windows 8 has deleted my windows.old/programfiles ?!!!

Anonymous
2012-12-15T16:28:24+00:00

I was rather annoyed that windows 8, instead of integrating my existing programs and settings, shoved everything including settings in windows.old/ProgramFiles (what was the point of having a tick box that said "keep existing settings" if it didnt and even made my email inaccessible till I downloaded windows live mail again?)

However after hours of fiddling I managed to do a combination of re-install and running programs with tricky settings from the windows.old/program files directory via desktop shortcuts

Over the last few days the short cuts stopped working and I see windows 8 has deleted my windows.old/programfiles directory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its not in my Recycle bin, its not in my AVG virus vault

Any one know where this is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldnt understand why windows 8 had to stuff all my programs out of the way so it would take me hours to make shortcuts...but deleting the whole directory and my settings? Come on, this is rediculous

HELLLLP!!!

Andy

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2013-02-06T18:35:00+00:00

As I understand the process, the Windows 8 upgrade will copy your existing files and settings into \Windows.old, including:

  • PerfLogs
  • Program Files
  • Program Files (x86)
  • Users
  • Windows

It will then create new folders for all of the above, and migrate the files into the new folders. The \Windows.oldfolder is really just there as a part of the upgrade process, but it does act as a temporary backup folder. If you don't need anything from there in the first month, then you're not likely to need anything from there ever (as most / all of it is already in the new folders, and the old folder is likely taking up gigabytes of space).

Now, if you've upgraded from Windows 7, then congrats, everything has been moved to the new folders, including installed programs and drivers.

If you've upgraded from Vista or earlier, then your documents and settings have been migrated, but you're expected to reinstall the programs yourself, and the upgrade makes this clear. If you're foolish enough to create shortcuts into*\Windows.old\Program Files* and hack the registry to point into that folder, then you've dug your own grave.

(I came here through a Reddit link, thought I'd copy my explanation over there to the original thread here.)

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Anonymous
2012-12-16T08:41:05+00:00

Hi ,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community Forum.

From your issue description , I understand that the Windows .old folder is deleted from your Windows 8 computer.

In order to help you better,pease provide us with the following information.

1.When did you install Windows 8 in your computer?

I understand the inconvenience caused you, unfortunately the Widows .old folder will delete automatically after 28 days since Windows was installed.

It will also delete automatically when the Windows drive has less than 10% free space.

I am sorry to let you inform that its not possible to retrieve if the Windows.old folder is deleted from your computer .

Reply with the required information. If you have any further issues, please get back to us and we would be happy to help you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-29T21:47:16+00:00

    Thing is, I 'refreshed' a Windows 10 machine ...yes that is 10 & this issue is still not resolved. I saw the windows.old folder, it was there & i double checked the contents as well to confirm what I required was there - I did NOT back it up as I assumed that I could simply migrate the 'Program Files (x86)' items / 3rd party DB's / data once I had reinstalled the required apps. This included QuickBooks, our Accounting package!!

    Had I been warned I would have done a backup, this was NOT 28 days but less than 1 hour - how can Anyone justify that - how is one possibly supposed to know that data within that folder is rather treated WORSE that Internet Explorer Cache (which at least First gives the warning before deleting) - after installing required applications and rebooting ALL items that were there in that Windows.old folder are miraculously Gone ...just gone - no warning?

    Are you saying that we aught to have simply known this? Where as this Windows.old folder rather speaks to the ability to "roll-back" the OS - if "logic" is what you are prescribing to. Our accountant has now lost a months data, we will have to somehow rebuild this from a paper trail?

    Not impressed

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-08-07T05:06:00+00:00

    copy of my comments at

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_10-security/after-upgrading-to-windows-10-admin-account-is/e7ee05db-3460-4ac7-bcb7-eac8f9c8b14c:

    I also get this problem.  I chose Windows 10 on my other account where I keep all of my work and after the upgrade it only migrated the first account.  In /Users are three account folders, the third Public.  /Users is also in /Windows.old.

    I tried the 8.1 troubleshooter at

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/restore-files-upgrade-windows-old but it didn't work.

    In the control panel I added another account and now there are four folders in /Users.  The description for going back to Windows 7 says it'll only be there for a month.  Shall it delete /Windows.old and all of the files in my other account?!

    If nobody has a better solution, this is what I did:

    Open a window for each account folder.

    Win-R \AppData in each account, or check Hidden items under View and open \AppData.

    For each subfolder in the old account set the owner and all child owners and child permissions to the new account.

    Drag the subfolders at proper levels to the new account folder.

    Drag any extra files to their proper subfolders to the new account folder.

    Skip some duplicate files; replace other duplicate files when default.

    Open \Windows.old and \Windows and their \ProgramData.

    Drag Public art, Wallpaper, and User Account Pictures to proper \Windows subfolders.

    It's pretty awful that Microsoft doesn't explain any of this or warn that all accounts and data aren't migrated.  See http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_8-files/windows-8-has-deleted-my-windowsoldprogramfiles/dbdf75c0-09d9-4992-b8eb-d9fac3efe9b8.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-17T06:08:45+00:00

    WHOAH..... whoa.

    Wait a second. I see that some of this person's post was removed (for a CoC violation) which means that someone who works at Microsoft is ACTUALLY READING THESE. But no, that can't be true.

    I had comforted myself that the reason this EXPLOSIVELY MALIGNANT ISSUE hadn't been addressed is that our little thread was lost somewhere deep in the forums where no one could see it.

    Please, Microsoft, please read this:

    Windows.OLD gets deleted almost immediately.

    People are losing PERSONAL files, not system files.

    It MUST be fixed.

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