|
Post by millwall on Oct 22, 2009 14:57:47 GMT
I just brought Windows 7 upgrade and noticed my hard drive which was 224GB is now only 124GB - where did the rest go? I done a clean install, so all my Vista stuff should have gone but I think still on the computer somewhere.
|
|
|
Post by millwall on Oct 22, 2009 15:04:37 GMT
ops I found it "Windows.old" but it's only 60gb - how do I do a fresh instail to maxmise my hard drive (get rid of Vista) ?
|
|
|
Post by ken on Oct 22, 2009 17:33:21 GMT
I expect it will work like the old upgrades and it would be worth a try. Format the drive to NTFS, using an XP disk if you haven't got any other way of formatting. Then put in the Win7 upgrade disk; it should then ask you to put in your Vista disk to confirm that you are upgrading, somewhere at the start of the installation. Thats how it worked before and you have nothing to lose. If it fails, you will just have to install Vista and upgrade it straight away. At least you wouldnt have as much crap on there, like you have now.
I'm pretty sure you cant use a Win7 disk to format a drive from bootup, I dont know if a Vista disk will. Any disk before Windows 2K, wont format to NTFS. Although you could use a W98 disk and just delete the contents of the drive. Then Win7 will have to format it for itself.
|
|
|
Post by computing50yrs on Oct 23, 2009 8:50:36 GMT
As far as I am aware there is no separate Win 7 Upgrade DVD its the same one for a clean install after XP or to upgrade from Vista.
At some point during install you are asked if you wish to reformat the C: drive or keep the files. if you don't reformat This is when the old vista system is archived into the old.windows folder. This happens if you reinstall Vista onto an old Vista drive and you don'r reformat.
|
|
|
Post by mikkh on Oct 23, 2009 10:35:52 GMT
Delete 'windows.old' is the simplest way surely - once you've checked there's nothing in there you might want to keep that is.
Vista was 10 GB+ so '7' is no doubt bigger and if you've got 4 GB of RAM another 10 GB+ will be lost to virtual memory and hibernation files.
Once windows.old is gone, it will be taking the same amount of room as a clean install would - don't forget to empty the recycle bin though.
In other words, you've got to live with the fact that your new OS will be taking 30-40 GB of HD space
|
|
|
Post by millwall on Oct 24, 2009 4:39:30 GMT
Update: I reinstalled WN 7 and removed all partitions except one but hit a snag (well a big one) I corrupted the hard drive so I had to use a 2nd computer and format the hard drive, I put the hard drive back into my laptop and put my recovery disk in and bingo the disk worked and then had a brain-wave, just before it was going to install Vista, I shut the computer down and put the WN 7 disk in and it installed on my computer ;D But I think I've hit a snag, when I went to put my activation key in it said it was not valid, I think I need to install Vista and then Windows 7 and then the activation might work (but I've not got any pop ups asking me to " activate Windows" YET) So far I've had no problems with Windows 7 (drivers for programs) and the Windows updates were very small compared to Vista (110mb) As you can see my hard drive space is back (was 124GB off 226GB) but recovered 60GB by removing "Windows Old" when it went upto 184GB 0ff 226GB and now it is (without Vista and recovery drive) 219 off 232GB. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by millwall on Oct 25, 2009 5:28:10 GMT
Update: When I came to activate my windows it gave me this but after a look around the internet, I've managed to do this So at the moment the only operating system on this computer is Windows 7 upgrade (without the back up off full Vista) Lets see how long before Microsoft send me a message Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by mikkh on Oct 25, 2009 9:36:41 GMT
|
|
|
Post by millwall on Oct 25, 2009 12:20:42 GMT
Sorry mikkh, how I done it would not be allowed to be posted on here.
|
|
|
Post by mikkh on Oct 25, 2009 14:38:59 GMT
The force is strong in this one
Say no more guvnor, a nod's as good as a wink to a blind man
|
|
|
Post by ken on Oct 25, 2009 14:41:14 GMT
If you bought Win7 legally and in good faith, it should have activated without cracking it. As you have cracked it, I would turn the updater off, or it wont be long before they nail your arse.
|
|
|
Post by millwall on Oct 25, 2009 16:57:33 GMT
That the thing Ken I'm not too sure, if I reinstall Vista and then Windows 7 activation should still work (it because I left out Vista it did not work) But another update: I've taken it a step further , I've now got a copy off Windows Ultimate and it also activated But I got Windows Ultimate by clicking Windows Anytime Upgrade and inserting another activation key and waited 10min, computer restarted and bingo, there was Windows Ultimate Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by millwall on Oct 25, 2009 17:02:50 GMT
But I think I'll get beaten when they Blacklist the activation keys I used and then I'll to go back to the beginning and install Vista and then Windows 7 upgrade.
|
|
|
Post by Pete on Oct 26, 2009 14:07:40 GMT
They don't make it easy (Microsoft), do they. Surely if they want us to upgrade, it should be made, less of a problem.
Pete.
|
|
|
Post by ken on Oct 27, 2009 16:56:36 GMT
I think Microsoft are too paranoid. Over 90% of machines sold are pre-installed. Probably most of the people who are using dodgy copies of XP, the machines are too old to install Win7 on anyway. The people who are building Hot-rods; are not going to be too worried about 120 quid for an OS, if they have just spend 4 grand on a top line gamer. Piracy might be a big thing in entertainment and even to a lesser degree in software, but I don't think its a big thing in operating systems now. XP piracy was quite a big thing, but I think hardware requirements have eliminated most of it. If someone cant afford a system, they sure as hell cant afford a computer to run it.
|
|