Duplicate files due to reinstalls of W2K

[debedits]

I recently had W2K reinstalled twice (system crash, then
system lockout) by a friend (systems guy), then a tech
service. Both saved all previous files, the first by
partitioning my c: & creating an e:. The second didn't
partition but saved the e: and the previous c: as
subfolders a couple of layers down in my new c:. So the
end result is 2 or 3 copies of many files, including,
apparently, sp4 files from a download prior to the crashes
(I couldn't remember if I had installed it, but it appears
that I had. However, the Windows Update page tells me I
need to install SP4--I assume because the files are not in
the primary active.)

Questions: 1. Apart from the SP4 install issue, I want to
clean this all up. To get my printers installed, I had to
direct the Wizard to search one of the subfolders to find
the drives. What's the best way to ID and copy necessary
files into the new c:? Generally, I have no idea what
files should be moved or what they are associated with
(unless they're clearly from downloaded software).

2. Re doing another SP4 installation, before starting it,
how do I get rid of files from the previous installation?
Do I have to -- and is it possible to -- uninstall SP4
even though it isn't being recognized as there? Or do I
just include them when I eventually delete all the
duplicate files in the subfolders?

Related Q: Any problem with what I did to install my
printers? Do I need to find those driver files and move
them up into c: proper?

I apologize for the lengthy questions -- thanks for any
help you can provide.
..

 

[Leonard Severt [MSFT]]

I recently had W2K reinstalled twice (system crash, then
system lockout) by a friend (systems guy), then a tech
service. Both saved all previous files, the first by
partitioning my c: & creating an e:. The second didn't
partition but saved the e: and the previous c: as
subfolders a couple of layers down in my new c:. So the
end result is 2 or 3 copies of many files, including,
apparently, sp4 files from a download prior to the crashes
(I couldn't remember if I had installed it, but it appears
that I had. However, the Windows Update page tells me I
need to install SP4--I assume because the files are not in
the primary active.)

Questions: 1. Apart from the SP4 install issue, I want to
clean this all up. To get my printers installed, I had to
direct the Wizard to search one of the subfolders to find
the drives. What's the best way to ID and copy necessary
files into the new c:? Generally, I have no idea what
files should be moved or what they are associated with
(unless they're clearly from downloaded software).

2. Re doing another SP4 installation, before starting it,
how do I get rid of files from the previous installation?
Do I have to -- and is it possible to -- uninstall SP4
even though it isn't being recognized as there? Or do I
just include them when I eventually delete all the
duplicate files in the subfolders?

Related Q: Any problem with what I did to install my
printers? Do I need to find those driver files and move
them up into c: proper?

I apologize for the lengthy questions -- thanks for any
help you can provide.
.

The current Windows 2000 install doesn't know anything about the other 2
installs so you will have to reinstall everything including SP4 and post
SP4 hotfixes. It is a new install from a Windows standpoint. There
shouldn't be any problem with how you installed the printers, you just
had it look to the other directory to copy the files from. Lets look at
want you need to do with the 3 main directories from other installs.

Windows - Generally doesn't contain any user specific or program
specific data and can be deleted.

Program Files - Contains previous installed programs and possibly some
data. You can copy some individual application directories from here but
you will still need to reinstall the associated programs.

Documents and Settings - This contains most user data including My
Documents, Internet Shortcuts, Mail and any files that were on your
Desktop. You need to go through all directories and copy data before
deleting.

I hope this helps

Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team

 

[debedits]

It helps a lot--thaks! One other question: I've located
the file with my old email (Outlook Exp) but can't figure
out how to retrieve it. I can't seem to import "messages"
because OE asks me what mail program I want to use and
both old and current are OE. And I can't just bring in the
previous version because I have message I need in the new
version as well. Is there another way to get them back
into my current OE? Thanx.

 

[Leonard Severt [MSFT]]

It helps a lot--thaks! One other question: I've located
the file with my old email (Outlook Exp) but can't figure
out how to retrieve it. I can't seem to import "messages"
because OE asks me what mail program I want to use and
both old and current are OE. And I can't just bring in the
previous version because I have message I need in the new
version as well. Is there another way to get them back
into my current OE? Thanx.

You answer Outlook Express 6 when choosing what to import from in Outlook
Express. Then browse to the location of the old messages and select one of
the files you want to import. There is also another way. In Outlook Express
the folders in your mail stores are individual files. You can also just
copy the file from one directory to another. For example rename the
Inbox.dbx file in your old messages to Oldinbox.dbx and copy it to your new
message directory. Then when you run Outlook Express you will have a folder
called Oldinbox.

Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team