re-install not going so well....can I use restore discs from other laptop?

RedBern

Hi, my son's having problems on his laptop so as we've got all the back up CDs - thought it best to just get it back to the original settings and start again (gulp!). However, I've got a couple of (basic) questions...

There's a C and D drive - am I right in thinking that the stuff that's on the 'D' drive (data) is safe staying where it is - and I'm going to do the reinstall on the C drive?

Do I just put the CDs in or do I have to remove all the programs first (I said they were basic questions:o)

Anything I need to be careful of???:o:o:o

spakkker

You're right about c and d being seperate.
When you do the re-install there is an option to format the drive you are installing to-c- do this.
Some laptops have a copy of the factory install on a hidden drive partition - see the laptop manual.

RedBern

thanks - it's an Acer - no mention of a hidden drive partition - and we've got the discs so will have a go later today.

BritRael

Yes and no

Yes, you format C and your data will be safe on D.

However, when you say 'data' do you mean your personal files or do you mean applications? (MS Office, iTunes, Photoshop etc. for example). If the latter, then although they will still be safe on the D drive they will not run as when you do the re-install you will get a new registry. Therefore, you will have to re-install all of these applications as well.

totalsolutions

>Anything I need to be careful of

Make sure you are plugged into the mains.
Have the activation code (25 characters) from a sticker, bottom of the laptop.
Make sure you know the type of network adaptor and sound/video card installed. (Esp. if the setup CD is Windows, if the Acer brand CD then you should be ok)
Get coffee.

isofa

Make sure you backup any files you want from the C drive, often My Docs and other files will have been set to the C drive, once this is wiped, they are effectively gone forever.

Just because you have a D drive entitled Data doesn't mean that all your data (or even any of your data) is actually stored on it.

Naturally if you just format and reinstall on C, nothing will be touched on D, but this is irrelevant if you have important files and data on the C drive!

As others have said, ensure you have all the discs to reinstall applications you use, as again, once wiped you'll not have access to them until reinstallation.

RedBern

cheers guys..... have noted all of the above - and am just bracing myself! Will report back this evening (or sooner!);)

JasX

-just make sure you don;t inadvertantly delete the D partition do anything to it during install.... always best to have the data backed up somewhere completly separate (ie external drive, USB stick or burnt to CD)

RedBern

Hmmmm .... not going too well at the moment - I've backed up all the info needed off C: - and then gone into the Acer - reinstall area - was asked to put CD 1 in - which I did - computer shut down and then restarted - and now I've got just a dark screen with an arrow curser and I can't hear the CD drive whirring..........have I missed something?

timmmers

I haven't seen any mention of Windows ?
What exactly did you do?

format c and then startup with windows disc in the drive ?
You don't have a floppy also do you? You may have to change it to boot from the disc drive in bios if that's true.

No mention that I can see even of which operating system youre using.

Lacking a lot of info to figure out any problem unfortunately.

t

spakkker

I've never had an acer so not sure about the "acer-reinstall area".
What I would try is get into the bios menu and select the boot from cd option. You may have to press del or f2 or something when the lappy first starts - it usually says at the bottom of the first post screen.
I only use xp at the mo but don't think vesta is different at this level of install.