2 windows 7's need to get rid of one
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I already got rid of windows.old and freed up about 15gb. I have used windows 7 since it came out. However my external HDD which i have barely used didn't seem to work after upgrading from vista. So recently i tried to go back to vista just to try to recover stuff from my HDD. I moved windows files using comand prompt (following instructions from a web site) and basically cocked it right up! So I did what i thought was a clean install. Thats when i got the extra windows recovery. So not being satified with that i tried again this time removing the partition D drive to see if that would cure it and alarmingly during restarts i seen 3 different windows 7 versions untill it completed itself and went back to 2 copies. It was then that i deleted the windows.old folder and recovered some space. But like i said when i just did this msconfig instruction stated earlier it got rid of windows (recovered) but there is no change to the HDD space, still taking up 41gb
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No one ever said he was dual booting 
But he has done more then 1 install attempt, which he botched, and sometimes you will get multiple entries on the boot screen.
You should not be moving windows files. And as far as your external, you should be able to hook it up to any pc without problems. If you want to reinstall windows right, let us know and we will be glad to help you.
You need to format the install partition ( C ) when you do the install. The full size of the partition and the empty space should be the same. And you are correct in saying windows should only take up about 16 to 18 GBs.
Please read the tutorial I posted on doing a clean install with an upgrade disc.
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
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There is 10GB on the Recovery partition . Id create a recovery disc and wipe that out . My preference
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Thanks for the help and advice. You live and learn as they say. And yes i would appreciate any help in doing a CLEAN reinstall. However it is almost midnight here so for now i will bid you all good night and i shall tackle this issue again tomorrow. Thanks again.
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You won't need to make any special steps if you boot the Win7 DVD, it will see the OS on the HD and allow use of Upgrade key during install and activation afterwards.
If you don't have the latest official Win7 installer with SP1 for your version it is in step 1 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to burn to disk or write to flash stick using the tool in Step 2. Then follow the steps to get a perfect isntall.
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All sorted
Thanks guys for all your help. So i basically just had to format my hard drive and did a clean install. Now i have 208 gb free from 219. Just one more thing (a columbo moment) regarding my faulty external HDD. Is there any way to recover the stuff (About 80gb) off it. I know that the caddy is not the problem but the HDD itself. But anyway guys thanks again
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