Solved C:\Windows files are located in C:\Windows.old\Windows

[ShinChan]

Since I upgraded from WinXP to Win7, I've noticed that C:\Windows files are located in C:\Windows.old\Windows. This happened because, while trying to install Win7, one of my RAM's chips seemed to be broken, stopping the process several times. So, at the end, I throwed it away and I'm with Win7, BUT, with the multiple attempts of install it, the system, apparently, overwrote the OS and, now, I'm using the "old" one.

Does someone have ANY ideas? I could reinstall it, yeah, but I already have some programs and huge stuff so, i prefer to make it as last option.

Since now, I thank you.

 

[gregrocker]

That folder contains your old OS. Once you have everything needed from it you can delete it using Disk Cleanup's Clean Up System Files option. Disk Cleanup - Open and Use - Windows 7 Help Forums

You will have another C:\WIndows folder in the root of C drive for the new Win7 install. Do you see it? It could not be in Windows.old.

 

[ShinChan]

That folder contains your old OS. Once you have everything needed from it you can delete it using Disk Cleanup's Clean Up System Files option. Disk Cleanup - Open and Use - Windows 7 Help Forums

You will have another C:\WIndows folder in the root of C drive for the new Win7 install. Do you see it? It could not be in Windows.old.

Nope. The problem is that, my OS is using C:\Windows.old\Windows as C:\Windows because of things I explained on the first post. Trust me, I know how Windows.old should work, but it's actually wrong.

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screen shot of C Drive explorer and disk management.

Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

 

[ShinChan]

Here it is:

 

[Layback Bear]

I can read you post pictures.

Could you post the pictures exactly like the tutorial instructs you to.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...nt-post-screen-capture-image.html#post2261610

 

[ShinChan]

I can read you post pictures.

Could you post the pictures exactly like the tutorial instructs you to.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...nt-post-screen-capture-image.html#post2261610

You mean the upload step? Sure.

 

[Layback Bear]

Thank you. I can see them now.
My problem is I only read English so I will wait for others to help you.

 

[ShinChan]

There's no one here who can read portuguese. Great. Well, I'm going to translate it for you, later. I hope get some help, then. And thanks for those who already posted here.

 

[Layback Bear]

English would be a great help.

From this forum rules.

12) This is an English based site. Please only post in English, or provide an English translation in your posts.

 

[gregrocker]

I don't' see any of the files that are supposed to be in C, just a bunch of junk staging files. Does the screenshot show everthing? If not do it again showing all of C contents, including the entire contents of windows.old.

You should have Windows, Users, Program Files. You said Windows is in windows.old but where is that? It also should be placed in C during install and nothing like a RAM failure is going to move them.

Do a search for each of these folders then rightclick to open File location.

In addition I'd immediately do an SFC /SCANNOW Command to see how deeply the corruption runs.

 

[ShinChan]

I don't' see any of the files that are supposed to be in C, just a bunch of junk staging files. Does the screenshot show everthing? If not do it again showing all of C contents, including the entire contents of windows.old.

You should have Windows, Users, Program Files. You said Windows is in windows.old but where is that? It also should be placed in C during install and nothing like a RAM failure is going to move them.

Do a search for each of these folders then rightclick to open File location.

In addition I'd immediately do an SFC /SCANNOW Command to see how deeply the corruption runs.

Everything is there (you couldn't recognize because it was in portuguese). I'm posting in English now, I hope it helps.

------

English would be a great help.

From this forum rules.

12) This is an English based site. Please only post in English, or provide an English translation in your posts.

Sorry, dude hahaha

But, really, I thought it wouldn't matter once you guys know the system pattern. I mean, you may not know the language, but you know what was supposed to be there in English. Anyway, here it is:

 

[gregrocker]

I had no problem reading your screenshots. Now answer my questions and supply the missing information.

 

[ShinChan]

I had no problem reading your screenshots.

Now answer my questions and supply the missing information.

Right. Well, you want a Windows.old screenshot? Posting right now. And, about the scan command, it's running. Oh, and, yes, everything is there.

 

[gregrocker]

If you look at the Explorer bar on the left side of the window you will see all of the C system files - User, Windows, Program Files, Program Data - are in the C folder where they belong along with Windows.old.

Since they are toward the bottom I'm assuming that you didn't scroll down in the C window to show us the rest of the C contents.

This is why I specifically asked you if you had shown all the files in C in the screenshot.

Anyway they are where they are supposed to be, and they couldn't really be anywhere else and still have WIn7 run.

So as I said at the top, Windows.old contains your old files from the previous install which you can see if you browse into it and look at the files. Once you're sure you have everything from it you can delete it in Disk Cleanup by selecting to clean System files.

You can mark the thread Solved at top.

 

[ShinChan]

If you look at the Explorer bar on the left side of the window you will see all of the C system files - User, Windows, Program Files, Program Data - are in the C folder where they belong along with Windows.old.

Since they are toward the bottom I'm assuming that you didn't scroll down in the C window to show us the rest of the C contents.

This is why I specifically asked you if you had shown all the files in C in the screenshot.

Anyway they are where they are supposed to be, and they couldn't really be anywhere else and still have WIn7 run.

So as I said at the top, Windows.old contains your old files from the previous install which you can see if you browse into it and look at the files. Once you're sure you have everything from it you can delete it in Disk Cleanup by selecting to clean System files.

You can mark the thread Solved at top.

You didn't get it yet. Just look this CMD screenshot. Is it right? Should I use C:\Windows.old\Windows\System32\cmd.exe? But the question is really worst than just it. I can't, for example, run games that need DirectX. The regedit keys are, also, using C:\Windows.old\Windows files. This thread it not solved, not even a little bit.

 

[gregrocker]

I think the only solution to the problem is to reinstall the OS since SFC finds nothing to repair, yet as you said some system functions are being run from windows.old System32.

It is a level or corruption I've not seen before, and one which I wouldn't begin to know how to repair. Meanwhile doing a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7 offers a way out that ends up with the best possible install - if you stick with the steps, tools and methods given.

To get the slate extra clean I'd run Diskpart Clean Command
from the installer CMD before starting the fresh install.

 

[ShinChan]

I think the only solution to the problem is to reinstall the OS since SFC finds nothing to repair, yet as you said some system functions are being run from windows.old System32.

It is a level or corruption I've not seen before, and one which I wouldn't begin to know how to repair. Meanwhile doing a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7 offers a way out that ends up with the best possible install - if you stick with the steps, tools and methods given.

To get the slate extra clean I'd run Diskpart Clean Command
from the installer CMD before starting the fresh install.

I was expecting it. I posted here just to be sure that there's no way to solve it without reinstalling the OS. Thank you, guys, for your assistance. I'm going to let the thread open only for a couple of hours, and close it. Thank you again.

 

[gregrocker]

We don't close threads here as others may want to add solutions or related issues in years to come. I also would not mark it Solved. I've also asked for others to look at this.

One thing short of Clean Reinstall Windows 7 you could try is to do a Repair Install which reinstalls the OS while keeping all of your files and programs intact. It shouldn't really tangle with the misdirected files because once it sets your User folders and programs aside, it wipes out the OS and reinstalls it.

 

[Arc]

Hi Greg and Shin.

I was reading this thread, and frankly speaking, I havent seen anything like this earlier. We prefer o delete windows.old usually, and system files should not run from that directory. It is a mishap, and a very rare mishap for sure.

As the issue is related to windows.old, I will not take the repair install way, because that will create another windows.old which may make the situation even crazy.

I would suggest to format the C drive and perform a clean reinstall.