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    Format & install OS vs. just click the .exe

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Drjones, Aug 31, 2009.

  1. Drjones

    Drjones Notebook Consultant

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    I recently did a clean install of XP on a spare system I've got laying around.

    I got a copy of Win7 and didn't want to bother creating a bootable disc, so out of curiosity, I just clicked the setup.exe file and Windows 7 installed just fine over XP.

    What is the difference between doing a format & clean install versus just clicking on the .exe file to install an OS?

    Assuming the HD is fine, is there any reason to do a clean install instead of just clicking on the setup file and letting it do its thing?

    Thanks!
     
    Drjones, Aug 31, 2009
    #1
  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    It's the same thing, except installing it from inside XP saves all your old files into a Windows.old folder.
     
    Lithus, Aug 31, 2009
    #2
  3. Garandhero

    Garandhero Notebook Deity

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    Then you can just delete windows.old and tada!
     
    Garandhero, Aug 31, 2009
    #3
  4. makaveli72

    makaveli72 Eat.My.Shorts

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    And you can delete the Windows.old folder by going to your HDD via My Computer; right click the drive and select Properties--> Disk Cleanup--> Clean up system files. Windows.old should show up in the list, make sure it's ticked to be deleted and delete away by clicking Ok. That's the geeky way of getting rid of it. :)
     
    makaveli72, Aug 31, 2009
    #4
  5. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    it's not exactly the same, as win7 in a clean installation creates more than one partition, one for restore-boots and such or something.

    but they're quite the same..
     
    davepermen, Aug 31, 2009
    #5
  6. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    Windows setup creates a 100MB partition at the beginning of the disk for in case you decide to use BitLocker for the whole disk.
     
    surfasb, Aug 31, 2009
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  7. Saisei

    Saisei Notebook Deity

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    Your computer would be faster with a clean install..Trust me i did tested both methods.
     
    Saisei, Aug 31, 2009
    #7
  8. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    I've tried both methods also. And yes, clean install is faster, but not by much. I personally rather avoid installing all my applications and resetting all the settings and stick with the upgrade install.

    But if you have the free time....
     
    surfasb, Sep 1, 2009
    #8