Reformatting my hard drive...questions

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/22/2006 04:52:04 PM · #1

I think my computer is in desperate need of a reformat. Right now, I am working on backing stuff up. Do I need to only back up my files and folders and NOT the programs since they can be reinstalled? Anything else I should remember to do?

Also, when I reformat will it bring everything back to when I took it out of the box? In other words, I don't want to lose some of the programs it came with.

Message edited by author 2006-11-22 16:53:07.

kevrobertson

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/22/2006 04:53:48 PM · #2

Back up e-mails
and back up bookmarks

Kev

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

11/22/2006 04:54:33 PM · #3

Originally posted by kevrobertson:

Back up e-mails
and back up bookmarks

Kev

Good thinking! Thank you.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

11/22/2006 05:04:09 PM · #4

Make sure you have all your reinstall codes. I cleaned off my computer about 2 years ago- only to discover that my MS Office code had been "obscured"- coffee was my guess.

aliqui

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

11/22/2006 05:04:59 PM · #5

I'm getting ready to do this in a couple weeks too. It's a yearly ritual and I always forget to back something up. One thing I suggest is to make a written list and add things you forgot to back up for next time, heh. I've yet to remember to make a written list, but there's a few things I've forgotten so many times that they're ingrained in my head.

Emails
Passwords and user ID's for websites, FTP, email, etc
Email settings
Bookmarks
Unreplacable photos, text files, exe files
If you play video games or maybe have certain profile files for software

As far as replacing software.. as long as you have all the disks that came with your computer you'll have every program that came on your computer. I find it helpful to make a small box to hold all your computer's software. That way you're not searching around for that one disk that you put in that one place that one time.

I've actually yet to remember to make this box and will spend hours looking for that one disk I put in that one place that one time.

Good luck =)

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

11/22/2006 05:07:01 PM · #6

Originally posted by JRalston:

Also, when I reformat will it bring everything back to when I took it out of the box? In other words, I don't want to lose some of the programs it came with.

Well, after you reformat it you'll have to do a fresh install of Windows XP - so make sure you have the installation CD (and if it's an 'upgrade' make sure you have an older version of Windows on CD in case it asks for proof during installation)

When you've finished installing WinXP, the next thing you should do is Windows Update (under start / all programs)

Then when that's finished you might want to check all the drivers are installed correctly. Check the video and sound and keyboard and mouse are all working the way you expect them to. If you need drivers they will be either on a CD that came with the PC, or you can download them from the manufacturers website.

Which brings me to another point - after you do a reformat/reinstall, the first thing you should try to get working is your internet connection. That makes problem solving a lot easier!

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/22/2006 05:07:18 PM · #7

Thank you. Can someone tell me how to back-up my IE favorites list? Is it Program Files--->Internet Explorer--->Back-up Data? Do I just save that folder?

Good feedback all, thank you. I have never wiped a computer clean like this.

Oh, and this computer came with NO discs. It's all on a seperate partition or some computer babble like that. LOL

TechnoShroom

Canon EOS-30D

11/22/2006 05:14:30 PM · #8

Originally posted by JRalston:

Can someone tell me how to back-up my IE favorites list?

Your favorites should be located here

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Favorites

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/22/2006 05:18:29 PM · #9

Originally posted by TechnoShroom:

Originally posted by JRalston:
Can someone tell me how to back-up my IE favorites list?

Your favorites should be located here

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Favorites

Thank you! :)

smurfguy

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

11/22/2006 05:36:13 PM · #10

Originally posted by JRalston:

Oh, and this computer came with NO discs. It's all on a seperate partition or some computer babble like that. LOL

That makes me a little nervous. When you format the hard drive, there will be nothing left - the computer may not boot. It may or may not try too boot off that other partition. Do you have some sort of guide or instructions that will tell you how to start the Windows installation process?

The normal first step would be "Insert the Windows installation disc." Do you know your alternative works?

aliqui

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

11/22/2006 05:36:56 PM · #11

Originally posted by JRalston:

Do you have a Windows disk? A true reformat (Nuke and Pave) involves a complete wipe and reinstall of Windows which you'll need a Windows disk for and should have somewhere. You can just reformat a partition, but it's recommended to reformat your Windows partition every 6 months or some rediculous time frame. Once a year is fine by me, heh

I gotta head for work now, but I'll keep an eye on this thread to see if there's anything else I can answer when I get home.

