Comments on: Windows 7 Tip: Grab Forgotten Files From Your Windows.old Folder

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:34:01 +0000

I did an installation actually hoping to clear my drive, I had already backed up everything, but it did preserve everything in the Windows.old file which is taking up 80Gigs in my drive!

By: Dom

Dom — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:47:38 +0000

Hey there!
..just to make it clear (for myself)..currently my pc is running on windows vista home premium but I wanna upgrade to Windows 7 pro which is only possible if I choose a customized installation. On the Windows Website it says "Custom. This option replaces your current version of Windows with Windows 7, but doesn't preserve your files, settings, and programs. It's sometimes referred to as a clean installation for that reason."

So my question is: are my files going to be preserved in this windows.old folder? What happens to my programs?

- I know some of the questions came up in the discussion earlier already, it would be nice if you could say it again though as I am not exactly sure how my case is different from that of other people..

Cheers.

By: mobilematradee

mobilematradee — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:07:22 +0000

Thanks for the assistance, I was trying to figure out how to get my program file Mobile Matradee, a restaurant pager system I developed, from my old files. I thought I just erased my life's work!!
Now I was able to not only find it but launch it, check it out www.mobilematradee.com

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:13:22 +0000

@Whitey

You could possibly try right clicking on the folder and amending the security settings on the folder. This will allow you to take ownership of the files.

More info @ BlogsDNA: http://www.blogsdna.com/2159/how-to-take-ownership-grant-permissions-to-access-files-folder-in-windows-7.htm

By: Whitey

Whitey — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:23:30 +0000

I can’t move files from Windows.old because it keeps asking for admin ownership or something like that. Any help?

Thanks a lot. =]

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:57:58 +0000

@Alberto

I dont think you can, the settings for that would probably be in the Registry. You could look in the Windows.old folder and then the Program Files directory and see if you can find the Outlook folder that holds all the data.

By: Alberto

Alberto — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:25:28 +0000

What about the microsoft outlook information. Where can I find it in that Windows Old folder?

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:45:52 +0000

@Deborah

I don’ t think there is, maybe copying the data files associated with it might help?

By: Deborah

Deborah — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:48:56 +0000

Is there any way to restore the programs that windows stores in that folder?

By: NongOff

NongOff — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:01:18 +0000

It’s very useful. Thanks