I query changed the particle effect fields to use the classic equivalent of spells... so *not* deleting those files will give you particles that come from your hands.
If you remove them, you get the "after cast" spell effects. If you leave 'spellsnew.edd and spellsnew.eff' intact, but use our spells_us.txt file, they should appear like mine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgwt-N88Z78
Now, this doesn't look exactly classic, because the spell effects themselves aren't affected by gravity. They simply rise up out of the hands. I'm also not sure if this appropriately provides the proper red/green/blue additions to spells over time.
Hope this helps.