11/22/2006 05:41:32 PM · #12

Nope.....computer came with NO disc. It is fairly common nowadays. I am pretty sure that none of our 3 newest computers came with one. This computer is 2yrs old, one of our laptops is 1yr old, and our kids' computer is 3 months old.

New question for anyone who uses AOL or Compuserve....
How do I backup my address book and filing cabinet? My Favorites allowed me to specify the save location, but the filing cabinet just backs it up without giving me the option. My address book has nothing. Thanks :)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/22/2006 05:45:43 PM · #13

This came in the box on a piece of paper in the shape of a CD...

"Your new VAIO computer does not require System or Application Recovery CD's. The VAIO Recovery Wizard utility program is installed directly on your computer's hard drive. The VAIO Recovery Wizard enables you to recover preinstalled software programs and the computer's operating system to restore your computer to the original, factory-installed settings. You can also use this utility program to create a VAIO Recovery Media Kit."

So looks like i don't want to reformat the whole hard drive???

Kaups

Canon EOS-50D

11/22/2006 05:51:15 PM · #14

Originally posted by JRalston:

The VAIO recovery information is probably on a small partition of the hard drive. When you install a fresh version (not repair) of XP it asks you what partition to install it on. Just don't overwrite the tiny partition that Sony made for their stuff if you don't want to. :) Of course if you're reinstalling by yourself without using Sony's recovery stuff then you probably don't care.

Message edited by author 2006-11-22 17:52:24.

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

11/22/2006 05:54:06 PM · #15

My advice would probably get a friend who has reinstalled before to help you out. I have installed versions of Windows back to 3.1; 6 or 7 distros of Linux and even DOS and I STILL make bad bad mistakes. Usually its one or two important files (e.g. my resume). Sometimes I lose a valuable program. Invariably however, I lose something. I'd almost consider using your computer for a week and catalog each and everything you open. Those are the most important things to back up obviously.

There are also things you cannot back up. e.g. Application configurations. Before you even start I would make you have the phone numbers for the support line for your system and for your ISP at least. (Far easier to look them up online)

Make sure you have drivers for everything that didn't come with your computer as well. Especially if you had a network card installed after you purchased your computer. (Worst case scenario if your NIC is installed but you are missing other drivers is you go on the web and get the drivers).

Not to be too doom and gloom but expect a long night if you are reinstalling. Make sure you order pizza for any helpers and for God's sake drink the beer AFTER you are done. (Another lesson I learned the hardway).

:)

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

11/22/2006 06:20:00 PM · #16

Originally posted by JRalston:

My ThinkPad has something similar. A hidden partition on the C: drive that contains the factory default installation of the operating system and applications (as if you just took it out of the box)

To activate my 'rescue and recovery' as lenovo call it, I hit a special key when I bootup, which takes me to a menu where I can run the factory restore.

I suspect you have something similar on the Vaio.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

11/22/2006 06:21:57 PM · #17

It kinda is sounding like this is something I should have my husband do! (He is really good with computers.) I will just continue backing stuff up and then let him break the computer ;o)

Thanks for all the tips!!! Hopefully this will all be worth it after the reformat or whatever.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

11/22/2006 07:02:00 PM · #18

If your computer did not come with a CD make sure you don't f/disk or wipe the HD completely because there should be a small partition on the hard drive that holds all of your restoration information. Something else I found out, there is a difference between recovery and restoration disk. I had a Compaq laptop and it needed cleaning bad. I had two restoration disk so I f/disked and formated the HD. The restoration disk required the small partition to restore my laptop. I had to order the recovery disk ($25.00) and wait about a week before I could load my computer.

Be very careful

ETA: if you use quicken, money, or quick books to keep track of your banking account(s)- make sure you save the backup file. It should be in your documents area. Money has two files.

Message edited by author 2006-11-22 19:04:46.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/22/2006 07:08:48 PM · #19

Why do you think you want to reformat the drive?? Backup well and completely if you want to to this - and expect driver issues :-0)