Windows 7: Clean reinstall

Hiya folks,

so about 7 months ago I installed the Windows7 Beta because I had no other OS at the time. I have been very busy and today I finally got some time to sit down install the UPGRADE version I purchased for 50 $.

So I basically put the dvd in, I made it boot from the cd, and I installed windows 7 on the same HD that had the BETA version previously.



I am now using the new Windows 7 and in the C drive there are 2 folders "windows.old" and "windows"

"windows.old" is 46 GB and "windows" is 4 GB

This is taking a lot of space. Can you folks please tell me how I can remove all the old un-needed files? Surely I can't just delete that folder?

Run disk cleanup - type cleanmgr in the start search box.

Look in windows.old first and copy out any files you want to keep.

Yes you can just delete the windows.old folder
If you backed everything up and have everything you need you can just delete it..and say hello to 46 GB of free space!!

Hope this Helps..

EDIT: Here is a step by step guide

Windows.old Folder - Delete


Important Before you remove the Windows.old folder, make sure that there are no important files in it.

1. Click Start , click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click System Tools.
2. Click Disk Cleanup.
3. In the Disk Cleanup Options dialog box, click Files from all users on this computer.
   
   Note If the User Account Control dialog box appears, type the administrator password, and then click OK. Otherwise, click Continue.
4. In the Disk Clean up drive Selection dialog box, select the hard disk drive that you want to clean up, and then click OK. Wait while the system scans the computer for unnecessary files.
5. Click the Disk Cleanup tab, and then look for the Previous Windows installations check box.
6. If you find the Previous Windows installations check box, click to select it, and then click OK.

i would take a look in "windows.old"to see if there are files you may want to save. there is never a guarantee your backup "will work".

happened to me once.

you guys are great, thanks!

I might as well ask... I have an IOMEGA 1.5 TB hard-drive. When I connect it I can see it/access the files... but when I try to transfer files TO it -- it freezes or locks up my pc until I turn it off/disconnect it.

is it a Windows 7 issue?

also, is it too late to go up to 64bit? I installed 32bit by accident... I've had a long night! I don't want to have to reinstall all over?

is there a noticable performance boost (my hardware is new it can handle it probably, 1 yearo ld)

system specs would be handy. also copy/ paste or which way are you trying to transfer files?

( Look in windows.old first and copy out any files you want to keep. ) missed that

what do you need my specs for?

I have Windows 7 home version.

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E7300 @ 2.66GHz is my processor

I have 4 GB ram

I have an ATI RADEON 4800 series graphic card

should be ok. try it out then. you should get a notable boost in performance.

what should be okay? try what out?

I'm having 2 questiosn

#1) can I upgrade to 64bit without reinstalling?
#2) I have a 1.5 TB Iomega hard-drive. It disconnects whenever I transfer files TO it and FROM it.