Win 2K re-install kept old profiles...?

[KuriousJorj]

I reinstalled Win 2K over an old installation...without reformatting... (didn't want to lose files, installed programs, etc.)

(I swapped hard drives, into new system; the "fast repair" wouldn't work; was still getting BSOD)

((Concerning new install: Installed service pack 4, updated everything, including the bios (flashed) using @Bios online...))

Well afterwards, it seemed I did lose those files, as they aren't to be found... And all the old programs, while in their install folders, under "My Computer > C: > program files," (but not under "Start > Programs") all apparently had broken registry entries, and had to be reinstalled before any would run...

Well today, I found that all the data (which was on my old desktop and My Documents) was still under the "old" desktop; the new install kept the old user profile, which included the old desktop, My Documents, etc...!

So now, I have all these installed programs, which need re-installed, all my old data under the (old) user profile...

At long last, here's my question:

Is it okay to "move" all the old data (my documents, other folders) to the newly installed Win 2K desktop and my documents, then delete the old profile?

Wonder if I should run some sort of 'registry cleaner,' also? Or perhaps the recent install "wiped clean" the registry...? (though it still kept some "higher level" data, within the old user profile)?

I'm wondering if this also could be causing other conflicts, for example, my inability to see a newly installed single SATA drive?

Does this make sense?

 

[wolluf]

If you install 2k over itself it will leave non-system data intact, but creates a fresh install - so new \winnt folder and registry (so as you've noticed, apps need reinstalling). You will have a fresh registry (so no need for a cleaner). You can happily copy any of the old data into new profiles and then delete old profiles.

There is another option called repair reinstall (in place upgrade) which will keep settings and installed apps -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;292175&Product=win2000

This shouldn't be causing your SATA problem.

PS. Have you tried having just the SATA drive connected and then booting from win98 boot floppy (

http://www.bootdisk.com

if you need one) - run fdisk and see if it can SEE the drive.

 

[dbMark]

thread779-1020301
If you reinstall without formatting the drive, the installation process will see that Administrator, All Users and Default User profiles already exist, so it will create and activate other profiles named with ".WINDOWS" tacked on the end. This is frustrating in an office environment, where we like to run scripts to install links, for example, for "All Users".

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

And you likely will also need to assert ownership:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421