Hard drive Space & Reinstall Windows 7

Page 3 of 3 FirstFirst 123

  1. Posts : 214
    Windows 7 Ultimate Professional x64
       #21

    eiger3970,

    When you installed Win7, did you format your harddrive first (wipe everything out) or did you just install it. If you just installed or updated from Vista or XP, then you might have a Windows.old file that contains all of your old files. Usually these are HUGE files that have all the information from your C:\ Drive and sometimes D:\ Drive.

    You can find this by going to start, my computer, C:\ drive (or your primary folder if you renamed your C:\ Drive) and look for the Windows.old folder.

    Let us know if you find it...
    Ben
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 65
    Windows 7
       #22

    Thanks recommending removing the win.old file. My new Windows 7 free space on the 80GB c drive has changed from 2GB free space to 50GB free space.

    It did remove the win.old file. I still have the mig.wiz file on the d drive and ran the transfer wizard which completed but no same settings on Windows 7 yet. Will google around a bit to find out what this problem is.

    (you know...like the 1000's of favourites not transferred, all programs not transferred etc...).
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12,177
    Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64
       #23

    eiger3970 said:
    Thanks recommending removing the win.old file. My new Windows 7 free space on the 80GB c drive has changed from 2GB free space to 50GB free space.

    It did remove the win.old file. I still have the mig.wiz file on the d drive and ran the transfer wizard which completed but no same settings on Windows 7 yet. Will google around a bit to find out what this problem is.

    (you know...like the 1000's of favourites not transferred, all programs not transferred etc...).
    For your browser use Bookmark Manager - export on the old OS, then import on the Browser in the new OS.

    The win.old file or Windows Easy Transfer will not transfer programs. They must installed on the new OS first, then the settings can be transfered.

    I used Windows Easy Transfer from Vista to Win7 and Win7RC to Win7 Ultimate and it work on most everything, except the browser bookmarks, this makes changing to a new OS so much easier.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6
    windows 7, Vista
       #24

    if you do clean install without formating the partition all of your files are still there. it is in the WINDOWS.OLD
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 12,177
    Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64
       #25

    april said:
    if you do clean install without formating the partition all of your files are still there. it is in the WINDOWS.OLD
    Not formatting can leave potential 'problems' on your hard drive. It's best to format it then it's clean to start with when you install your OS.

    Windows.old, is most of your settings and some other files that you might want to recover and add to your new OS. No programs, these must be installed before that programs settings can be added.

    Edit:
    After re-reading your post, you are correct. Not formatting the partition before installing a new OS will give you the Windows.old folder.

    All of your files will not be in there, settings for most of your previously installed programs will be with the exception of bookmarks from your browsers.

    When you format the partition before you install the new OS you will get a cleaner installation with no left over files from the old OS.
    If you want to save setting from your previous OS and programs you can use Windows Easy Transfer. This is a folder with most of your previous settings, after installing all your programs, you can import these settings with Windows Easy Transfer.
    Last edited by Dave76; 04 Oct 2009 at 10:09. Reason: Correction, re-read the origional quoted post
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 214
    Windows 7 Ultimate Professional x64
       #26

    Already posted and solved. Please read prior posts....

    Thanks,
    Ben

    april said:
    if you do clean install without formating the partition all of your files are still there. it is in the WINDOWS.OLD
      My Computer


 
Page 3 of 3 FirstFirst 123

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 20:08.
Find Us