How to reinstall windows.old (win7) after installing win7 for 2nd time

ajansson · 26 Nov 2011

Thanks to the stellar customer service at Dell I have had to recently reinstall windows 7. I was running windows 7 prior to this installation and therefore those files have been moved to windows old. How do I reinstall this file? I'm assuming the process is the same as for other versions but being as I'm not that technically savvy I don't know how to change the command scripts to suit my situation. Can someone help me?

Brink · 26 Nov 2011

Hello Ajansson. and welcome to Seven Forums.

It depends on what you wanted to restore/reinstall. If you just wanted files back from the Windows.old folder, then you could just copy and paste them back into your new installation. Programs and drivers must be reinstalled though.

If you wanted to restore your system back to the previous Windows 7 installation that is now in the Windows.old folder, then the tutorial below should be able to help with that.

Windows.old folder - Restore into a new installation

Hope this helps,
Shawn

ajansson · 26 Nov 2011

I did look at that link prior to posting my question. My problem is that is refers to Windows Vista. My old file is Windows 7. I'm not sure how to change the script to suit my purpose.
When i insert my disk it automatically goes to set up and does not give the option to repair.

Brink · 26 Nov 2011

Ajansson,

It doesn't matter what the previous installation was for the Windows.old folder. You can use the tutorial exactly for Windows 7 as well.

What type of Windows 7 installation disc do you have? For example: retail, retail OEM, factory OEM (came with computer), student, anytime upgrade, etc......

ajansson · 26 Nov 2011

Its the Alienware disc that came with the computer

Brink · 26 Nov 2011

Ah, that would be why then. That is a OEM factory recovery disc, and it can only be used to do a clean reinstall with it.

How to Use Alienware Respawn to Restore a Computer Back to Its Original Factory Configuration - KB Article - 350137 | Dell

You could create and use a system repair disc, then boot from it to a command prompt and restore the previous installation from the Windows.old folder though.

ajansson · 26 Nov 2011

Thank you for your help so far. I think I'm one step closer to getting everything back the way it was.

I was able to get in to the command prompt. I have entered in all of the moves but am stuck on:

"9) Now we need to restore the boot sector of the previous installation.NOTE: D: represents the DVD drive in the following commands. If the DVD drive on the computer is represented by a different letter, such as E:, use that letter in the command."

It gives 1 option for server 2003, 2000 and xp and another one for vista.

What should I do here?

If I understand correctly I do not need to do #10.

Brink · 26 Nov 2011

Audrey,

Yes, you would not need to do step 10. For Windows 7, follow the one for Vista since it's the same in Windows 7 as well. :)

ajansson · 26 Nov 2011

Didn't work. I'm still in my recent version of windows.
Doesn't appear as though anything moved either.
Any suggestions?

gregrocker · 26 Nov 2011

I'm missing why you are wanting to roll back your Win7 Custom install to what it was. Perhaps if you provide this piece of the puzzle we can better help you with options.

One reason it requires clarification is I don't recall anyone ever asking us before how to "reinstall" their Win7 by running the windows.old folder. It makes me wonder if you're being correctly understood.

If the problem is that you have a reinstall you're dissatisfied with, consider backing up your files (as should be done first anyway - never rely on windows.old for that), boot the Reinstall DVD and follow these steps to get a perfect reinstall based on thousands done here: Reinstalling Windows 7