re-reinstal

joe134

Hi, As I have posted a problem on start up , I may as a last resort have to go back to re-instal my OS disc and start again. Can someone direct me to link so I can print off instructions how to do it? And any advice would be grateful.

santer_2

Make sure you have backed up any files you want to keep.

Check you have a note of any serial numbers for programmes you want to re-install

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-Vista

http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/windows_vista/install_windows_vista.htm

http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_vista.htm

http://www.top-windows-tutorials.com/how-to-reinstall-windows-vista.html

There is this

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/What-to-do-if-Windows-wont-start-correctly

If you do go for the re-install, then before you start, try to make a disc which has the latest version of the anti virus you use, along with any anti spyware programmes and the firewall. Install those directly after installing windows, update them and run an anti virus scan just to check.

Defragment the hard drive

Then go to windows updates and install those

Then add other programmes as needed.

joe134

santer wrote: »

Make sure you have backed up any files you want to keep.

Check you have a note of any serial numbers for programmes you want to re-install

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-Vista

http://www.buildeasypc.com/sw/windows_vista/install_windows_vista.htm

http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_vista.htm

http://www.top-windows-tutorials.com/how-to-reinstall-windows-vista.html

There is this

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/What-to-do-if-Windows-wont-start-correctly

If you do go for the re-install, then before you start, try to make a disc which has the latest version of the anti virus you use, along with any anti spyware programmes and the firewall. Install those directly after installing windows, update them and run an anti virus scan just to check.

Defragment the hard drive

Then go to windows updates and install those

Then add other programmes as needed.

Hi Santer, thanks for reply. I hope it doesn,t require it, but windows repair doesn,t seem to be able to fix it, apart from restore point each time I shut down.I did abackup disc a month ago, I use avast, malwarebytes.spybot. Can these be put on a separate disc? or are they on my backup disc?

santer_2

joe134 wrote: »

I did abackup disc a month ago, I use avast, malwarebytes.spybot. Can these be put on a separate disc? or are they on my backup disc?

Depends what was backed up, though the downloads are not too big, and getting fresh copies now and saving them to a CDR will give you the latest versions

Have you click start then run, typed sfc /scannow (with the space) then pressed enter to check the system files.

If that runs OK, then click start then run, type chkdsk /r (with the space) then press enter, type Y to confirm for next start up, click OK, then restart the machine. This check will take ages so only run it when you do not need the PC

Have you tried an in place upgrade?

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/itprovistaapps/thread/75575c7e-afc1-4f2e-977c-9105fef67e94

joe134

santer wrote: »

Depends what was backed up, though the downloads are not too big, and getting fresh copies now and saving them to a CDR will give you the latest versions

Have you click start then run, typed sfc /scannow (with the space) then pressed enter to check the system files.

If that runs OK, then click start then run, type chkdsk /r (with the space) then press enter, type Y to confirm for next start up, click OK, then restart the machine. This check will take ages so only run it when you do not need the PC

Have you tried an in place upgrade?

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/itprovistaapps/thread/75575c7e-afc1-4f2e-977c-9105fef67e94

Hi, I have done nothing at all except the repair which took pc back to when it was working ok. But it still won,t boot after shut down without doing the same procedure each time.3 times now.It doesn,t say it,s found or repaired any fault, just did restore, and it works, till I log off and try to re-boot. I would obviously try to not do a instal, but find the fault if possible? Baffled why it,s just started, but it has sometimes refused to shut down also, and have had to use on/off button. Resulting in booting in normal next time I use pc. Any trouble shooting ideas to try to find the fault? :beer:

jayme1

it is super easy peasy to reinstall the OS here is the rundown I have written previously:

• copy everything off your computer to an external hard drive
• deactivate itunes or any other similar software.
• find your system restore discs you either got with your computer or burnt yourself in the first start up (if not find the utility and burn them now)
• start up the pc and place in the factory restore disc
• turn off the computer and restart it
• follow the onscreen prompts to begin the reinstalation of the OS (you may have to set the BIOS to boot the CD drive before the HDD)
• wait for a while (have a cuppa) but be near because it may need you to swap discs ect.
• come back and you will be greated by the standard start up screens you got when you first got the computer. (you will not even have to activate the computer)
• install some antivirus such as the free microsoft security essentials (or avast) also a great time to uninstall the crapware that came with the computer (free trial of antivirus, toolbars, trial games ect.)
  
• run windows update and let it get on with that
• then start installing your programs (windows live essentials, itunes, office ect.)
• copy all your data off the external hard drive to the relevant folders.
• keep an upto date copy of all your data on the external hard drive as a backup (common sense)

you will not need to install any drivers if you use either the HDD revovery partition or the restore discs you burnt when you got the computer.

another option if you want a completely clean install (without manufacturers crapware) is use the official windows 7 iso (download the exact same windows install you have from here) then activate it with the licence key on the windows licence sticker on the computer.

ps you will need and other licence keys to hand when you reinstall software eg office, also it is a good idea to put your chosen antivirus on a USB key (CD) before you start, that way you can just install it before you connect to the bad internet. (so if you were going to use avast just download that one, you don't have to install them all (eg malwarebytes) right away and you don't need a 3rd party firewall and the windows firewall is good enough, esp if you connect to the internet through a router)
also you do not have to defragment your hard drive after a clean install whether it is via restore discs or via windows iso.

santer_2

joe134 wrote: »

Any trouble shooting ideas to try to find the fault?

