Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows 7 > Windows.old and clean install
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
Teme113   10-25-2009 at 06:46:37 AM

I just installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. I used to have Vista Business 32 bit. I did a clean install by booting from the 64 bit installation DVD and selecting the clean install option. Now, I thought that my hard drive would be formatted with this option, but apparently I still have EVERYTHING I used to in this Windows.old folder. I don't understand, was this supposed to happen with a clean install? Since I changed to a 64 bit from a 32 bit I couldn't have done an upgrade even by accident (and the process didn't take several hours, just an hour or so, maybe less).

Should I delete the Windows.old folder? I backed up the stuff I wanted to keep before I began the clean install.

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
Silver Win 7 badge The_Prophecy   10-25-2009 at 07:35:52 AM
- 1 +

Essentially what you did was a migration. Migration installs are in between clean installs, and in-place upgrades. If there is nothing you need from the previous Vista install, you can delete the Windows.old folder.

------------------------------ If you like my solution the best, please remember to mark my post as the best answer!
 Reply to The_Prophecy
Teme113   10-25-2009 at 08:00:06 AM
- 0 +

Is this migration install a disadvantage compared to a clean one? Can I cut programs from the .old file and paste them elsewhere without problems?

Reply to Teme113
Silver Win 7 badge The_Prophecy   10-25-2009 at 08:04:35 AM
- 0 +

No. Installed apps are not transferred. Migration installs only preserve data, not the applications themselves.

------------------------------ If you like my solution the best, please remember to mark my post as the best answer!
 Reply to The_Prophecy
ainarssems   10-25-2009 at 11:35:17 AM
- 0 +

You should have formatted hdd when installing W7. And it will not let You just delete windows.old folder. You need to take ownership of it first and change permissions.

Reply to ainarssems
daship   10-25-2009 at 04:40:08 PM
- 0 +

Installing right over old windows gives you a windows old folder. If you woulda took a few seconds and deleted, and formatted the old partition, you would not have the issue.

Reply to daship
Teme113   10-25-2009 at 06:53:19 PM
- 0 +

I managed to delete the windows.old contents through disk cleanup.

I thought the only option when switching to a 64 bit OS was a clean install -- that's what I was told here. I wasn't aware these "migration" installs even existed. No harm done, I guess, since I got the 64 bit system like I wanted, the main reason behind getting Win 7 in the first place.

Reply to Teme113
Rubick   10-30-2009 at 09:26:57 PM
- 0 +

I just did a full, clean install of Windows 7 on a brand-new/formatted hard drive, and still a Windows.old directory was created - but totally empty.
Any explanations for that?
Maybe because I had previously formatted the HDD (by slaving of another PC, to save time)?

Reply to Rubick
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows 7 > Windows.old and clean install
Go to:

There are 775 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.519 seconds
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
How do I win badges?