Windows.old

[Skype]

After installing a clean install of w7 over vista, and deleting the windows.old folder, is that essentially like installing w7 on a blank partition?

Stupid question, but I'm just wondering.

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

After installing a clean install of w7 over vista, and deleting the windows.old folder, is that essentially like installing w7 on a blank partition?

Stupid question, but I'm just wondering.

For the most part, yes.

Another thing you can do, during the install just select the partition your installing to and 'format' it. It will wipe the partition.

 

[Skype]

It wouldn't let me format it It was greyed out.

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

It wouldn't let me format it It was greyed out.

Odd. Well it should result in almost the same thing by doing what you did (And deleting the windows.old).

Thats my opinion at least.

 

[Avast]

Also, run disk cleanup to delete the leftover installation files. You'll end up freeing more than 4 GB easily.

 

[gregrocker]

In order to get the cleanest possible installation, you would need to boot from the installer which will then allow you to use Custom>Advanced tools to wipe, partition, and/or format your HDD.

You only get the windows.old folder if you start the installation from the old OS, which also makes it impossible to format.

 

[richc46]

If you custom install from your OS, the disc will clean your disc, so I feel no reason to format first. Second, the windows.old is your old OS. If you don't really need the space, keep it until you know that you did not forget to back up any documents, etc. because you can restore from windows.old.

 

[wallyinnc]

You can't just delete Windows.old. Here how to do it
DNG, I beg to differ. I am not sure if you upgrade and delete this folder that it will be like a clean install. I think you will bring over all the junk accumulated in your registry file over the years of accumulating junk (at least that is my case). I have not done any upgrade, so it is just an opinion.

 

[Johnson]

Hello Wally,

You're "mixing metaphors".

"This Folder" - Windows.old, is not upgraded, it's the content of the drive/partition copied by the Win7 installer prior to erasing Vista for you to copy any user data from Vista to Win7. Look at Richard's post.

And there isn't a Windows.old (copy of Vista) in a true upgrade.

 

[Skype]

In order to get the cleanest possible installation, you would need to boot from the installer which will then allow you to use Custom>Advanced tools to wipe, partition, and/or format your HDD.

You only get the windows.old folder if you start the installation from the old OS, which also makes it impossible to format.

I did boot from the installer.