I previously had a problem on my Gateway Laptop Computer - Gateway Core2
Duo Centrino, that came pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium,
which I could not fix. I had to do a System Recovery using the on-screen
program and did not back up any of my files, in attempt to clear out
everything that I had on the computer. After I completed this process, I
set up my desktop and internet, and started over. When reviewing my Hard
Disk Drives on my "Computer" menu, I notice that my
C: Drive is almost all the way full (8.55 GB free of 139 GB).
Although I downloaded a few programs and set up my Internet Security, I
am sure I did not install anything large enough to use up almost all of
the computers storage space for programs and files. By doing the System
Recovery I thought that it would erase everything so that my computer
would be back to it's factory condition. Could my previous files still
be in the computer? After searching this forum, I did not find any
information on the specific question that convinsed me of the soultion,
or a course of action. Can anyone help me?

I created a restore point and went into the System Tools menu and
attempted the disk cleanup on the recovery drive C: where Windows Vista
is stored and then cleaned up the up the Shadow Copies, and nothing
helped. I went through many windows folders and found nothing that would
amount to the vast amount of space that is apparently taken up.


--
sylviafrb

Hi,

Set folder options/view tab to see hidden and system files. Specifically,
uncheck "hide protected operating system files/folders" and check the box to
show hidden files. You will find this applet in the Control Panel or under
Tools in Windows Explorer.

Once set, open explorer to the C:\ drive and see if there is a windows.old
folder. If so, this will contain the remnants of the former installation.
You can recover any files from it, then delete it to regain space.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"sylviafrb" wrote in message
...

I previously had a problem on my Gateway Laptop Computer - Gateway Core2
Duo Centrino, that came pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium,
which I could not fix. I had to do a System Recovery using the on-screen
program and did not back up any of my files, in attempt to clear out
everything that I had on the computer. After I completed this process, I
set up my desktop and internet, and started over. When reviewing my Hard
Disk Drives on my "Computer" menu, I notice that my
C: Drive is almost all the way full (8.55 GB free of 139 GB).
Although I downloaded a few programs and set up my Internet Security, I
am sure I did not install anything large enough to use up almost all of
the computers storage space for programs and files. By doing the System
Recovery I thought that it would erase everything so that my computer
would be back to it's factory condition. Could my previous files still
be in the computer? After searching this forum, I did not find any
information on the specific question that convinsed me of the soultion,
or a course of action. Can anyone help me?

I created a restore point and went into the System Tools menu and
attempted the disk cleanup on the recovery drive C: where Windows Vista
is stored and then cleaned up the up the Shadow Copies, and nothing
helped. I went through many windows folders and found nothing that would
amount to the vast amount of space that is apparently taken up.


--
sylviafrb

Thank you. I followed your instructions to view hidden files and
unchecked the box that said "hide protected operating system
files/folders". I immediatley recieved a message that said "Windows
Explorer has stopped working" - one of the many Windows error messages I
had recieved before doing the system recovery. I looked in the windows
folder in C: drive but did not see windows.old . I also searched for
this file and did not find it. I then went back to the control pannel
and reset the hidden files as they were. Any ideas?


--
sylviafrb

Hi,

It wouldn't be in the Windows folder, it would sit on the root all by
itself.

f you are receiving an explorer error on a new installation, you might want
to first check whatever software you've installed, or possibly run a memory
check.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"sylviafrb" wrote in message
...

Thank you. I followed your instructions to view hidden files and
unchecked the box that said "hide protected operating system
files/folders". I immediatley recieved a message that said "Windows
Explorer has stopped working" - one of the many Windows error messages I
had recieved before doing the system recovery. I looked in the windows
folder in C: drive but did not see windows.old . I also searched for
this file and did not find it. I then went back to the control pannel
and reset the hidden files as they were. Any ideas?


--
sylviafrb

I Want To Erase Everything In My Computer And Restart Like New. I Don't
Want To Save Anything That's In My Computer Now. I'm New At Computers So
I've Made Alot Of Mistakes Installing Programs And Now I Don't
Understand My Computer It Was Alot Simpler When I Got It With The Basic
Stuff.


--
nicmarie

On Tue, 27 May 2008 12:27:41 -0500, nicmarie
wrote:


I Want To Erase Everything In My Computer And Restart Like New. I Don't
Want To Save Anything That's In My Computer Now. I'm New At Computers So
I've Made Alot Of Mistakes Installing Programs And Now I Don't
Understand My Computer It Was Alot Simpler When I Got It With The Basic
Stuff.

Do you have any diskcs? Like a Windows installation disc? Or a
system restore disc?

There is no need to capitalize every word.

I don't have anything. All I have is the operating sysytem disc that
came with the computer when I first got it. :cry:


--
nicmarie