Restoring Windows.old Folder After Win7 Reinstall

[Inundated]

My cousin is borrowing her son's laptop, an Alienware M15X.

While her son was using the computer, he deleted various productivity programs (Word, etc.), because he's using it only for gaming.

My cousin was trying to get those programs back, and oops!, put in the wrong DVD...the Alienware Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit reinstall disc.

For whatever reason, she allowed the reinstall to go through, and now she has a new, blank desktop, and it's apparently missing video drivers (VGA display), networking drivers (no wireless networking) and who knows what else.

Her old stuff is still on the computer in the Windows.old folder.

I imagine her son's original setup is gone, but she'd at very least like to get back to regular video display (no drivers), working WiFi, and whatever programs she had before her son zapped them. (There is an Alienware "Resource Disc", would the factory programs be there?)

She'd also like her stuff in Windows.old back in a place she can use.

We saw articles about restoring Windows.old, but the DVD drive isn't autobooting. We manually booted the DVD and started the process, but the "Repair" option is missing. We're worried another reinstall A) will take us back to where we were and B) if it'd wipe out Windows.old.

Any help...or any point-to-the-right-direction...would very much be appreciated. I think I hit the wall on this one...

 

[gregrocker]

Here are the steps which need to be taken to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. Note the steps for drivers which are delivered by optional Windows Updates or imported from your Dell model's Support Downloads webpage. Back up your files needed from the windows.old folder before overwriting C in a booted reinstall.

But since you have windows.old if this installation is satisfactorily performing then you can also in Device Manager browse from the devices needing drivers into the windows.old "windows/system32" folder to install up the missing drivers now. This will almost always work since the entire previous install is in Windows old and all drivers are somewhere in System 32. But if not you can run all of your Important and Optional Windows Updates after enabling Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware to see what drivers are installed, or import them from the Dell Downloads page for your model.

Then complete the additional steps using the tools and methods in the tutorial to get and keep a perfect reinstall.

There are procedures if you have irretrievable software which cannot be reinstalled to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder however it is cumbersome and not nearly as beneficial as either salvaging this reinstall if it performs well, or reinstalling using the tutorial after backing up your files from windows.old.

 

[Inundated]

Sounds like a plan...though I wouldn't be able to run Windows Update until I get the wireless working.

But finding things in Windows.old sounds like it'll work. I'll update next time I'm over there. Thank you!

 

[edwar]

The only way it to have a boot disc of some type that has a file manager program included. With that you could Delete the Windows folder and ReName the Windows.Old folder to Windows. that should get you back uo and running from the original install.

 

[SIW2]

That's the general idea, but it is slightly more involved.

 

[edwar]

That's the general idea, but it is slightly more involved.

Ok how is it more involved?

 

[SIW2]

Do it your way and which users, program files,program data etc are still present ? - the newly installed ones.

It isn't too hard, you just move them from windows.old onto the root of the drive.

That's apart from the fact the Windows.old folder already contains a directory called Windows.

Even if you could rename it - still no go - the Windows directory needs to be on the root - not inside another folder.

Safest way is to make a new folder - called e.g. win.new or anything you like.

Move the newly installed Prog files,prog files (x86) prog data, users, windows into it.

Then move the corresponding ( previously installed ) ones from windows.old onto the root of the drive.

 

[edwar]

Do it your way and which users, program files,program data etc are still present ? - the newly installed ones.

It isn't too hard, you just move them from windows.old onto the root of the drive

Sorry I don't understand. If the OLD install is from a working system with all User profiles and programs making that the Windows directory, Renaming it from Windows.old to Windows, would allow the computer to Restart using that directory just as it did before the OP accidentally did a second install.

 

[SIW2]

I hadn't finished the post - got distracted by real life - check it out again.

Your general idea is sound - should be able to do it with a boot disc - assuming it has a file manager. You could do it via command prompt from any winpe type media, but it's easier if you can see what you are doing.

 

[edwar]

Never had to deal with this but IIRC Windows.old does not have a second folder called Windows in it. The original Windows folder is just renamed windows.old and has all subfolder included.

