did i reformat vista correctly?

[Guest]

hey again,
i took the advice of many here that vista wasn't complicated
to reformat and who would have thought it was actually quite simple. My
internet connection gave me a headache but that's beside the point. My
question is while i was reformatting the section about a partion came up. I
clicked the partion that was already highlighted and it said that it could
contain folders from a previous windows vista installer and said it would
create a new folder called windows.old and i continued. i just wanted to ask
if i reformatted it correctly? it seems to have reformatted my computer
completley nothing i had on my computer previously is on it now which is a
good thing. was just wondering if i did it correctly or if there was a
different way. thanks

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Reformatting the main Vista partition (C: drive) is done from the Vista DVD
and can actually be done as part of the installation operation, assuming you
have a full retail copy of Vista. You can't reformat the main Vista
partition (C: drive) from 'within vista' because you are 'using' the
operating system, so how exactly did you go about reformatting the vista
drive? This link on my website provides details of formatting a partition
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/format_partition_using_vista_dvd.htm
Alternatively here is an illustrated link to installing Vista
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_vista.htm

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Jerry]

Vista does this automatically when installing. It puts that "old windows"
folder on C drive. You can delete it with NO ill affects. When it asks if
you are sure there a box to click that stops it from asking that again.
This makes the delete go much faster.

Good luck

 

[Guest]

thankyou. Yup i've got a full retail copy it isnt just an upgrade version. i
put the cd in resarted my computer and booted from the cd. it came up with
all sorts of info like language settings and keyboard settings the only part
that confused me a little was the partion part because it said it was going
to create a windows.old file within my computer so i was unsure if i did it
right

 

[Guest]

i managed to delete it without much trouble not sure if there was anything
in there because i didnt look hehehe...so far it hasnt come back again but
theres another folder just entitled windows but i havent deleted that one
because i assumed they were the ones for the new windows right?

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Jerry I have to admit that I have re-installed Vista numerous times and have
never had the windows.old file. I'm beginning to feel left out When I
have time I'll have to try it again and see if it will do it for me. But, as
you say, deleting the file should have no adverse effects.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Just out of curiosity, bluestone, which version of Vista are you using? On
installing are you offered 'upgrade' and 'custom install' or just 'custom
install'? I'm currently using Vista Ultimate, I haven't tried installing
Premium as of yet.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Guest]

hey,
i'm using vista home premium. when i get to that section of
reformatting it will only let me choose to custom install windows but then
when i get to the partion part theres a section on the bottom right which has
advanced options in brackets. I wasn't sure if there are options in that
folder which i should have clicked or changed.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

hey again,
i took the advice of many here that vista wasn't complicated
to reformat and who would have thought it was actually quite simple. My
internet connection gave me a headache but that's beside the point. My
question is while i was reformatting the section about a partion came up.
I
clicked the partion that was already highlighted and it said that it could
contain folders from a previous windows vista installer and said it would
create a new folder called windows.old and i continued. i just wanted to
ask
if i reformatted it correctly? it seems to have reformatted my computer
completley nothing i had on my computer previously is on it now which is a
good thing. was just wondering if i did it correctly or if there was a
different way. thanks

It sounds to me like you reinstalled without reformatting. On an early
screen, I think the one where you choose the partition to install to, you
have to click one of the options just below the list of partitions and
specifically tell it to format. Did you do this? If you did, there would
be nothing to detect and put in Windows.old

 

[Guest]

ohhhh ok so maybe thats where i went wrong because i didn't tell it to
specifically reformat and it looked a little too easy haha...so is the option
in the advanced section? You don't simply click the partion and continue?

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

ohhhh ok so maybe thats where i went wrong because i didn't tell it to
specifically reformat and it looked a little too easy haha...so is the
option
in the advanced section? You don't simply click the partion and continue?

I don't remember which option it's under, but no, you don't just select the
partition and continue. After selecting the partition you have to find the
format option.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Details of formatting the partition are here:
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/format_partition_using_vista_dvd.htm

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Jerry]

The question is somewhat vague, but ONLY partitions which do NOT contain the
Operating System can be formatted. What it sounds like you did was
reinstall Vista. Where only you know. On a reinstall the of Vista, it will
create a folder on C drive <normally> called "old windows" which can be very
large. The neat thing is that after Visa is reinstalled, the "old windows"
folder can be safely deleted.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

The question is somewhat vague, but ONLY partitions which do NOT contain
the Operating System can be formatted. What it sounds like you did was
reinstall Vista. Where only you know. On a reinstall the of Vista, it
will create a folder on C drive <normally> called "old windows" which can
be very large. The neat thing is that after Visa is reinstalled, the "old
windows" folder can be safely deleted.

I don't remember which option it's under, but no, you don't just select
the partition and continue. After selecting the partition you have to
find the format option.

This is while installing (booting from the CD).