chaos

I kind of really need your help here.

I installed wordpress locally (xampp) in a separate directory from my site proper.
Then I decided to uninstall so i could re-install in a subdirectory of my site( i want the blog to follow a link from my static homepage)

I tried to uninstall by destroying the database and manually deleting my wordpress files.

On re-install I kept getting the message ‘wordpress already installed’

So i restored the deleted files and typed in the URL again, and this time the log-in panel opened – and gave me a new password, after asking me to type in the blog name. (like a new install)

When i got in i found out that my old settings ( downloaded themes, skins)
are still there.

Now, though, my K2 css folder ( the one i wrote myself in wp/themes/k2 )
has no effect on the blog. It appears in the default K2 skin.

Is this a new install? Or not? Can i salvage it? Or do i need to uninstall and start from scratch.

Like i said its a local install for developing. but i need it.

Help much appreciated.

thanks.