Solved I have Windows.old but no 'go back' under Recovery

kelper said:

I want to go back to my previous installation of Windows 11. I have a folder called Windows.old, but there is no option under Settings..Recovery for 'Go Back'
How do I use the folder to revert to an older system. I only installed a new image today.

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I just clicked Reset after I had some issues with the WIN11 upgrade. But I reset WIN11 that I already had, I switched from WIN10 a year ago. I didn't fix any issues I'm currently having but it is not bothersome enough to wipe out the machine and reinstall as new. Are you wanting to reinstall WIN11 over current WIN11 or go back to WIN10? Do you have a Microsoft 365 Subscription? Contact Support over Chat and they may remote to you and assist.

It's moot now as I have reinstalled Windows 11 from a backup.

kelper said:

I want to go back to my previous installation of Windows 11. I have a folder called Windows.old, but there is no option under Settings..Recovery for 'Go Back'
How do I use the folder to revert to an older system. I only installed a new image today.

Click to expand...

On the very few times I tried to use the Windows.old to rollback, it never worked. my backup images have been the nost reliable way for me to roll back.

kelper said:

I had used a Win 11 iso to create a bootable USB which I used to do a clean install of Win 11. The Windows.old folder was created today. I need to roll back. There must be a way. I know how to delete it with Disk Clean-up but that is not what I want to do!

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Can be done in a couple of minutes:

boot into a decent winpe. It can be done with cmds but it is easier if it has explorer.

create a folder on the os partition called newwindows or anything you like.

move the windows namespace folders from the root of the os partition into the newwindows folder.

move the windows namespace folders from the windows.old folder to the root of the os partition.

thats it.

windows namespace folders;
programdata
program files
program files (x86)
users
windows

I usually move perflogs folder as well and Recovery folder if it is on the os partition.
Documents and Settings link can stay where it is.

It is obvious because when you install without formatting it tells you it is moving stuff into the windows.old folder

It's does not matter now as I used a Macrium Reflect backup. Thanks any way.