Installing Vista 32 Bit From 64 Bit Windows Old Folder Problems

I recently installed the vista Ultimate 32 bit after using the 64 bit for several years . The reason behind that was i missed using some software and my Epson Scanner .

I have reinstalled the 64 bit twice . First time i deleted the Program Files Windows old without an issue , Second time i could not delete it

When i installed the vista 32 bit , there it was again but i let the updates finish , defraged The drive and found that the windows old created a Program Files X 86 folder and there was all my old 64 bit software and drivers . I could delete all but the common files , windows Collaboration , Windows Media Player .

My Question : Is / Was this Normal ? I don't think so .
How do I Delete This ? windows old Folder in C drive ?
and the Program Files X 86 folder ?

Should I start over ? There was never an option for the windows old Folder . It was bought and paid for .

I have also posted this day about two other issues in the Media Center . It can not get the right TV Guide listings and the other was my Display will not turn off when the PC is off .
The monitor just displays the "no signal" message .

choose "drive options" then format the partition you intend to install the OS to and that will do away with the Windows.old folder .

since i now have the 32 bit version installed , and i reinstall the 32 bit again , I'm guessing the windows old 64 bit program files will not be there except what I cant or have not yet deleted will no longer be there .

Considering That I have another question now . If I do manage to create a Partition in Drive C How can i use that second Partition to store all of the restore points or other related files ?
I have a second Drive 1 TB . in the past windows used it automatically to store backup files . Especially for the complete PC backup .

The Take Ownership of file is some great info
But that is not the problem in my case .

This refers to installing windows vista from xp .
Here's more about it .
Why do I get an Access Denied error when trying to open a folder?
Many folders used by earlier versions of Windows have been moved to a new location or given a new name in Windows Vista. ( Windows.Old ) in my case .
Although these look like folders, they are actually what is known as a junction. Junctions behave like shortcuts, but look just like regular folders.

Notice they are displayed with a transparent icon and a shortcut symbol.
Not mine .
They are not transparent in my C drive . I had access to them , was able to open and delete a lot of Old Files but not the folder itself . both of them actually. ( Windows.Old ) > Now Contains 0 files and 18 folders .. and Program Files (x86) > 361 MB . I tried moving them to my documents but it made a copy instead .

windows old folder the warning says .
This is no longer located in C :/. Verify the items location and try again .

When i try to delete the program Files (x86) The warning says
you need permission to perform this action .

when i installed this copy of vista and prompted for a password during the install , i passed on that , also in the users Accounts , says I am the Administrator and i have turned off the user account control .
So How Do i Get This Permission to remove this unused X 86 Folder ?


message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 3 characters.

I have tried this but have little more to say then Thank all of you for the great advice !

I just updated my system info to reflect that i am now using the 32 bit version of Vista Ultimate 32 BIT OS .

ASUS SOCKET 939 A8NSLI DELUXE
AMD ATHLON X2 64 DUEL-CORE 4400 + 2.21 GHz 2 GB RAM
Maxtor Sata Hard Drive x Two 250 GB and 1 TB
Rocketfish 700 W Power Supply
GTX GForce 260 GPU
Hauppauge Win TV HVR - 1800
Creative SoundBlaster SE. 7.1 Model # SBO570
Vista Ultimate 32 BIT OS

if you don't need the files you could format the drive and than re-install windows. but your 32 bit software should work with Vista X64

Hello toolmanjohn, welcome to Vista forums!


During the install you will have to choose "drive options" then format the partition you intend to install the OS to and that will do away with the Windows.old folder, it will not be created at all. Is that what you're asking?

Please post back to let us know how things sort out.














Later Ted

32 bit software should work with Vista X64
I am not using the 64 bit software any more . those files
( Windows Old ) along with a Programs File X 86 , that is associated with the 64 bit OS was created on my 32 bit OS with all the 64 bit drivers included .
I want to delete them and can not .

if you can not delete them, just leave them or re format and re-install

Have a look at the tutorial, at the link below.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html?ltr=T


Have you seen my post above?
















Later Ted

fadedrs said:

if you don't need the files you could format the drive and than re-install windows. but your 32 bit software should work with Vista X64

Click to expand...

I don't need them , if i did i would simply move them to drive F . I have created a document and Bookmarks for all the Programs that i need to reinstall the 64 bit and 32 bit OS that really speeds up the process . Better yet i can download all the setup software i need to F drive and don't have to search for everything .
it's about 5 or 6 hours to reinstall all the software i have .

i hear ya done that before.

