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    Windows.old files on my laptop

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Uroboros, Dec 5, 2009.

  1. Uroboros

    Uroboros Notebook Evangelist

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    The other day my hard drive crashed completely, I couldnt even boot to safe mode. After the login screen vista would just BSOD everytime. I couldnt restore even though I have a recovery partition. So I had my windows 7 upgrade disc laying around and decided it was time to upgrade. When I was going through the installation I forgot to completely delete the old partition and just installed 7 over my current vista installation. Now I have a Windows.Old folder in my directory tree which contains alot of my old stuff. Did I effectively just upgrade or did I get a clean install? Can I just go through this folder and delete these files or will it somehow mess with my 7 install? I see no other way of getting these files off since they arent really installed to windows 7.
     
    Uroboros, Dec 5, 2009
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  2. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    You successfully clean installed. windows.old folder is just a back of your old OS program files in case. You can delete the entire folder if you don't need anything from it. Will not affect your Windows 7 at all.
     
    McGrady, Dec 5, 2009
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  3. Uroboros

    Uroboros Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks. 7 is so much better then Vista im almost glad it crashed. Would have been nice if I could have backed up my school files first, oh well.
     
    Uroboros, Dec 5, 2009
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  4. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    You can recover your old files!!!!
    Your old Program Files, Program Data, User, and Windows folder are all inside Windows.old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
    surfasb, Dec 5, 2009
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  5. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    But not the registry entries needed by the programs.

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Dec 6, 2009
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  6. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    The registry files are there too.

    My point was his old files are still there.
     
    surfasb, Dec 6, 2009
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  7. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    I know, I just wanted to point out to them that while the files are all there, the programs are unusable. I am not sure WHY Microsoft chose to do the Windows.OLD thing like this. I mean why keep the programs when they are unusable? Documents I understand, but programs? It makes no sense to me.

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Dec 6, 2009
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  8. kanehi

    kanehi Notebook Deity

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    Windows.old is there if you want to restore the OS back to original. You have the option of deleting it permanenty
     
    kanehi, Dec 6, 2009
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  9. ScuderiaConchiglia

    ScuderiaConchiglia NBR Vaio Team Curmudgeon

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    What support is there to do that? I haven't seen any way published to accomplish this. Not saying there isn't just I have not seen it anywhere.

    Gary
     
    ScuderiaConchiglia, Dec 6, 2009
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  10. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    It's a good reminder of what programs you previously had on your old OS. I referred back to it to double check I installed all my old programs, but that's about it...
     
    McGrady, Dec 6, 2009
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  11. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    The programs may be unusable, but the files are. It is just good practice in preparation for an no going back operation..

    I can just see it now if Microsoft decided to delete the Program Files directory.

    "Why on earth would they delete my data?"

    "Microsoft is so stupid"

    "How hard is it to just move the old files into Windows.old??"

    "Ughh, I will never buy Windows again!!!"
     
    surfasb, Dec 6, 2009
    #11