Deleting old windows install

Arcto

Hey,

For a very long winded reason I wont go into I recently reinstalled my OS onto my SSD. When I go to boot I have the option of using my old install or the new one. This I expected.

I cannot, however, remove the other install. I have followed the instructions at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/windows-trusted-installer-denying-access-to-files/5203914d-9357-4b71-a4c5-a2d11d392fff and still get the error 'You require permission from Administrators to make changes to this folder'.

Any ideas?

(and yes I am not booted into the wrong OS install )

Greyfoot

Arcto wrote: »

Hey,

For a very long winded reason I wont go into I recently reinstalled my OS onto my SSD. When I go to boot I have the option of using my old install or the new one. This I expected.

I cannot, however, remove the other install. I have followed the instructions at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/windows-trusted-installer-denying-access-to-files/5203914d-9357-4b71-a4c5-a2d11d392fff and still get the error 'You require permission from Administrators to make changes to this folder'.

Any ideas?

(and yes I am not booted into the wrong OS install )

Load Windows, type in msconfig or in XP press win+r then type. Click boot tab, select other OS (NOT Current OS!) then delete it. No more prompt during boot.

Arcto

Thanks, that removed it from the boot list (much appreciated) how I still cannot delete the folder on my drive.

Any other ideas?

Greyfoot

Try booting into safe mode, no need for admin priviliges there, set the folder permissions and deselect read only.

Arcto

I'll give that a spin now.

Thanks

Arcto

No joy there either. Gah!!!

It's under 20gb so it's no big loss, just annoying me

Thanks for getting it out of my boot list though!

Greyfoot

Arcto wrote: »

No joy there either. Gah!!!

It's under 20gb so it's no big loss, just annoying me

Thanks for getting it out of my boot list though!

20GB??Holy s......! What OS you had and what OS running now?

Arcto

Win 7 ultimate 64bit, 17.7gb :P

Running the same now on a different drive. Again, long boring story hahaha

Arcto

New install is only 12ish.

Greyfoot

What folders are you trying to delete exactly?

Arcto

The whole thing. \Windows (Current OS C:\Windows)

As it's gone from the boot it doesn't really matter I suppose.

Greyfoot

And where did you install the fresh one then??

Arcto

Huh?

The old one is on D the new one is on C

Greyfoot

I guess formatting is not an option on D then??

CaSCaDe711

Maybe try deleting or formatting the whole D partition?

Right Click on My Computer / Manage / Disk Management, and then select that drive.

Arcto

That is what I am trying to avoid. Lotsa stuff on it I want to keep. Other drive is an SSD and my external HDD is almost full so no where to copy the data too.

Cheers for the help though!

Greyfoot

Which file(s) are you not able to delete exactly?I mean from the folder itself?

Arcto

Navigate to D drive, select Windows folder, hit delete. Get prompted for permission, hit yes, does its thing for about 30 seconds then <see screenshot>


EDIT: I have already removed Administrators claim to the folder using the instructions I posted earlier.

Greyfoot

Ok mate, try going into the folder, selecting all and hit delete, will delete many files Id say come back and tell which one(s) wouldnt

unkel

Right click on a directory you want to delete. Click properties. Click security. Click advanced. Click owner. Click edit. Change the owner to the user with admininistrator rights that you are now on your new installation on your SSD drive and click ok and make sure you select all subdirectories etc.

Let it run and when it is finished you will be able to delete the directory. Voila

Greyfoot

That is what I suggested doing in safe mode, seems not working..

unkel

Greyfoot wrote: »

That is what I suggested doing in safe mode

With respect, it is not what you suggested

Taking ownership WILL sort it

Greyfoot

unkel wrote: »

With respect, it is not what you suggested

Taking ownership WILL sort it

Should have been more specific, this is exactly what I suggested when saying changing permissions in safe mode. Thought the OP literate enough to understand that.

Arcto

That way removed 5GB.

I'm off to bed as I have a 10.5 hour day tomorrow.

If you've any more suggestions I'll take a bash of them tomorrow night.

Thanks guys.

yoyo

Arcto wrote: »

That way removed 5GB.

I'm off to bed as I have a 10.5 hour day tomorrow.

If you've any more suggestions I'll take a bash of them tomorrow night.

Thanks guys.

Download the GParted live disc and burn to a CD. Boot off it as if to install Windows and under the list of partitions delete the one you wish to delete and reclaim space, once done click on your primary windows installed partition>Partition menu>Resize/Move volume and drag the slider up, your space should be restored on next boot .

Nick

Greyfoot

yoyo wrote: »

Download the GParted live disc and burn to a CD. Boot off it as if to install Windows and under the list of partitions delete the one you wish to delete and reclaim space, once done click on your primary windows installed partition>Partition menu>Resize/Move volume and drag the slider up, your space should be restored on next boot .

Nick

It seems the OP has other important stuff on the partition which he/she does not want to loose.

yoyo

Greyfoot wrote: »

It seems the OP has other important stuff on the partition which he/she does not want to loose.

Well spotted, I missed that post . It wasn't clear from his first post . OP, Copy the data from the \ partition you need over to the C:\ one, then follow my above steps

Nick

scotty_irish

boot off a linux live cd.

mount the

navigate to where you mounted it

in the terminal type rm -r Windows/

have a coffee and donut while your waiting

Arcto

Hey guys.

@Yoyo, I do not have the space on the other drive (SSD) to copy over what I want to keep.

@Scotty, lol, do I work with you? A guy in work today told me to do just that :P

Gonna try it later or tomorrow, just had a wonderful day at work. To just delete the specific windows folder from one drive do I need any different command?

bette

Acto me ol pal, it is highly advisable to back up your stuff immediately. Hard drives do not fail at your convenience. As soon as that's done a good cleanup is recommended. In fact, you seem to have a jolly mess that warrants a format and reinstall!

unkel

Really lads, there is no need to boot from a linux boot disk or anything as drastic as that to delete a directory. From within windows just take ownership and delete

yoyo

unkel wrote: »

Really lads, there is no need to boot from a linux boot disk or anything as drastic as that to delete a directory. From within windows just take ownership and delete

Windows can act the bollix if trying to delete another windows directory even if its not in use though, you may find you need to manually take ownership on files in each sub directory before you can delete the main folder

Nick

Arcto

unkel wrote: »

Really lads, there is no need to boot from a linux boot disk or anything as drastic as that to delete a directory. From within windows just take ownership and delete

I have tried this multiple times even in safe mode, hence why this thread is 3 pages long already, heh

Still havn't had a chance to try the linux option

unkel

yoyo wrote: »

Windows can act the bollix if trying to delete another windows directory even if its not in use though, you may find you need to manually take ownership on files in each sub directory before you can delete the main folder

Yep good point. Applying the ownership on subdirectories gives errors sometimes, but mainly on the active windows directory. Still, deleting an inactive windows directory shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes even if you get a few hiccups and have to take ownership multiple times

unkel

Arcto wrote: »

Still havn't had a chance to try the linux option

I'm getting the impression that you're a bit out of your depth within the windows environment / security / taking ownership etc.

And probably with a Linux boot disk too...

Here's an easy way get Linux on a USB stick. You can boot your computer with it and then delete the windows directory

Arcto

Nope I've been using windows since 1996 and have never had to do this procedure before. But like with most windows things you just rtfm and it's pretty simple. However, also like most windows things, it does not always work

EDIT: To be honest it's not really worth the effort at this stage. 12gb is not that much space these days and I am buying another external in a month or so.

unkel

QED