Custom Install and file on the C: root drive

gpzbc · 24 Oct 2009

Hey,

I just did a custom install from Vista to Win7 with an upgrade disc. After completing the setup, deleting windows.old, and reinstalling all of my programs, I noticed that there were old folders on the C: drive. It is as if it didn't move anything from the root drive to the windows.old file.

I'm annoyed at myself for not noticing it sooner. Now I don't want to do another install since I spent all that time reinstalling the programs and configuring them for personal use.

I'm tempted to go in and just delete the old folders from the root drive, but I'm nervous. Honestly, I can't be certain of what should and shouldn't be there.
Is there anyway I can tell which folders on the root drive are leftovers? I thought about deleting according to the date modified stamp, but I'm not certain that is safe either.
Can anyone advise me? I really don't want to do another install of Win7, but I was pretty excited about starting with a true clean slate. I just can't help but wonder what else it left behind.

Thanks!

Mike B · 24 Oct 2009

What if you deleted the folders and left them in the Recycle bin? If something doesn't work, you can restore them.

gpzbc · 24 Oct 2009

Mike B said:

What if you deleted the folders and left them in the Recycle bin? If something doesn't work, you can restore them.

I thought about that. That would work for obvious errors, such as if I deleted the display driver. But I'm worried that it will cause more subtle errors that may not be immediately noticeable.

Dave76 · 25 Oct 2009

gpzbc said:

Mike B said:

What if you deleted the folders and left them in the Recycle bin? If something doesn't work, you can restore them.

I thought about that. That would work for obvious errors, such as if I deleted the display driver. But I'm worried that it will cause more subtle errors that may not be immediately noticeable.

What are the file names?

gpzbc · 25 Oct 2009

These are the folders that I suspect are leftovers. I am basing my judgment mostly off of the time stamp. Plus, when browsing through the folders, I recognize old versions of drivers and such that I chose not to install this time around.

HP (hidden folder)
System.sav (hidden folder)
temp
NVIDIA
MSOCache

I feel fairly comfortable deleting the NVIDIA folder because I believe that is just a temporary folder where the driver files are unpackaged before being installed in the proper place. I also suspect that the HP folder is the same thing, but I'm not certain.
The MSOCache folder was present prior to my reinstall of MS Office. So I know it is a leftover.

Thanks for your advice.

Dave76 · 25 Oct 2009

Your welcome.

I think you should leave them, unless you really need the space.

From MS, Msocsche:
Local Install Source is a Setup feature that copies the install source files from the Microsoft Office 2003 installation media (for example, the Office 2003 CD-ROM) to the Msocache folder. This is a hidden folder on your local hard disk.

The Local Install Source feature is installed so that you do not have to insert the CD during the following Setup operations:
Detect and Repair
Demand Install
Maintenance Mode Setup
Installation of service packs and patches
If you want to remove the Msocache folder, you can do this during Office Setup, or after Office has been installed. Removing these files will save approximately 270 megabytes (MB) of hard disk space. After you remove the Msocache folder, you may have to provide the installation media to complete the Setup operations that are listed earlier.

gpzbc · 26 Oct 2009

Yeah, you are probably correct. They really aren't taking up all that much space. But I was bummed that they were left behind after doing a clean install. I was excited about having a fresh clean install. Maybe I am just being OCD. Oh well.