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Wiping pc and re-installing windows

2

Comments

  • ;) love the wink!
    Thanks a lot - in my defence there was a lot of info to absorb but I can see your point now. Can't wait to give it all a go now!
  • closed
    closed Posts: 10,886 Forumite
    most modern machines have a factory restore partition, which is much faster than using a disc, press a key combination at boot, and 10 minutes later it's done. (but backup data first)
    !!
    > . !!!! ----> .
  • Toxteth_OGrady
    Toxteth_OGrady Posts: 3,958 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Once you have re-installed Windows and got it set up exactly how you want with all the updates, drivers, AV and programs that you use I would strongly recommend that you make a backup image of the fresh installation, a bit like the manufacturer's factory restore image on a new laptop. Then if you ever need to install Windows it's a 10 minute job to restore the image. Free disk imaging software you can try:

    Macrium Reflect

    DriveImageXML

    Easus Todo Backup

    Clonezilla

    Windows Backup (Win 7)
    604!
  • Anubis_2
    Anubis_2 Posts: 4,077 Forumite
    You just need to delete the partition and recreate it for the best assurance of a clean disk. Then you format it. Formatting alone is not enough if you have viruses.
    How people treat you becomes their karma; how you react becomes yours.
  • Do you need to disconect printers,external hard drives, scanners etc before reinstalling windows?
  • olly300
    olly300 Posts: 14,738 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    shrimper1 wrote: »
    Do you need to disconect printers,external hard drives, scanners etc before reinstalling windows?

    Yes it's best to.

    Reason for this is depending on how the bios is set up the computer when it boots will look for at external sources for an OS such as a DVD drive or external harddrive.

    This means your computer may not boot up properly.
    I'm not cynical I'm realistic :p

    (If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)
  • closed wrote: »
    most modern machines have a factory restore partition, which is much faster than using a disc, press a key combination at boot, and 10 minutes later it's done. (but backup data first)

    How do I find the partition and what key combination is it?
    Thanks
  • Toxteth_OGrady
    Toxteth_OGrady Posts: 3,958 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What's the make/model of the PC/laptop?
    604!
  • santer_2
    santer_2 Posts: 4,406 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Switch the PC on and check the first screen, if you do not see a key for recovery options, keep tapping the F12 key until it shows a screen for recovery options, if it does not, it could be F10

    Choose carefully if you want to keep existing data

    If you posted the make and model earlier I will check for the correct key
  • The desktop is a Dell Dimension E521
    Thanks
This discussion has been closed.
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