Windows 7 re-install

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Vikki Sixx

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Hi All,

After having a whole bunch of issues with W7 (after allowing auto updates for a while) I have decided I need to re-install my Windows 7. I have a few queries please:
1 - Must I format and re-install from fresh (if so, how do I do that?)
2 - Can I repair the W7 installation I have got (if so what will get repaired - is it basically a new installation)
3 - Should I back-up all my images and files and make sure I have installation files for all my programs?

Never done this before so please assist

Thanks
Vic
 
Hey ,

1: That would be ideal ,First backup all your data that you want to keep onto an external hardrive or copy to another computer , then put in the Windows7 dvd and reboot the computer , you should see a black screen with writing keep pressing del/f12 to get into the bios ,look for boot device priorty and then make sure your dvd rom is at number one or at the top , then save your settings and exit the bios , then press "any key" when it asks you to and reinstall from scratch ,format the HDD/SSD in the windows 7 wizard and you are sorted, dont forget to install AV and then scan your backed up data ( Assuming its on external hdd) to make sure there are no virus's etc

2: startup Repair can repair corrupted system files in some cases. You can also get to System restore to attempt to restore to an earlier point. This is a very simplistic explanation and the links already given will get into much more detail.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Startup-Repair-frequently-asked-questions


3:Always make a backup of your important data



GL
 
ok ... re-installed W7 and all seems to be good again (nice and fast) - one thing tho is that I cannot see my second hard drive on "my computer" ... do I have to map it or something?
 
whispers: Probably partitioned and now dull, null and void :whistle:
 
Vikki Sixx said:
Two separate physical drives ....
Click to expand...

Drives are mapped on a network, not locally. Have you installed the chipset drivers and checked the physical drive cables if they are properly seated?
 
teraside said:
Drives are mapped on a network, not locally. Have you installed the chipset drivers and checked the physical drive cables if they are properly seated?
Click to expand...
What are chipset drivers ? I have not touched any hardware ... only re-installed software, so cables were fine and should still be fine

If I go to my Device Manager, the following drivers are not installed:
- PCI Simple Communications Controller
- SM Bus Controller
- Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller
 
Vikki Sixx said:
ok ... re-installed W7 and all seems to be good again (nice and fast) - one thing tho is that I cannot see my second hard drive on "my computer" ... do I have to map it or something?
Click to expand...

Check in Disk Management (right click Computer on Start Menu > Manage > Storage > Disk Management), you might have to import the drive, or format it before you can use it in your current installation.
 
kingrob said:
Check in Disk Management (right click Computer on Start Menu > Manage > Storage > Disk Management), you might have to import the drive, or format it before you can use it in your current installation.
Click to expand...

I can see it on Disk Management ... says healthy .... would I have to format the drive ? Would that cause me to loose all the data on that drive?
 
ok - fixed it ... just needed to assign a letter and path to it. Thanks all
 
you can also do a full system image backup of the old install using the backup tool of window 7. You can then mount the vhd file and a drive letter and copy the relevant files back once you have reinstalled windows. The image file is just the actual data on your drive so you would just need a usb drive as big as all the used data on the system drive.
 
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