Windows 7: Help with old XP files that cannot be deleted without deleting the i

identical Windows 7 files.

When I did my custom upgrade to Windows 7 from XP, I kept my old 'my documents' files on a separate disk from where Win 7 would live.

Since Windows 7 is great and all my files on the Windows 7 disk are also ok, I decided to delete the old files from the prior XP installation , but they are somehow linked. When I delete 'downloads' (for example) on the seperate 'E" drive, my "downloads" on drive 'c' are also deleted.

Weirder still, is that although I specify downloads to go to drive 'c', and have been doing this for the last 4 months since the upgrade, the downloads folder on drive 'e' is identical to the drive 'c' folder (ie: completely up to date).

Any help is much appreciated.

John

John you are experiencing a new "feature" (or problem) called libraries. You can think of lis as the index for all the user files stored anywhere. A central repository of the location of the files. they are linked as you discovered.

Is that a problem for you? there are tutorials on how to move libs, or not use them

Hi, and thanks for the help, but I don;t think it's a library issue. I have checked the properties of the download library and it only links to the C:\drive - there is no reference to the E:\ Drive where the old XP files are located.

My limited understanding of 'libraries' is that they are similar to a shortcut, in that they 'point' or 'link' to where the desired files actually are. As near as I can tell, in my situation, there actually are two identical files sets, on the two separate hard disks.

John

Post a snapshot of your entire Disk Management here please. See here for info: How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista - Vista Forums (says Vista but also applies to Windows 7).

To get to Disk Management, press Winkey+r, type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter or click GO.

What happens if you disconnect the E: drive? Does the computer still boot? Is everything still there?

Look on the Properties box of your active Windows 7 User folders (Documents, Pictures, etc) for each one's Location. If necessary on the Location tab you can Restore Default.

In the above screenshots, it shows the location where I have moved my User folders. If I Restore Default, it will change back to C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads.

You delete an OS by backing up everything you want from it, then deleting it's partition in Disk Management.

There is a possibility that you have boot-critical files for Windows 7 on the XP partition, which is one reason why we need to see the full Disk Management screenshot with listings - use Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

Now I can't post because my 'token' has expired - help. I was using the quick reply thingie, now trying this.

Hope this woks....

OK, now for the next three screen shots....

You can just remove E since XP partition doesn't contain any boot files. Your Windows 7 User files also all seem to be contained within C.

Whatever was wrong seems to be an anolmaly. See what happens when XP is removed.

BTW do you know you are running Windows 7 with ugly Windows 98 file cabinet graphics? To correct this, go Start>rightclick Computer>Advanced Settings>Performance>Settings>Visual effects and tick the last box to "Use Visual Style..." to enjoy Windows 7 aero graphics. If you still don't have the cool transparent window frames, rightclick Desktop>Personalize to choose an Aero theme, even set up a Desktop Background slideshow.

Thanks for the help. I'm right in the middle of finishing my taxes, so doing anything risky with the computer doesn't seem prudent. If I understood you correctly, you're saying physically remove or disconnect the e drive and see what happens. Couldn't I also move the non XP files from E to another drive, and then have windows format the E drive.

This would save me opening my case which has my UPS and resultant rats nest of wires in the way. I believe this would accomplish the same thing - correct?

And yes, I was unaware of the non-aero desktop. I upgraded with LapLink's PC Mover which moved my settings which are basically unchanged since Win 2000 days. Enough new features were present in Win 7 (by default, I guess) to make me think I had aero going fully.

I'm pleased with the new look - thanks.