Does Documents get saved in windows.old


  1. Posts : 20
    Vista
       #1

    Does Documents get saved in windows.old


    Hi all,

    As noted in a recent post, I am having issue with formatting my c:\ partition. If I have to, I may just do the install without a format.

    What gets saved into the windows.old folder? Will it include all my documents, pictures, music, etc? I hope not.

    If it matters, vista is installed on c:\ but I have change the location of my music, documents and pictures to live on the D:\
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,960
    W7 x64
       #2

    Windows.old will only contain archives from the boot partition, no others.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 20
    Vista
    Thread Starter
       #3

    okay good. And will it delete everything on the c:\ or just windows files and folders?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,960
    W7 x64
       #4

    If you've moved the location of 'My Documents' so that your archives are not even on the C partition then why perform an upgrade anyway? I'd format and wipe the C partition using the W7 setup tool
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 20
    Vista
    Thread Starter
       #5

    yep, I agree. But as noted in an earlier post:

    Custom Upgrade - Advanced options greyed out

    (and briefly above) for some reason the format and all the other (delete, etc) buttons are greyed out when I select my C partition. I will try using diskpart (as suggested in link above), but if that doesn't work, instead of trying to fight with this, i will just do a non-formatted install.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,960
    W7 x64
       #6

    Just format C using 3rd party utils before you run W7 setup on it then...

    People won't read all your threads before replying to just one of them by the way - if you wished to mention something from another thread it's up to you to cross link your subject matter... :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 20
    Vista
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I know, but I figured the very first two sentences of my first post in this thread would be enough to show that I want to format and would be using a non-formatted install as a last resort. :)

    Do you know if an unformated install will delete all files or just the windows files?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #8

    An unformatted install will take the currently installed Windows and move it into Windows.old, in it's entirety. It will then install Windows 7 to the root of C: with all OS files in Windows along with other information in other folders off of the root of the C: drive.

    Forinstance, my C: drive looks like this:


    If I had done a non-format install then there would be a Windows.old folder as well.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,326
    Windows 7 Ultimate RTM (Technet)
       #9

    Qdos said:
    Just format C using 3rd party utils before you run W7 setup on it then...

    People won't read all your threads before replying to just one of them by the way - if you wished to mention something from another thread it's up to you to cross link your subject matter... :)
    Why does he need to use a third party utility when formatting is easily done during the installation process?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       #10

    If you do not format, but do a custom install, everything is saved in windows.old, except programs.
    If you use windows easy transfer, you can transfer your desktop, cookies, mail, settings, accounts, etc.; basically everything but programs, but you can save program settings.

    If you do format, you do not have window.old, but you still have easy transfer and evrything is saved but programs.

    You can get easy transfer from the microsoft site.
      My Computer


 

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