I may be wrong and I hope I never have to find out myself.

Do it your way and which users, program files,program data etc are still present ? - the newly installed ones.

It isn't too hard, you just move them from windows.old onto the root of the drive.

That's apart from the fact the Windows.old folder already contains a directory called Windows.

Even if you could rename it - still no go - the Windows directory needs to be on the root - not inside another folder.

Safest way is to make a new folder - called e.g. win.new or anything you like.

Move Prog files,prog files (x86) prog data, users, windows into it.

Then move the corresponding ones from windows.old onto the root of the drive.

 

[SIW2]

It is quite straightforward.

If it is the same o/s, you can just leave documents and settings link where it is.

 

[edwar]

It is quite straightforward.

If it is the same o/s, you can just leave documents and settings link where it is.

Yeah sorry for the confusion. I've been dealing with major back pain the last few days and forgot all about the User folder and others that live at the Root of the disk.

In other words, "Never Mind".

Good Luck to the OP.

 

[SIW2]

OW - that sounds unpleasant.

Hope it sorts itself out soon.

 

[edwar]

OW - that sounds unpleasant.

Hope it sorts itself out soon.

Yes very and Thank you. Just went to the Chiro today. Fingers Crossed ++++

 

[Inundated]

I'm confused...I'm just starting with the first reply.

It's been delayed, but I'll go over there in the next few days.

 

[Inundated]

Finally got over there last night.

She got the wireless working by using another Alienware disc that came with the thing, but I couldn't get the video working to show better resolution.

It insists that the laptop has a standard VGA adapter and a generic PnP monitor. She can only set one resolution, 1152x800-something (sorry, can't remember the second) and the screen looks stretched like watching 4:3 video on a 16:9 set.

I went into Device Manager, pointed to the Windows.old folder for both the monitor and the display, and all it would do is confirm that my current VGA adapter and Generic PnP monitor already had the latest versions.

 

[gregrocker]

Standard VGA is rarely any more than a placeholder driver given by installer.

Did you run all Important and Optional Windows Updates to completion after enabling Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware as advised in Post #2. The tutorial Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 I gave you there shows all of the options to get the required drivers so I don't know why I'm having to repeat this.

If you browsed into windows.old Windows/System 32 file as advised and it won't pick up the driver, then go to the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your exact tag number or model to import the driver.

 

[Inundated]

My apologies for leaving things out, and I didn't mean to frustrate you. I am posting these from home not near her computer, by memory, which is apparently not good enough.

I'm sorry, again.

I did run Windows Update, but only installed the important (not recommended) updates.

The important updates were Windows 7 SP1 and the Malicious Software Removal Tool. I can't remember what the 5 recommended updates were, but they didn't look like they had to do with the monitor or video drivers.

Next time I'm over there, I'll run the recommended updates, follow the instructions above and try to find my own way around the Dell downloaded drivers, which I already copied over by flash drive last time I was over there.

If that doesn't work, she's on her own. My apologies for being a difficult forum user.

 

[gregrocker]

So basically you ignored all of the steps in the tutorial to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

The first step provides you with the latest official installer with SP1 and tool to burn to DVD or write to flash stick. Instead you spent hours of extra time getting all the extra updates in SP1.

How drivers are handled couldn't be more specific that they come in on Optional Windows Updates - I am not going to repeat it all a third time just because you continue to ignore the actual way it 's done.

Why would you ask for advice then ignore the the Best Practices based on helping here with countless thousands of these reinstalls?

 

[Inundated]

OK, I give up. I'll follow the links above and every step in exact order. I was trying to avoid wiping out what she has saved, and feared going that far and risking data loss (or the inability for that machine to backup to DVD or whatever) and I apparently don't know what the heck I'm talking about.

I feel insulted, and probably deserve it. No need to waste your time with me any further. Maybe there's a Windows 7 Help For Idiots forum that I'd fit with more.

I just knew this day was going to end up stinking.

As that English lady in black used to say on TV, "I am the weakest link...goodbye!"