Windows 7 install question

xJACKTHERIPPERx

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Aug 31, 2009
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i just installed windows 7, and i thought i did a clean install, but it seems i did something people refer to as a migration, where i didnt actually reformat my computer. i have the windows.old folder, so does this mean i should install again and delete the partition and create a new one this time or something?

**also i couldnt get my computer to boot from my disc drive even though i changed the boot order in my BIOS settings
 

Jonmor68

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You did a clean install, Windows puts the previous instalation into the Windows.old folder. If you have all your data files backed up and restored to the new instalation you can delete this folder if there is nothing in it you need.
There is no need to reinstall, there are no legacy files left behind in the new instalation, everything that was there is in that Windows.old folder and will be gone when you delete it.

"**also i couldnt get my computer to boot from my disc drive even though i changed the boot order in my BIOS settings"
Are you saying that you couldn't boot with the Windows 7 dvd after making the cd/dvd drive the first boot device in bios? Did you save the new settings before exiting bios?
 
The presence of windows.old indicates to me that you did an upgrade install, not a clean install.

Are you using a retail copy, an upgrade copy, or a oem copy?

The dvd's will be exactly the same, but the product codes will be different, the differences showing up at activation time.

If you do not need to save anything on the drive from a previous os, then a format and clean install is recommended. That is mostly to insure that the registry is clean with no old garbage.

If you have an upgrade package, you need a two step process to do a clean install.
You install windows-7 from the cd, but do not initially enter the product code or activate.
After it installs, you have a fully functional OS for 30 days.
Step 2 is to insert the dvd again, while running Windows and then do an upgrade.
This time, enter your product code, and activate.
After activation. you may delete the initial version which is named windows.old.
 

xJACKTHERIPPERx

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"**also i couldnt get my computer to boot from my disc drive even though i changed the boot order in my BIOS settings"
Are you saying that you couldn't boot with the Windows 7 dvd after making the cd/dvd drive the first boot device in bios? Did you save the new settings before exiting bios?
ya, i saved and exited with the cd/dvd drive in the #1 spot for boot sequence and it never prompts me to press any key to boot from disc
 
An IDE drive will have wide ribbon cable type attachments. As I recall, there can be two IDE devices attached to the same cable, one master, and one slave. Only the master can be booted from. You should be able to boot from any type of windows-7 dvd. Do you have any other bootable cd that you can try? Perhaps memtest86+?

 

xJACKTHERIPPERx

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no, no other discs to try. so should i open up my comp and try switching the cables if there are 2 of them?
*edit
i guess mined SATA cause i dont see a ribbon cable commin from the optical drive, just a single red one, and a bundle of a few diff colors
 
It would appear that you have a working sata dvd drive.

Go into the bios again, and check line by line, looking for anything that might exclude your dvd from being bootable or lower on the list than the hard drive.

To test, you might disconnect the hard drive and see what happens. Just unplug the sata lead or the power lead temporarily.
 

JessicaD

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xJacktheripperx,

What type of Windows 7 license did you purchase -- full or upgrade? If you purchased an upgrade license you will need to have a prior qualifying version of Windows XP or Windows Vista previously installed in order to validate the product key. In this case if you perform a custom installation you will have "migrated" yet performed a "clean" installation simultaneously. This type of migration will also bring your data over from your previous OS -- be it Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Should you require additional assistance Microsoft does have an official Windows 7 Support Forum located here http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/w7itpro/ . It is supported by product specialists as well as engineers and support teams.

Jessica
Microsoft Windows Client Team