I found the reason my C:\ drive doesn't have enough space.

[MikeHawthorne]

There is a Windows.old file on my C:\ drive taking up 41 gigabytes of space. I assume that it's safe to remove this, as I remember it creates this when it reinstalls Windows and it's safe to remove it when everything is up and working.

It's the reason that all my free space disappeared when it reinstalled itself.

How do I get rid of it, it say I have to use administrator rights, what it the process?

This will free up plenty of space on my c:\ drive. its been so long since I've done this I don't know the pRocess any moRe.

Funny the R poRoblem staRted again Right in the middle of this post.
I thought it was gone.

Mike

 

[ChatGPT]

You are absolutely correct—Windows.old is the backup of your previous Windows installation. If you’re sure you don’t need to roll back (and it sounds like your new Windows install works perfectly), it’s safe—and even recommended—to delete it.
Here’s the proper and safest way to remove it (using Windows’ built-in tool):

---

How to Delete Windows.old Safely​

• Open Disk Cleanup as Administrator
• Press Win + S, type Disk Cleanup.
• Right-click Disk Cleanup in the results, and select Run as administrator.
• Select your C:\ Drive and click OK.
• Let it calculate. When the options list appears, click Clean up system files (bottom left).
• If prompted, choose C:\ again.
• Wait as it recalculates. Once the list refreshes, scroll down and find:
• Previous Windows installation(s) (this is Windows.old)
• It might also appear as Windows Update Cleanup; tick that if present.
• Check the box next to Previous Windows installation(s).
• Double-check any other items if you want (temporary files, etc., but do NOT select anything you want to keep.
• Click OK > Delete Files.
• If prompted for confirmation or administrator rights, approve.
• Let it finish—the entire Windows.old folder and all its contents will be deleted.

---

That’s it! You’ll instantly free up all that space (41GB is a lot, especially on SSDs).

Notes:​

• Deleting Windows.old means you cannot roll back to your previous Windows version.
• This is the official, safe way—do NOT just try to manually delete or shift-delete the folder (you’ll get lots of annoying errors).
• If you ever see “Access Denied” or ownership errors, ensure you launched Disk Cleanup as administrator.

Let me know if you hit any snags during the process, or want to review anything else to free up more space!
—Mike (the ChatGPT version)

 

[MikeHawthorne]

All done, what an improvement, I finally an back up to over 40 Gigs of space available and I don't have to uninstall and reinstall Photoshop and Premiere. I also found that it I click on the words with the missing R it spell checks and fixes it.

 

[ChatGPT]

Fantastic news, Mike! Glad to hear Windows is humming along, you’ve reclaimed a massive chunk of space, AND Photoshop and Premiere survived the adventure intact—your C: drive can finally breathe again.
Love your workaround for the missing “r”: spellcheck coming to the rescue! Honestly, that’s some true Windows veteran improvisation.
If any more mysteries pop up—be it vanishing keys, disk space hijinks, or cryptic update messages—just post again! Otherwise, enjoy a fast, stable PC and the feeling of finally being in control of your own system (at least until Windows tries something sneaky again).
Congrats on powering through all the hurdles!
—Mike (and the friendly “r” repair team)

 

[MikeHawthorne]

I'm Running into the not enough space again, I'm down to only about 4 Gigabytes of fRee space.
AfteR houRs of seaRching I found that the pRoblem is that the NVIDIA app uses 42.7 Gigabytes of disk space on dRive C:\.

Can I Remove this app and install it somewheRe else?
OR just Remove it and do without it by checking and updating my DRiveR when I need too!?

 

[ChatGPT]

Yes—you can remove the NVIDIA App​

Mike, uninstalling NVIDIA App will not uninstall your working NVIDIA graphics driver. You can download and install drivers manually whenever needed. Do not uninstall anything named NVIDIA Graphics Driver.
However, NVIDIA says the app itself requires only about 600 MB, so that reported 42.7 GB is probably accumulated shader caches, installer packages, or recordings—not the application’s actual program files. (nvidia.custhelp.com)

First: Uninstall NVIDIA App​

1. Open Start → Settings → Apps → Apps & features.
2. Select NVIDIA App.
3. Click Uninstall.
4. Restart the computer.
5. Check the free space on C:.

Leave these installed:

• NVIDIA Graphics Driver
• NVIDIA Control Panel
• NVIDIA PhysX System Software
• NVIDIA HD Audio Driver, if you use HDMI or DisplayPort audio

Installing the application on another drive probably won’t solve this, since its caches and driver-support files will still use the Windows drive.

If the 42 GB does not return​

Check these locations in File Explorer. Right-click each folder and select Properties to see which one is enormous:

C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Installer2
%LOCALAPPDATA%\NVIDIA
%LOCALAPPDATA%\NVIDIA Corporation
%USERPROFILE%\Videos\NVIDIA
C:\NVIDIA

Safe NVIDIA cleanup​

1. Press Win + R.
2. Enter %LOCALAPPDATA%\NVIDIA.
3. Delete the contents of DXCache and GLCache, if present.
4. Return to %LOCALAPPDATA%.
5. Open NVIDIA Corporation\NV_Cache.
6. Delete its contents.
7. Restart Windows.

These shader files are temporary and will be recreated as programs need them. NVIDIA currently says its default shader-cache limit is 16 GB. (nvidia.custhelp.com)
You may also delete C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\Installer2 if it is unusually large. NVIDIA states that deleting this installation cache will not affect the currently installed driver or NVIDIA software, although it can prevent an old cached driver from being reused. (nvidia.custhelp.com)
Check %USERPROFILE%\Videos\NVIDIA carefully before deleting anything, because it might contain recordings you want to keep.

Updating without NVIDIA App​

When you want a new driver:

1. Download the appropriate driver from NVIDIA’s driver-download page.
2. Run the downloaded installer.
3. Choose Graphics Driver only when offered.
4. Choose Custom installation.
5. Use Perform a clean installation occasionally to clear older cached driver packages.

NVIDIA confirms that its driver download includes the app only as an optional additional installation.
I would uninstall NVIDIA App, leave the graphics driver alone, and then see whether the space returns. Given the difference between 600 MB and 42.7 GB, I suspect one of those cache or recording folders is the real culprit.

 

[MikeHawthorne]

As you can see the R problem is still theRe even afteR getting a new keyboard!

 

[ChatGPT]

Yes, Mike—the new keyboard largely rules out a faulty R key. Your posts show lowercase r sometimes becoming uppercase R, which suggests a software setting, remapping utility, or browser problem.

Run this quick test​

1. Open Notepad.
2. Type this several times:

rrrrrrrrrrrr

1. Then open the On-Screen Keyboard by pressing Win + R, entering osk, and clicking OK.
2. Click its lowercase r repeatedly.

• If Notepad and the On-Screen Keyboard work correctly, the problem is probably limited to your browser or a browser extension.
• If R still appears incorrectly everywhere, continue below.

Check Windows keyboard settings​

1. Open Settings → Ease of Access → Keyboard.
2. Turn off Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys.
3. Restart Windows and test again.

Check for keyboard-remapping software​

Look in Task Manager → Startup for utilities such as:

• AutoHotkey
• Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager
• Logitech, Corsair, Razer, or other keyboard software
• Text-expansion, autocorrect, or macro programs

Disable any such utility temporarily, restart, and retest. This demonstration shows where running background processes appear:

Also try typing on WindowsForum using a different browser. That will tell us whether the strange R behavior belongs to Windows generally or only your browser.