I wish that were true and that you were correct instead of mistaken.
Unfortunately, I *did* select "Custom" (clean) install when setup started.
I just tested again, selecting "Custom" install.
I just got a dialogue which states, in very clear terms :
<quote>
The partition you have selected might contain files from a previous Windows installation.
If it does, these files and folders will be moved to a folder named windows.old.
You will be able to access the information in Windows.old, but you will not
be able to use your previous version of Windows.
<quote>
So much for your impression that a "clean" install to a partition
which houses a previous version of Windows will not get saddled
with the windows.old directory which, to boot, is unerasable.
During the Beta period, I tested reinstalls to already-installed partitions.
There was no problem deleting the windows.old directory then.
I will be filing a bug at Connect's Windows 7 Beta
feedback program regarding this permissions problem.
In any case, I'm trying to fix the permissions problem, given that I've found no way to delete windows.old.
Any ideas about how to go about that ?