Safely Removing Windows

[Iroquois]

As you know, I had a problem with Windows a week ago that forced me to install another copy of windows on a different partition on my Hard Drive. Problem is that the old copy is still there and is taking up a lot of space. Is there some way I can safely remove this or will it effect my programs in doing so?

[Jared]

Not sure what would be the best way, excepts to be very careful whatever you do!

Jared

Good luck!

[4_Series_Scania]

As you know, I had a problem with Windows a week ago that forced me to install another copy of windows on a different partition on my Hard Drive. Problem is that the old copy is still there and is taking up a lot of space. Is there some way I can safely remove this or will it effect my programs in doing so?

Hmm, be careful indeed!

Win installs to C: normally, thus, I'd expect its installed itself over your old O.S. or, you simply have Windows on two drives, but, I'd be surprised if Windows was booting by default to a drive other than C:


I'd use FDISK to get rid of the old Win install, but, I'd be more inclined to just start afresh.

[Iroquois]

The new windows is kind of installed over the old one but there are two Windows folders. Perhaps I should purchase a new hard drive and move everything important over to there, and do a complete erase of the old one. Or maybe I'll just leave well enough alone.

[4_Series_Scania]

orenda635, a simple (ish) way to find which is the correct install....


Rename one (not both!) of your windows folders to something like windok or whatever you fancy....

Then, re-boot your machine.

If you've re-named the windows folder the system is trying to boot from, it will not boot up - it won't be able to locate "WINDOWS"....

Once your sure you know which is the "fake" windows folder, delete it (the folder) ,or, the complete partition.

Should do the trick....

Make sure your BIOS only looks for 1 hard drive on boot up, otherwise, the BIOS will simply skip to whichever drive has a recognisable operating system on it.

Confused? Sorry!

Paul.  :)

[Iroquois]

I know which Windows is which. I named the new copy WINDOWS1.