Preparing for a re-format and re-installation by backing up your drivers and keys!
A)
Back up your Old Registry
1) Click on the Start Button and choose run
2) type
regedit.exe and press enter to run the Registry Editor
3) When it is open scroll all the way to the top of the tree and select "My Computer"
4) Now click on the File Menu and choose "export"
5) Export the entire registry twice, once as a TXT file and once as a REG file.
6) Give it name like regbackup.reg and regbackup.txt
7) Move those files to a backup drive or burn to a CD (Can be up to 100 MB depending on how many programs you have installed).
NOTE: You can actually browse through your Registry looking for program keys by browsing these two folders... You might find a lot of installation keys by looking in each folder for all the software you have installed. Do
NOT change anything you see there!!!! Just copy and paste the keys or back up the REG files.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER / SOFTWARE or...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE
B)
Back up your Software Keys and Windows Activation Files...
(You can use one of these FREE programs or ALL of these programs)
NOTE: Some of these programs might be flagged as malware or spyware by your Anti-Virus because they reveal system passwords and keys. Don't worry they are safe to use for your personal use and you can safely add them to your anti-virus "exception list". Obviously you should guard the password and key information in a safe place.
Some of these programs do more than others. They all have their benefits. Read more about them here... and find links to download them!
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/productkeysactivation/tp/topkeyfinder.htm
1) Magic Jellybean Key Finder...
2) WinKeyFinder...
3) RockXP
4) KeyFinder Pro
5) KeyFinder Thing
6) WinGuggle
C)
Backup Your System Drivers
These FREE programs will list and back-up (and restore) system drivers. Useful to do, even if you plan on installing FRESH drivers. It is good to have a record of all the drivers you had installed before for the off-chance that you cannot locate a driver again after re-installing! You can use one or both of these programs!
1) Double Driver...
http://boozet.org/dd.htm
2) DriverMax
http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/
D) Don't forget to back-up your User Files as well. Check this list to make sure you have not missed anything...
1) My Documents Folder (including Docs, Pics, Vids etc.)
2) Shared Documents Folder
3) Your e-mail (Outlook or Outlook Express... etc.)
4) Your program User Files (eg. TurboCash, Quicken, AutoCAD, etc.)
5) Your Downloads folder or wherever you keep your Archives.
6) Your Firefox Profile...
C:/Documents and Settings/{User Name}/Application Data/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/...
Your Profile name will look something like "k13xy5k6.default" and that folder contains all your extensions, passwords, bookmarks, etc.
Good Luck!
