Removing Windows

[Farrar]

I have reinstalled Windows 98 several times in hopes of correcting some problems. Now, when I go to root C:\ and right-click on the "Windows" folder I see that it is 775MB big. I assume that this is a backup of the prior configuration{s}. My hard drive is partitoned and I was wondering if I could move the Windows folder to my D partition, reinstall Windows on the C partition, format D to remove the oversized Windows folder, and then move the newly installed Windows to the D partition. My goal is to have Windows on a partion by itself. I have the PowerQuest Magic Mover software which I assume will keep my links intact to the desktop. Does anyone see a problem with this procedure? Is there a better way? I know I am probably going the long way around on this so I thought I would ask first.

Thannk You,
Jeff Farrar

[RedBeard]

I'm not sure of what your trying to do! But I hope that maybe some of this input imformation will help you! By Reinstalling, windows, you have only writen over what was already there! It there was something missing, then it would have been added.

I just checked my window file on this computer and I have 1.15GiG's in the size of the folder. The size just depends on what all the programs that are on your system. If your haveing a problem you should try to resolve that problem, reinstalling windows might possibly creat more problems.

If your haveing to instal additional componets of windows you should use the ADD/REMOVE program, in there you can click the windows tab and it will search your system for installed componets.

Also if your haveing a problem with windows then try to go to the SYSTEM IMFORMATION, click on the TOOLS TAB, scroll to SYSTEM FILE CHECKER, and run that! If there is a corrupted file, or missing file, or a lost file this little tool will correct the problem, (if prompted for a file correction you'll have to then put the windows cd in your cd rom, enless you have it copied to your hard drive).

I hope this has helped you! Have a Nice day!

[Jvaguy]

im not sure eather but if your doing like i do (but with 3 os's) I use system commander 2000. I have mandrake linux 7 dlx on drive C: (4 gigs), D: Windows 2000 (20 gigs), and E: Windows me (6 gigs), I have a 30 gig drive and partitioned it and then uses system commander 2000 to set each on up and it gives me a boot prompt for which ever I use (i also suggest you make a backup of all this ... cause if you dont know what your doing itll be your biggest mess you ever saw

[stevet]

It's not a good idea to move the windows directory. This can cause all kinds of headaches. I believe that Magic Mover is probably designed for moving applications, not entire operating systems.

If you want a clean installation of Windows on d:, simply go through the installation of Windows and specify d:\windows as the installation directory when prompted.

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Steve Taylor - Service Manager
Altoplanos Information Systems, Inc. (http://www.altoplanos.net)
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

[Farrar]

Thanks to everyone for the help with my novice question. In regards to the quote below, after making the clean installation of Windows on drive D, can I safely delete/remove the Windows folder on drive C:/ where it and all my programs currently reside?

Thnaks for all the help and this is the last question on this topic-I promise.

Jeff


Originally posted by stevet:
It's not a good idea to move the windows directory. This can cause all kinds of headaches. I believe that Magic Mover is probably designed for moving applications, not entire operating systems.

If you want a clean installation of Windows on d:, simply go through the installation of Windows and specify d:\windows as the installation directory when prompted.

[shawnMt]

Hi farrar, the short answer to your question is no.

It works like this: You install a program, a game for example and the installer places random.dll in your windows\system folder. This dll is required for the game to run. If you delete the Windows folder, then you del random.dll also. You dbl click game.exe to start the game, and game.exe points to c:\windows\system\random.dll - see the error message coming?

The installer for the game also makes modifications to your sytem.dat file that are required for the game to run. System.dat and User.dat are the 2 files that make up your registry, and are stored within the Windows dir.

So if your delete the Windows dir and reload it from the CD or CABS you are just putting the default (no programs) load of the OS back on. Make sense?

So, you CAN safely delete the Windows dir but if you do then most Windows based progams will have to be reinstalled. Also don't forget your mail and address book (OE) that are both stored within Windows.

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--Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted.

[GDLondon]

Don't forget you'll also lose anything stored on your desktop and any non-standard fonts if you delete c:\windows