JemyM
Okay, now roll sanity.
- Joined
- October 26, 2006
- Messages
- 6,027
Something tells me that I am always doing it the hard way and that I might need to do less if I learned how to at least copy a user from one windows to another.
I will give you a few scenarios:
Harddrive
1. You have a computer with a few extra harddrives to which you can backup data
2. You have a computer with no extra harddrives to which you can backup data
Previous Windows
1. Previous windows still works.
2. Previous windows have failed and wont even boot into fail-safe mode.
Now how can you make absolutely sure your settings are safe and can be restored once you reinstalled windows and what is the easiest way to do so?
What I do
I use a windows version of Ultimate Boot CD, load up a file manager, then I copy the Program Files and the Documents and Settings folder to another harddrive, except for the Adobe and Microsoft Office folder since I have to reinstall those anyway.
Installing Windows XP along with a format takes about 1,5-2 hours.
Once I reinstall everything I have to manually set up Windows again. I have all driver CD's for all my hardware stored as ISO files on my harddrive for quick access.
It's also particulary important I get the nForce drivers installed first since Windows has a potential to crash with wrong drivers. Eventually I also get Service Pack 3 installed. Then I have all favorite software I use properly sorted in a folder on one of my harddrives so I can run them one by one.
While installing my favorite software I copy data from my old folders. Since I moved Outlook, Messenger and ICQ to my laptop I do not really have that much of a hassle restoring settings for programs, but I manually copy Cookies, Desktop and My Documents from my backed up user folder. Then I check Application Data and Local Settings in my old user and "All Users" for gamesaves.
I will give you a few scenarios:
Harddrive
1. You have a computer with a few extra harddrives to which you can backup data
2. You have a computer with no extra harddrives to which you can backup data
Previous Windows
1. Previous windows still works.
2. Previous windows have failed and wont even boot into fail-safe mode.
Now how can you make absolutely sure your settings are safe and can be restored once you reinstalled windows and what is the easiest way to do so?
What I do
I use a windows version of Ultimate Boot CD, load up a file manager, then I copy the Program Files and the Documents and Settings folder to another harddrive, except for the Adobe and Microsoft Office folder since I have to reinstall those anyway.
Installing Windows XP along with a format takes about 1,5-2 hours.
Once I reinstall everything I have to manually set up Windows again. I have all driver CD's for all my hardware stored as ISO files on my harddrive for quick access.
It's also particulary important I get the nForce drivers installed first since Windows has a potential to crash with wrong drivers. Eventually I also get Service Pack 3 installed. Then I have all favorite software I use properly sorted in a folder on one of my harddrives so I can run them one by one.
While installing my favorite software I copy data from my old folders. Since I moved Outlook, Messenger and ICQ to my laptop I do not really have that much of a hassle restoring settings for programs, but I manually copy Cookies, Desktop and My Documents from my backed up user folder. Then I check Application Data and Local Settings in my old user and "All Users" for gamesaves.
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2006
- Messages
- 6,027