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Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,950
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Computer OS reinstallation question.
You computer experts, I have a question. What is the most efficient way to do a clean re-installation on my computer? I have done these several times before, but it always turns into a long ordeal, searching for driver, reinstalling separate programs, and other issues. The computer I am intending on doing this is connected to a 250gb external hardrive that I have a biweekly entire backup using the maxtors backup and restore points. Could I just format the drive, load the maxtor software, choose the newest restore point and be done? Would this also restore some of the problems I am trying to remove? The computer is running basically fine, aside from several annoying issues. It also has thousands of digital pics and over 40gb's of itune songs. What about just coping the entire C drive over to the external and then just selecting back what you would need. How would (or did) you do it. Many Thanks.
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07-11-2007, 07:12 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
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Do you have the factory "reinstall" CD that came with it?
If you copy the entire "C" drive over you will end up with a lot of crap and a fuller USB drive. Put your data into a directory called "saved files" or the like and then copy it to the external drive. What I do is to partition the drive when new (partition magic works well for this if its not blank) and make a "C" and "D" drive partitions. All the data (photos, letters and so on) go on the "D" drive. That way when needed I can put the factory reinstall disk in the drive and have it format "C" and put everything back stock. I then get to reload the additional programs then am done. As well none of my data has been disturbed on the "D" drive. With my newest laptop I made the hard drive as I wanted it, then made a mirror image of it on a drive that was 120 gig, double the factor size. Then put the mirror'ed drive in the laptop and the original drive sits in my safe. When I have an issue I pull the original drive out, format the 120 gig drive and mirror the drives. That way I do not have to re-install the additional programs and such. Completes in about an hour and am ready to go in two hours, instead of taking most of a day loading crap. BTW, none of this takes the place of making backups. Do this every week or so. Its not fun to lose data...
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07-11-2007, 07:31 AM
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Herrin Ill USA
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The way I always do it, is to move all the files I want to save to the secondary hard drive (emails, my documents, program info, etc.). Then download all the newest drivers for my hardware, and SAVE (not run it's current location when prompted) them to the secondary hard drive.
Re- install the OS (you can even slipstream SP2, and all the relevant updates into the install, but that's a whole 'nother thread), and load all the drivers you saved from step 1, starting with the video card. Then transfer all of the data you saved on the secondary hard drive. It takes a few times to learn what to save, and you'll probably lose a bit of data, but you'll figure it out soon enough.
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07-11-2007, 07:38 AM
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Thanks for the idea's. Dell makes is somewhat easier in that they store all the data with your service tag on their website so you can grab the latest drivers. I've done this to my laptop and another computer on our home network. It's just that this "is" the main one and I've got other users that are in need of operating it to run my business software remotely, so I don't want to mess it up. I keep waiting for a "good" day to do this and currently it's raining. Still, don't want it to take all day.
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07-11-2007, 07:54 AM
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Get Acronis and be done with it, best $49.99 you'll ever spend. This product is as good for the home as it is in the enterprise.
www.acronis.com
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2021 Model Y 2005 Cayenne Turbo 2012 Panamera 4S 1980 911 SC 1999 996 Cab |
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07-11-2007, 07:54 AM
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Yea, but it's a dry heat
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I run an acronis enterprise server and back up all the terminals (200+) I am responsible for (work), also use it on my home laptop and do incremental back ups. |
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07-11-2007, 08:04 AM
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Tree-Hugging Member
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07-11-2007, 08:26 AM
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Are we talking backing up or reinstallation of an operating system? I already have a backup system in place and have been using it for 2 years.
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07-11-2007, 08:41 AM
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Quote:
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2021 Model Y 2005 Cayenne Turbo 2012 Panamera 4S 1980 911 SC 1999 996 Cab |
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07-11-2007, 08:45 AM
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1985.5 Porsche 944 2.5L Supercharged 
911 SC
Panamera
