Some computers come with restore disks. Some manufacturers require you to make your own disk set and yet others have a restore sector. If it has a restore sector you will need to push the F10 or other key. This will lead your through the process.
You need to take three deep breaths and ask yourself what you don’t want to lose. Did you back up your precious data and pictures?
WARNING! Do not do this if you are not familiar with the process. PLEASE!! Take it to a professional immediately. Do not wait. If a virus has taken your computer down it will only make it worse to constantly reboot or to try to use restore disk or sector.
You will most likely need to remove your hard drive and put it on a “good” computer. You can either put it on as a second drive or (if you have the equipment) attach it to the USB port of the good computer. You can purchase enclosures and other necessary equipment on numerous web sites.
Once you have attached the drive you should see it appear as a drive letter in My Computer. If not the drive may actually be bad.
What do I restore, and how do I do it?
- You need to go to My Documents in the drive and copy the entire directory to the computer your on or another device such as a USB external drive.
- Pictures – Although most pictures are saved in My Pictures by default, you need to copy any other pictures you have saved in other locations.
- Music- This is also saved under My Music automatically. Copy from other locations if you have them.
- You can copy all of the Bookmarks (called Favorites in Internet Explorer) you have saved for your browser.
- This is big!!! Back up your mail if you’re running an application on your computer such as Outlook or Outlook Express. These programs have specific ways to back up data so be sure you do this properly or you will loose what you have.
- If you have saved anything important on your desktop copy that also.
Once you are sure you have backed up everything you need, be sure you have all the programs you have put on yourself. If you are using a restore disk or sector, the programs that originally came with the computer should be back once you’re done.
Exceptions
If you do not have the restore disk, or a restore sector, you will not have any programs of any kind once you reload the operating system. This is because you have to use a regular program disk. You MUST have a legal copy of the particular program (such as Window Vista) and you MUST have a legal key code (License). It is illegal to use a copy!
What else needs to be done?
These are the biggest things people forget. You MUST activate the product. If you do not, it will expire 30 days after you load it. You need to be sure all drivers are loaded. This includes, but is not limited to, the sound and video drivers. You need to go to my Computer, right click it and go to properties. Then, click on the hardware tab, and the Device Manager Box. Look to see if there are any explanation or question marks. If so correct them. If not, your ready to go.
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