Forums mIRC Help Update / Custom install issues

I will try explaining this to the best of my ability.
First some PC info ... HP Compaq 6200 with Win 7 Pro upgraded to Win 10 Pro. Security updates, etc. are up to date. Any other info will be provided on request.
I recently tried updating from 7.58 to 7.83. I could get it to install BUT ... during install the "Destination folder" defaulted to the 7.58 version folder, which I have now been told is correct.
BUT, her comes my problems ... I've previously been told mIRC needs to be installed in the root (C:\) directory so, I named a new folder (Realm2026) and re-directed the install to THAT folder. It installed to that folder and after choosing the network, I was able to connect but, none of my settings were there. so, I proceeded to adding channels (rooms) manually and drudging through other settings to make it look like the old version.
It was at this time I was told by another experienced user on that network that I should have left it install to the recommended directory and that I should do so WITHOUT deleting the previous install and to make a Zipped backup of 7.58 version, which I did. It installed to the desktop.
I then tried to reinstall the7.83 script, which defaulted to C:\Realm2020\Realm2026\mIRC ... Realm2020 being the version7.58 script folder.
Now, defaulting to that destination, all it did was add a folder labeled Realm2026, which had the mIRC folder in it. There are several other folders along with the realm2026 folder that are NOT in the mIRC 7.83 folder.
My question to start with is this ... Is there an easy way to add all the old settings to the new version? What should and shouldn't I delete? If I need to do so, how can I get rid of the Realm2026 folder label? I would like to name the new Script Realm2026 but, don't want to cause issues doing so.
I am open to all suggestions concerning this.

TIA
Rich Kelly

There are two install types:

old : everything is installed in the same directory, your main setting file (mirc.ini) will be in the same directory as mirc.exe

new : mirc.exe is installed into the install directory you specify, but your setting/data are stored into the appropriate folder for the OS, which is the 'appdata' folder.

You can force an old install type by having a mirc.ini file in the install folder, which I don't believe is how you installed.

If your 7.58 was a 'new' install type, which I believe is the case, then your setting were stored in the appdata folder.
When you did the install of 7.83 in the new directory, a 'new' install type, it may have overwritten the file in the appdata, I'm not sure about that.

Inside mirc, you can type into the editbox //echo -ag $mircexe -- $mircini and if they point to the same directory, you have an old install, otherwise a new (it's possible to have a different directory and still have an old install but this is quite custom and unlikely to be your case). That's for identifying the type of install you have.

After identifying the type of install, you can search for a file "mirc.ini" from C:\ and it should find only one or two files, assuming you haven't installed mIRC other than that. If you find one and open that file, you will be able to tell it's your old mirc.ini file because it will have a lot of data compared to a new file from a fresh install, even if you added/edited back the option on the new install.

If you can find your old mirc.ini file with the above method, then check the folder in which that file is located.
Unfortunately I have the feeling you won't find your old setting (you did not state if you can get your old setting by running the 7.58 mirc.exe), but if you do, you can post a reply here and we can help further.

mIRC does not need to be installed in C:\, it can be installed anywhere you can read and write to. Newer version of windows ensure that program can write to their setting files by placing them in that 'appdata' folder while files which don't require modification (.exe and some others) are placed in the 'destination' folder, which is why mIRC followed this recommendation with the new install type, while letting you have everything in the same place if you want that, with the old install type.