Multiple installs of Vista, how do i remove old ones?

[charltonfan1]

To cut a long story short, i had loads of problems installing Vista last night and nearly lost all my data, however i think i'm now operational again.

I now have 3 copies of Vista installed on my machine, 2 in the same partition (for some reason it wouldn't write over the 1st copy, instead it moved it to "Windows old" directory) and one in another partition that i want to keep and use.

I have deleted the "Windows old" directory and am going to get rid of the 2nd install but i was unsure whether deleting the windows folder is sufficient?

Hope this makes some sense......

Cheers

 

[Garyj881]

So basically you want to remove the other versions of Vista from the boot menu?

If so, got to SART>RUN type MSCONFIG and press enter, click on the boot ini tab and click "check all boot paths" and if will say that some one or more booth paths seem invalid, do you wish to remove them? click yes.

I think this is what you are talking about.

 

[Uhtred]

The above won't work for vista, you have to use bcdedit (or http://www.vistabootpro.org/) if you prefer a gui

 

[charltonfan1]

The above won't work for vista, you have to use bcdedit (or http://www.vistabootpro.org/) if you prefer a gui

That helped remove them from the boot menu, thanks!

I've tried deleting the "windows" folder for the install i no longer need and it says its protected?

 

[sWiZzLe]

Even in safemode?

 

[charltonfan1]

Even in safemode?

yes just tried safemode and get the same error message

 

[modo77]

Can you right click the windows folder, properties, security, edit and take full control. Then try deleting it?

 

[Final8y]

You need to turn off UAC to delete some system files/folders

 

[charltonfan1]

Can you right click the windows folder, properties, security, edit and take full control. Then try deleting it?

When i try to take full control is says "An error occurred when applying security information to:

D:\Windows

Access is denied

You need to turn off UAC to delete some system files/folders

Done that. Thanks for all your suggestions guys. I'm not sure how i can get any more permissions! im the administrator and only user, perhaps i need to get Bill to do it himself

 

[modo77]

Odd, try Sure Delete

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/downloads/index.cfm?categoryID=1503&itemID=22393

It has 3 ways to try remove files/folders, give them all a go

 

[charltonfan1]

Odd, try Sure Delete

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/downloads/index.cfm?categoryID=1503&itemID=22393

It has 3 ways to try remove files/folders, give them all a go

thanks for your continued help. Gave all 3 a go and each had an error saying:

Run time error '75'
Path/file access error

 

[modo77]

pfft.
Can you delete the folders and files in the windows folder, might just be one file thats stopping it.

But i'm temped to say format it now

 

[charltonfan1]

some files and folders within the windows folder can be removed but the majority cannot.

I've ordered an external drive so ill backup my stuff then wipe that partition and start again.

thanks again

 

[Deleted member 58846]

some files and folders within the windows folder can be removed but the majority cannot.

<SNIP>

thanks again

Best Way!

 

[dirtybeatfreak]

The above won't work for vista, you have to use bcdedit (or http://www.vistabootpro.org/) if you prefer a gui

lovely, i been looking for a tool that does this for ages, thanks a lot!