after upgrade question

i did a fresh install of win 7 64 bit i had 32 bit vista before. it made a file called windows old where im assuming everything on the computer was before the upgrade. im going to remove that from my computer to save space. i then looked at the new files and saw 2 program files, files. one was just program files and one was program files (x86). so my question is what the the diference between the two.

also in the plain program files folder i saw programs that i think came from the computer before the new install is this correct. example was windows defender file. i havent downloaded that yet so is it from the old vista os the dates on the folders were from several years ago. so can i just delete everything in there that looks old.

i guess i just want to delete everything i can to free up space on my hard drive.

Program Files (x86) is the default location for 32-bit applications.

Program Files is the default location for 64-bit applications.

Windows.old contains stuff from your old installation so if there's nothing in there that you want, just delete the folder.

why are the dates on the folders so old. some go back to 2007. did the win 7 install just reuse so parts or the old system instead of installing it completely fresh

hum i clicked custom install when i installed it so i thought i was doing a clean install

i looked at the link you provided for clean install and thats exactly what i did.

Did you boot into the Windows DVD, and then choose Custom or did you just insert the DVD and wait for it to auto run?

If you didn't boot into the DVD then chances are you carried out an upgrade, which is why you have a Windows.old folder.

However, if I remember correctly, you will still have a Windows.old folder if you carry out a clean install, but don't give the drive/partition a quick format first.

In any event, if there's nothing in there that you want, just delete the folder.

i booted into the dvd,

OK, no matter. If everything is running alright just delete the Windows.old folder to regain the drive space.