Hi toolmanjohn,

Did you try running Disk cleanup?

Yes , Quite Often . The Windows Old was Visible in the disk clean up and i tried using it already . the folders are still there but never returned again to Disk Clean Up

sorry if you already said this but,

did you try deleting them from within safe mode?

or from the command prompt with vista not loaded?

fadedrs said:

sorry if you already said this but,

did you try deleting them from within safe mode?

or from the command prompt with vista not loaded?

Click to expand...

I have always been interested in learning about my computer , i can take it apart and put it back together again .
but command prompt is over my head . Deleting files in Safe mode did not work either . I was at the end of my rope when i posted for help here , might just start from scratch now that i know what to look for .

you know how to get into safe mode correct?

it is the same way but you select command prompt instead from there you just need to know where the dir is and type "DEL" and than the directory long name like

" DEL C:\USERS\TOOLMANJOHN "
and it will verify the file path and it Y if it is correct.

fadedrs said:

you know how to get into safe mode correct?

it is the same way but you select command prompt instead from there you just need to know where the dir is and type "DEL" and than the directory long name like

" DEL C:\USERS\TOOLMANJOHN "
and it will verify the file path and it Y if it is correct.

Click to expand...

That's a cool trick , will have to try that .thank you .

Your welcome let us know if it worked or not

I have done a lot of looking and found the answers . Command Prompt was one of them .
While working on another issue last night about Windows Media downloading the wrong guide information i noticed windows update installed an older TV tuner driver then i had before and decided to install the newer one . I Did That , then my tuner was not recognized .So one Prob after another ! Went to ADD HARDWARE Found it in a list and clicked it . THAT WAS THE END OF MY USING THAT OPERATING SYSTEM . BOOT UP BLUE SCREEN WARNING ABOUT SOME FATAL ERROR THEN BACK TO BOOT UP .
Gave Up on that and installed a fresh copy of Vista Ultimate 32 Bit . First thing i did was look for the WINDOWS OLD IN C DRIVE . Found two of them now . Used Disk Clean Up to remove the newest one and haven't learned about using Command Prompt yet but i will . As for the other folder in C drive ( Program Files (x86) ) I am guessing it was created by Vista along with the Windows Old or because i am using a Dual Core Processor .

This Issue Has Been Resolved . Many Thanks To Everyone For Your Time .

So let me add what i found in Microsoft Help And Support And A Link

How to use the Disk Cleanup feature to delete the Windows.old folder after you install Windows Vista

How to use the Disk Cleanup feature to delete the Windows.old folder after you install Windows Vista

To delete the Windows.old folder from an earlier installation of Windows, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, type disk cleanup in the Start Search text box, and then click Disk Cleanup.
2. In the Disk Cleanup Options dialog box, click Files from all users on this computer.
3. In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
4. Click to select the Previous Windows installation(s) check box, and then click OK.

Advanced users can also use a command prompt to delete files and folders from an earlier installation of Windows Vista. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
2. In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
3. At the command prompt, type takeown /F <DriveLetter>:\<FolderName>\* /R /A, and then press ENTER.

Note When you run this command, you are granted ownership of the administrator group for the folder, of all the Subdirectories in the folder, and of all the files in the folder.
4. At the command prompt, type cacls <DriveLetter>:\<FolderName>\*.* /T /grant administrators:F, and then press ENTER.

Note When you run this command, administrators are granted full rights to all files and to all folders.
5. At the command prompt, type rmdir /S /Q <DriveLetter>:\<FolderName>\, and then press ENTER.

Note When you run this command, all Subfolders and all files in the specified folder are deleted. Additionally, the specified folder itself is deleted.

APPLIES TO

* Windows Vista Ultimate
* Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
* Windows Vista Enterprise
* Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
* Windows Vista Business
* Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
* Windows Vista Home Premium
* Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
* Windows Vista Home Basic
* Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition

Bare Foot Kid said:

During the install you will have to choose "drive options" then format the partition you intend to install the OS to and that will do away with the Windows.old folder, it will not be created at all.

Click to expand...

Post #3 in this thread, did you not read this?












Later Ted

Congrats.

fadedrs said:

Congrats.

Click to expand...

THANKS . WHY DO I GET THIS MESSAGE WHEN I REPLY TO MY POSTS HERE ?

message you have entered is too short and to add 3 characters .

no idea! not enough characters entered into the reply