There are a couple in post 4

Wannie_2

jayme1 wrote: »

it is super easy peasy to reinstall the OS here is the rundown I have written previously:

• copy everything off your computer to an external hard drive
• deactivate itunes or any other similar software.
• find your system restore discs you either got with your computer or burnt yourself in the first start up (if not find the utility and burn them now)
• start up the pc and place in the factory restore disc
• turn off the computer and restart it
• follow the onscreen prompts to begin the reinstalation of the OS (you may have to set the BIOS to boot the CD drive before the HDD)
• wait for a while (have a cuppa) but be near because it may need you to swap discs ect.
• come back and you will be greated by the standard start up screens you got when you first got the computer. (you will not even have to activate the computer)
• install some antivirus such as the free microsoft security essentials (or avast) also a great time to uninstall the crapware that came with the computer (free trial of antivirus, toolbars, trial games ect.)
  
• run windows update and let it get on with that
• then start installing your programs (windows live essentials, itunes, office ect.)
• copy all your data off the external hard drive to the relevant folders.
• keep an upto date copy of all your data on the external hard drive as a backup (common sense)

you will not need to install any drivers if you use either the HDD revovery partition or the restore discs you burnt when you got the computer.

another option if you want a completely clean install (without manufacturers crapware) is use the official windows 7 iso (download the exact same windows install you have from here) then activate it with the licence key on the windows licence sticker on the computer.

It's Vista and there are specific instructions for the ACER Factory Restore(not a System Restore).
I suggest that as the OP seems like a novice, that he should stick to the manufacturers instructions.

ACER

joe134

jayme1 wrote: »

it is super easy peasy to reinstall the OS here is the rundown I have written previously:

• copy everything off your computer to an external hard drive
• deactivate itunes or any other similar software.
• find your system restore discs you either got with your computer or burnt yourself in the first start up (if not find the utility and burn them now)
• start up the pc and place in the factory restore disc
• turn off the computer and restart it
• follow the onscreen prompts to begin the reinstalation of the OS (you may have to set the BIOS to boot the CD drive before the HDD)
• wait for a while (have a cuppa) but be near because it may need you to swap discs ect.
• come back and you will be greated by the standard start up screens you got when you first got the computer. (you will not even have to activate the computer)
• install some antivirus such as the free microsoft security essentials (or avast) also a great time to uninstall the crapware that came with the computer (free trial of antivirus, toolbars, trial games ect.)
  
• run windows update and let it get on with that
• then start installing your programs (windows live essentials, itunes, office ect.)
• copy all your data off the external hard drive to the relevant folders.
• keep an upto date copy of all your data on the external hard drive as a backup (common sense)

you will not need to install any drivers if you use either the HDD revovery partition or the restore discs you burnt when you got the computer.

another option if you want a completely clean install (without manufacturers crapware) is use the official windows 7 iso (download the exact same windows install you have from here) then activate it with the licence key on the windows licence sticker on the computer.

Hi, Jayme,thanks for that, it,s going to be a 2 pc job, as printer has refused to print all your good advice, unless I can get it going again:to print the procedure off; I,ve got original disc of OS which I purchased when I bought pc 2008.HDD partition is a bit beyond me.So if I just instal my cd, it should guide me through??? What I lose I lose.:beer:PS, CAn the windows updates be done all at once,en bloc, or do I have to do them individually. Told it,s time consuming

jayme1

joe134 wrote: »

Hi, Jayme,thanks for that, it,s going to be a 2 pc job, as printer has refused to print all your good advice, unless I can get it going again:to print the procedure off; I,ve got original disc of OS which I purchased when I bought pc 2008.HDD partition is a bit beyond me.So if I just instal my cd, it should guide me through??? What I lose I lose.:beer:

when you reinstall the OS you loose everything you haven't backed up, so if you don't copy all say your music onto an external drive and then clean install you would loose all your music,
also if you say itunes activated to play your purchases and clean installed you would loose one of your activations so that's why you you deactivate itunes before you reinstall.

that's the good thing about clean installing the OS nothing is left behind - including any malware - it resets your pc back to the day you got it along with the speed it once had.

also like Wannie said you can use ACER eRecovery Management (I didn't know it was either vista or an acer) in order to restore the computer using a hidden hard drive partition, I personally would use that method over using the restore discs (assuming your computer came with vista on it) also if the hard drive recovery didn't work you can always use the CD method at any time.

if you go the CD route you can't use the hard drive recovery in future (as it would be erased) you would only be able to use the CD recovery.

actually I would use the boot recovery using these steps from the acer site.

How to recovery your system from bootup

1. Locate the Alt key, to the left of the space bar, and F10, on the top row of keys.
2. Power the system on.
3. When the system is powered on, tap the Alt and F10 keys together at the same time when the Acer splash screen appears.
   It should state "Please wait a moment..." with the Acer logo in the upper left hand corner.
4. At the eRecovery Management menu it will ask you how to restore.
5. Click on the restore option you would like to use.

about the windows updates,

when you are setting up windows after the clean install it asks you if you want to install updates automatically, at that point I say no,
then after you have got into windows install the antivirus and connect to the internet and update the antivirus,
then open windows update and set it to 'notify you about updates but not download and install' and it will then check for available updates, you are right it will be a long list and therefore take a bit of time,
it will give you a long list of updates and should auto select all the relevant updates and you just need to click 'ok/next' whatever it is to start the install,
you would also be promoted to install all the service packs there are for vista (I think there are 3 though you may only have to install the 3rd not do them in order) you also have to after it has installed them reboot your computer.
after the computer has rebooted go back into windows update and check for updates and install those updates then reboot again, and keep doing it untill all the updates have gone.
then after all the updates have been done change the windows update settings to 'update automatically' (unless you want to manually do it in future)

NeverAgain_2

I recently had good results with this:

http://www.iobit.com/advancedsystemcareper.html

It's free, and easy to use for a non-techie like me.

Worth a try before you reinstall, which is a faff, whichever way you do it.