Reinstalling Windows.old

[Retiredbill]

I made a terrible mistake. Rather than go into details sufice to say I used my original disk and reloaded windows. I want to go back to my original windows. I have a folder called "windows.old" that contains all my old files. How do I replace my installed windows with the old folder?

 

[Brink]

Hello Bill,

You might see if this may be able to help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/16282-windows-old-folder-restore-into-new-installation.html

 

[Retiredbill]

I tried the program. When I enter the required verbage, I get the message "The system cannot find the file specified". I have double checked to be sure I entered the verbage exactly as shown. Any suggestions?

 

[torchwood]

Hi Bill,
There is a BIG note in section 6 of that tutorial regarding that message.

Roy

 

[Retiredbill]

Yes I know. I used to work with computers with DOS and I know about command prompts. I entered the commands exactly as prescribed and got the results I mentioned. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[AddRAM]

Why didn`t you create a disk image of your original OS before you started ???

 

[Retiredbill]

Before I reloaded the OS I had a backup drive with 5 disk images. I decided to do one more before I started but I started a clone instaed of an image and it erased all images. When I reloaded the OS, I could no longer access the external drive at first. Later on I could access it but no images or the clone existed. That is where I am now.

 

[Retiredbill]

Restoring older OS

I reinstalled the OS from the installation disk. It seems as if the previous OS is listed here as windows.old. I tried the disk program recommended here and it didn't work. I also tried Microsoft's Kb971760 and it didn't work as well. Could I simply rename windows.old to windows and to rename the current windows to windows.old?

 

[Ztruker]

Use a digital camera and take a picture of the screen after you have entered a command and post it here. Please make sure it's readable.

 

[Retiredbill]

Windows ven using ersus windows.old

All my communications are using my laptop which does not have any software for photo editing. I have been using Microsoft Os' since 3.0. The old ones were DOS based and I am used to entering commands at the command prompt. I made sure I was entering them correctly and even double checked them. Can I exchange the Windows folders as I asked?

 

[derekimo]

Can I exchange the Windows folders as I asked?

No, that won't work.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Probably way too late for this
https://neosmart.net/blog/2016/fast-free-and-simple-windows-10-uninstall-utility/

 

[SIW2]

Bill,

If you check your PM you will find I posted something there for you.

 

[Retiredbill]

SIW2. I don't follow about checking "PM". I connected the external backyup drive to my desktop and I found it contained my clone. If I could get my desktop to recognize the external drive, I could use the backup recovery disk to rebuild my system. Any suggestions?

 

[derekimo]

SIW2. I don't follow about checking "PM".

That would be "Private Message", here's a little info on that,

Private Messaging


In that link you can get to yours by clicking the link in the box I outlined below,

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi
On the top left of every forums page you'll see Private messages
If you have one unread it will show a # of how many

 

[derekimo]

Hi
On the top left of every forums page you'll see Private messages
If you have one unread it will show a # of how many
View attachment 387760

That depends on the skin, mine are on the top right.

 

[Retiredbill]

I finally got my desktop to recognize my external drive. I used windows explorer to access it and the clone exixts. I tried my recover disk for my backup program but it doesn't work on clones. I could purchase the version that does but that requires quite a bit of work to my desktop to access the internet. Since all my folders are in the clone and my recovery disk will transfer individual files, could I take that route? It would be time consuming but I am willing to do it to recover my OS.