Solved Windows.old after refresh

Labber

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I did a system refresh and I noticed a 'windows.old' folder that contained all my programs.

Is it safe to copy it back to my programs directory or should I reinstall these programs and delete windows.old?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 (x64)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
If you have permissions problems to delete the .old folder you can use "Disk CleanUp" ...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10.0.10122
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    My Build - Vorttex Ultimate
    CPU
    Core i7 @ 4500 MHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z87-Plus
    Memory
    32GB DDR3 @ 1822 MHz (OC)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon R9 280X 3GB @ 1180 / 6800 MHz
    Sound Card
    7.1 HDA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD LG 22" + CRT LG 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1760 x 1320 / 1280 x 960
    Hard Drives
    1 x 240 GB SSD (System)
    3 x 500 GB HDD (Data/Media)
    1 x 2000 GB e-HDD (Backup)
    PSU
    ThermalTake 1000W PSU
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    Corsair Carbide R300
    Cooling
    Corsair H60 (Push-Pull)
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    Microsoft Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    60 Mbps (Down) 5 Mbps (Up)
    Browser
    IE, FF, Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2015
    Other Info
    Some wired stuff
Hi there

One GOOD use for that Windows.old file is when you have a missing driver in Windows 8.1 -- you can sometimes get the W8 one to work by simply when using Device manager to re-install a driver by scanning the Windows.old directory (point the scan / search to the windows.old directory) and with a bit of luck it will work.

I had a couple of Touch drivers missing on my W8.1 installation as well as the DECENT Beats audio driver/mixer -- using the windows.old file fixed the problem. After you've installed everything you need you can simply DELETE the windows.old file.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
SOMETIMES - You Can pull settings out of the Windows Old folder for some programs, like if there is a file in there that contains a configuration, you can save that out, re-install the program, then drag the config file back in and it should then have the same preferences you had set up. But this only works, if you keep the same Computer Name, User name, network name, etc.

Usually, when a Program is installed, it not only installs to Program Files, but it also sends data to \Users\(User Name)\Appdata and sometimes to \User\All Users\Appdata and each appdata folder has three levels, Local, Locallow, and Remote. I don't know MS's logic in creating those extra folders, XP only had the one folder and it was easy to replace things. Any user who is sufficiently familiar with his system, will know pretty much which Programs put what folders and files where- I do, but it is years of use and looking and remembering.

I have re-installed Programs from The Old folder, but with only a 50% success rate for making them work again, it required moving stuff back to Appdata as well as Program files. Sometimes, they create folders and files in the Windows folder.

Usually the OLD folder exists so that you can retain all of your saved documents and images and music, if you used the conventional storage places for them - God forbid, I DON'T use standard storage areas. But most people do, so that's where all your stuff is.

As far as programs, get all your install disks lined up and ready for mass re-install- Including any program installers saved on your System which should be in "Downloads" in your "Old" folder. I'm a ratp[acker, I save every installer package for ccleaner, flash, java, etc, plus all my IPA and APK installers for iOS and Droid.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Usually, when a Program is installed, it not only installs to Program Files, but it also sends data to \Users\(User Name)\Appdata and sometimes to \User\All Users\Appdata and each appdata folder has three levels, Local, Locallow, and Remote. I don't know MS's logic in creating those extra folders, XP only had the one folder and it was easy to replace things.
Local is the old local settings\application data from XP. Roaming "follows" you when in a domain (so if you log in as Joe on PC1, log off then go to PC2, files from PC1 roaming will be copied to PC2). Local Low is used by programs at Low Integrity. This is a new NTFS permission, which restricts programs a lot : a low integrity application like all metro apps or IE in enhance protected mode can only read most folders, and can write only to a few locations, mainly Local Low. You can even define your own programs as low integrity with icacls (works with firefox ;) ).

Back to the OP, it's really not recommended to just move those programs and expect them to work. Because they not only have various data out of the programs folders (most settings for example are stored in users nowadays) but they also modifiy the registry. It might work when those applications are fairly self contained, basically they are what's called portable, but most of the time it's useless.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 (x64)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Ah that explains why most of my apps get shoved into Local and Roaming. Hardly anything gets put into Locallow.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
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