

Fair enough, I used Windows 10 a an insider and to be honest it is a bit too much on the spying side for me. Not worth me updating from Windows 8.1 as every thing that makes windows 10 different or almost everything would be locked down and the menu changed using Start is back.

I may get a new laptop next year, but I will get one with out a OS on and stick Linux on it.