after upgrade question

[tada1096]

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.

 

[seavixen32]

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.

 

[tada1096]

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

 

[richc46]

Welcome
The best way and what you want to do is the much better clean install. It will get rid of everything and you will have a more stable OS. It can be done with the upgrade Windows 7, too.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips
If you have a proper key for Seven, you can also install Seven SP1
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

When you have a Window.old, you did an upgrade. Some of your programs etc are from the old Vista.

 

[tada1096]

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

 

[tada1096]

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

 

[seavixen32]

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.

 

[tada1096]

i booted into the dvd,

 

[seavixen32]

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

 

[richc46]

You must set the computer to boot from the CD or you will boot from the OS.
If you want the best performance that you can have, I suggest a clean boot. This is the time to do it, before you install software etc.

 

[seavixen32]

Rich offers good advice, you'll be far better off with a clean install.

 

[tada1096]

thats what i dont get, i restarted the computer and before windows started i had it boot from cd or dvd. and installed just like in the previous post. so it should have been a clean install. all of my programs and games are missing so it had to have been a clean install. the only thing that i had that is still on there are several microsoft programs like defender. those are the ones that have old folder dates.

so im confused i guess. if it was just a upgrade wouldn't it have kept all my old games and everything that was on the computer?

 

[richc46]

We know one thing for certain, if your games were still on the Hard Drive and you had Window.old you did an upgrade.
Follow this tutorial carefully, make sure you boot from the CD. YOu must set your bios to boot from the CD, not the OS.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips

 

[tada1096]

the games were not on computer, just the windows.old thing.
i had to restart the computer with the disc in it. then right away before anything windows shows up it said to boot from cd or dvd press any key.

i pressed a key and it went right to the disc, then did the install just like the clean install thread

 

[bobkn]

We know one thing for certain, if your games were still on the Hard Drive and you had Window.old you did an upgrade.
Follow this tutorial carefully, make sure you boot from the CD. YOu must set your bios to boot from the CD, not the OS.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips

Tada wrote that the old OS was Vista 32 bit, and the new is Win7 X64.

If that's correct, do you still think that it could have been an upgrade-in-place?

 

[richc46]

I doubt that information about 32 and 64. If there is a windows.old, its an upgrade. You cannot upgrade 32 v 64.

 

[tada1096]

it is correct i had 32 bit vista, and now its 64 bit win7

 

[richc46]

I will have to assume that you are correct, but dont understand how. To assure myself I Googled and came up with the same scenario that I described above.
I offer this to add to the confusion and say, that I dont know how to proceed if you went 32 to 64.
Windows 7 Upgrade Scenarios: Scenario 2: Upgrade from 32-bit Windows Vista/XP to 64-bit Windows 7

 

[tada1096]

well thats the messege i got when i put the disk in with vista running. thats why i had to restart the computer and have it boot right to the win 7 disk

 

[richc46]

That means that you were not booting from the DVD. Do you know how to change the BIOS setting to boot from the CD?
Its the same for Vista and Seven
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/205005-boot-priority-change.html