Retrieving files from the Windows.old folder

Computer Store News: If you choose to <;Do not keep" when you upgrade to Windows 8.1 or reset, refresh or reinstall Windows, your personal files will be Temporarily save for 28 days in the Windows.old folder (unless you format your hard drive before installation). If you decide to retrieve some or all of your files, you can usually retrieve them from this folder.

Steps to Automatically Retrieve Files

You can run the troubleshooter, which will automatically retrieve your personal files from the “Windows.old” folder and copy them back to their original location. This troubleshooting can be used in all locales, but the text in the troubleshooting is only displayed in English.

Steps to Retrieve Files Manually

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and click "Search”. (If using a mouse, point to the top right corner of the screen, then move the mouse pointer down, then click “search”.)

Enter “computer” in the search box, then search results Click or click on "Computer”.

Double-click the drive with Windows (usually drive C:).

Double-click the "Windows.old" folder.

Double-click the “Users” folder.

Double click on your username.

Open the folder containing the files to be retrieved.

Copy the required files from each folder and paste them into a folder in Windows 8.1.

Repeat steps 5 through 7 for each user account on your computer.

Note

To prevent data loss, it is highly recommended that you back up your files and settings to an external drive before resetting, refreshing, upgrading, or reinstalling Windows.

From the time you install, upgrade to, refresh, or reset Windows 8.1, you only have 28 days to retrieve most of the files from the Windows.old folder. After that time, most of the content of Windows.old will be automatically deleted.

The "Users" or "Documents and Settings" subfolders stored in Windows.old (including the default "My Documents" folder in Windows XP) may be in 28 days later It is still available in Windows.old, but other files, including Windows installation files, will be deleted. If you reinstall, reset, or refresh Windows, the previous Windows.old folder will be replaced by the new Windows.old folder.