Reinstall Windows Vista without Reformatting

[CPressland]

Hey guys,

On Mac OS X I can reinstall the operating system without reformatting the hard drive just by using an "Archive and Install" method, obviously, Windows lacks this functionality.

I need the files on my hard drive and dont want to reformat as at current I dont have enough space on my server to move everything over, not to mention it's a royal pain to move everything back after.

I was thinking I could boot into Ubuntu Linux and just delete the Program Files and Windows folders and just rename the Users folder to Users_old for example. Reinstall Windows then move everything from the old User folder into the new one. For example my Downloads and iTunes folders.

What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance

Asphyxia8489

[Felix_]

Could do a roll back (systems restore) back to original settings?

[gigapixels Veteran]

If you have enough free space I would suggest partitioning your HDD to have a data partition, separate from the Windows partition. Move everything over then and reformat only the Windows partition. The built-in Vista disk manager allows you to shrink current partitions IIRC.

I would recommend this scheme going forward as well. It saves you from a hassle like this in the future ;)

Of course, if you don't have enough free space, I believe the Vista installer will simply re-install over a current installation. It won't even delete any files; it just renames the current Windows folder to Windows.OLD.

[_tux_]

Vista doesn't lack this functionality.

boot from the dvd and do a custom install

select the hard drive where vista is already located and click next

you will then see a message saying that the installer will move the windows installation into a windows.old folder

proceed as normal :)

[edit]

by windows installation, i mean the folders: users, windows, program files, program files (x86)

[CPressland]

Could do a roll back (systems restore) back to original settings?

My original install was a rushed one with multiple errors and random errors, after a few recent bluescreens I've decided to do a complete reinstall of Windows to make sure I know everything is in tip top condition.

During the Install I even had BlueScreens because of ASUS and their crappy BIOS support. So now that I finally have all the hardware running well I just want to do a clean install with the most recent drivers and such.

It's a very long boring story, but this is the logical step for me.

Vista doesn't lack this functionality.

boot from the dvd and do a custom install

select the hard drive where vista is already located and click next

you will then see a message saying that the installer will move the windows installation into a windows.old folder

proceed as normal :)

Really? What of the old User and Program Files Directories?

[Stetson]

A "Windows.old" directory is created with the old files, I believe its just the Users and Program Files folders. Most programs you'll have to reinstall anyways for proper functionality, but anything in your User folder should be safe.

[mancode20]

I have a similar question. If I install Vista ontop of XP Media Center, can I use system restore to go back and revert to XP if I don't like Vista? If not, is there an easy way to go back if you want to? Without having to partition and dual boot Windows.

[sharp65]

My original install was a rushed one with multiple errors and random errors, after a few recent bluescreens I've decided to do a complete reinstall of Windows to make sure I know everything is in tip top condition.

During the Install I even had BlueScreens because of ASUS and their crappy BIOS support. So now that I finally have all the hardware running well I just want to do a clean install with the most recent drivers and such.

It's a very long boring story, but this is the logical step for me.

Really? What of the old User and Program Files Directories?

Everything is moved into the windows.old folder so you can recover anything that you need once windows finishes installing again. Once you have recovered everything that you need you can run disk cleanup to get rid of the windows.old folder.

[CPressland]

Yeah, But I want to delete the Program Files folder as I dont want any software I installed originally to still be lying around, Temp files and such.

[_tux_]

Really? What of the old User and Program Files Directories?

looks like i edited my post as you replied to that.

it will move: users, windows, program files, program files (x86)

[sharp65]

Yes the files will still be in the windows.old folder but they can be easily removed.

[CPressland]

looks like i edited my post as you replied to that.

it will move: users, windows, program files, program files (x86)

Really? Oh KICK ASS! :)

This is going to save a fair old bit of work. If you're wrong I'm going to come after you with a blunt object ;) lol, jokes.

I'll wait for someone else to confirm before proceeding but thanks so far dude :)

[CPressland]

Update: That done the Job and saved me a fair old amount of time, thanks everyone :)

[sharp65]

I had to do it last year and it was a life saver. It would have been a real pain to dig through the app data and backup all my config files for several of my programs. Glad it worked out.