After Windows XP Home reinstall: unexpected residual data....

[D.L.]

This was a two year old install of Windows XP Home on a homebuilt
machine. XP performance had started to drop, and eventually was
unacceptable during routine activities such as copy/paste, drag/drop,
clearing recently viewed files, etc.

All of my user data was backed up to an external hard drive, and I
selected an install with formatting. I was prepared for --and expected--
all of my previous user data/application information and other
environmental variables to be gone after the XP reinstall.

The reinstall went fine, performance is excellent, new user profiles
were created and all of my applications were reloaded.

But:
There was a large portion of my hard drive space that contained residual
data from my previous install. I have mostly been able to delete these
manually. This has reclaimed most of the disk space.

Under My Computer, only the Users created after the reinstall appear.

Under the path C:\Documents and Settings\ there are residudal
directories from the originial install\user profiles. The created date
is the two year old date of the orginal install.

One of these profiles has been persistent: any attempt to delete it is
rejected. The error message is related to "ARPPRODUCTICON.exe" file in
use/write protected. I know this is related to the add/remove programs
function, but not sure why this profle is the only one it affected.

Bottom line:
-The new install is running great with the new user profiles, and most
of my disk space is reclaimed, so the resdidual data/user information is
mostly an annoyance.

Two questions:

-Did I select an incorrect option at some point early in the XP
reinstall that resulted in the hard drive contents and previous intsall
not being complelty wiped?

-Is there anyway to complete the removal of the residual data from the
original install (or is it even with the effort since the new install is
running fine) ??

Thanks

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi DL,

-Did I select an incorrect option at some point early in the XP reinstall
that resulted in the hard drive contents and previous intsall not being
complelty wiped?

Yes, the only way to reliably do this is to remove the existing system
partition during the initial stages of setup, then create a new one from the
free space. Only then should you format and proceed with installation. Not
doing so leaves directories and files intact, only the system's immediate
folders are overwritten with new ones.

-Is there anyway to complete the removal of the residual data from the
original install (or is it even with the effort since the new install is
running fine) ??

Try doing it in Safe mode. How to start in Safe mode:
http://www.rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Safe mode

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[D.L.]

Hi DL,




Yes, the only way to reliably do this is to remove the existing system
partition during the initial stages of setup, then create a new one from the
free space. Only then should you format and proceed with installation. Not
doing so leaves directories and files intact, only the system's immediate
folders are overwritten with new ones.




Try doing it in Safe mode. How to start in Safe mode:
http://www.rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Safe mode

Thanks. Even in safe mode, I still bumped up against the
"ARPPRODUCTICON.exe" isuse when trying to delete the legacy directories.

I thought I had selected the appropriate option for removal/formatting
during the reinstall. Given that the "new" user profiles are present
only if I explore throught the C drive, that the OS is snappy and smart
again, and that the impacts on disk space from what I wasn't able to
delete are minimal...I'll let it ride. And when it comes time for the
next reinstall...it will clearly be time for Longhorn and a shiny new
hard disk