By Lincoln Spector, PCWorld
How did things get this messed up? Windows has slowed to a crawl. Programs won't run. The free firewall you installed last year won't update or uninstall itself.
System Restore hasn't helped; neither have your assorted cleanup and antimalware programs. Only one option remains: Reinstall Windows and start from scratch.
I'm not going to lie to you--this is a scary and time-consuming job. Your PC may be unusable for a day or more. You could even lose all of your data.
And let's face it: You'd be wise to avoid this chore if at all possible. If someone in tech support tells you to do it, get a second opinion, and then a third.
If you have to reinstall--and sometimes it is necessary--here's how to make the process as safe and painless as possible.
First, you'll need your recovery tool. What's that? If you're using the version of Windows that came on your PC, it's probably in a hidden partition on the computer's hard drive. That partition contains the information necessary to restore the hard drive to its factory condition.
Obviously, a hard-drive partition is not something you have to gather. But if your PC is a few years old, the recovery tool may be on one or more CDs or DVDs instead. Find the discs that came with your PC and see if anything looks promising. Alternatively, check the PC's manual to learn what kind of recovery tool came with the machine, and, if it's on a partition, how to access it.
If you upgraded Windows since you bought the PC--for instance, going from XP or Vista to Windows 7--the upgrade disc is now your recovery tool.
If you can't find a recovery disc, and the PC has no hidden partition (or offers no workable way to access that partition), contact the system manufacturer to see what they can do for you. Read "How Do I Restore Windows If I've Lost My Restore CD?" for details.
After Windows installs, you'll have to reinstall all of your programs. Collect all the original discs or downloaded installation files, and all of your license numbers.
You'll want an empty external hard drive with a capacity at least as large as your existing hard drive. Another external hard drive will come in handy later. That one doesn't have to be empty; you'll need only a part of it.
Finally, you'll need time. The best-case scenario for a reinstall is a day. The worst case: three or four days. You'll be spending a lot of that time waiting, so get a good book, too.
You also have to create a backup of your data, because the reinstall might destroy everything on your hard drive.
To manage both tasks, use cloning software to turn the empty external drive into an exact copy of your internal hard drive. I recommend EASEUS Todo Backup, which performs both image backups and cloning. For this job, I recommend the cloning because it will make the later job of restoring the data files easier. On the other hand, an image backup doesn't require an external drive all to itself (although it will require a large piece of one). Either option will work.
Be sure to create an emergency boot disc with EASEUS or whatever program you use to do the cloning. Without that, you may not be able to recover from a disaster.
Having a second backup of your data wouldn't hurt, especially since you're about to erase the original. If you don't already have another up-to-date backup, create one with whatever backup program you regularly use.
If your recovery tool is a disc, boot the PC from it.
Either way, follow the prompts.
If your recovery tool is an actual Microsoft Windows disc, the tool will ask what kind of installation to perform. You want the kind that gives you a fresh version of Windows. For Windows 7 or Vista, when the wizard asks about the type of installation, select the Custom (advanced) option. For XP, at the 'Welcome to Setup' screen, press Enter to Continue, not R for Repair.
Remember that Windows will need updating. The patching will happen automatically, but if you want to get it out of the way, launch Windows Update and take care of it.
You'll have to reinstall at least some of your drivers. You can go back to the discs that came with your PC, printer, scanner, and so on, or you can download newer versions off the Internet. Alternatively, you can install the drivers off the clone you made before reinstalling.
If you reinstalled Windows from a vendor-supplied tool--one that returns your hard drive to its factory condition--you probably have a lot of junk on your computer. You'll have to uninstall the stuff you don't want.
The uninstallers that come with Windows applications are notoriously sloppy, leaving all sorts of remnants behind. I recommend either Revo Uninstaller or Total Uninstall. These programs run the application's own uninstaller, and then clean up the remaining mess.
The difference? Revo is free, but Total does a better job with uninstalls that require a reboot. Also, Revo doesn't work with 64-bit programs, while Total does.
Now that you've cleaned Windows of unwanted applications, you have to reinstall the programs you do want. Start with your security tools, and go from there. Don't try to install two programs at the same time, and if an installation requires a reboot, don't put that reboot off. Just do it.
Once everything is installed, take some time to make Windows your own. Pick your wallpaper, change your power and screensaver settings, and so on.
Use image-backup software and an external hard drive to create an image of your hard drive in its current everything-but-data state. Should you have to reinstall again, you can use this backup as your recovery tool and simplify the process.
Again, I recommend EASEUS Todo Backup, although you can find other good programs that will do this job.
Whatever program you use, make sure to create an emergency boot disc with it.
Aren't you glad you made that backup?
If such a folder exists on your hard drive, open it in Windows Explorer and navigate to its User folder (Windows 7 or Vista) or 'Documents and Settings' folder (XP).
If the folder doesn't exist, you'll have to get it off of the clone or image backup. Create a folder on the internal drive called
Whether you needed to copy the data from the external drive or not, you should now have a Windows Explorer window open and displaying multiple folders--one for each user logon. For convenience's sake, I'm going to call this window the Backup Location.
Open a second Windows Explorer window, and navigate to C:\Users (Windows 7 or Vista) or C:\Documents and Settings (XP). I'll call this window the Proper Location, because it's where your data should be--and eventually will be.
Do the following for each user:
Open the user's folders in both the Backup and Proper Locations. You will see additional folders, mostly the same ones, inside each. Drag some of the folders from Backup to Proper.
Which folders should you move? The obvious ones are Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. Their names may or may not be prefaced with My. XP users needn't worry about the lack of Music, Pictures, and Videos folders--they're inside Documents.
You should absolutely not move AppData (Windows 7 and Vista) or 'Application Data and Local Settings' (XP). These folders are hidden, so it's likely you won't see them, anyway.
Use your own judgment about other folders. Just remember that the folders you don't move aren't going away immediately, so you can always correct that mistake.
You'll get several error messages as you move the folders. If Windows asks, yes, you do want to merge folders. Replacing a file with one that has the same name is also probably safe, but use your own judgment.
That process will take care of your documents, spreadsheets, pictures, music, and so on. Application data (Firefox settings, Outlook data files, and the like) is more complicated. Each application has its own way of handling the task, so I can give you no general instructions.
Just remember that you still have this data in your Backup Location, and you can restore it when you need it. You'll find it in the AppData folder for Windows 7 and Vista, and the Application Data and Location Settings\Application Data folders in XP. All of these folders are hidden, visible only if you tell Windows Explorer to display hidden files. See "Back Up, Restore, and Migrate Firefox" and "Back Up and Restore Outlook" for instructions involving two popular programs.
Eventually you'll be able to delete your Backup or Windows.old folder. But don't rush. Wait a few months until you're sure it has nothing that you'll need again.
Well, that was a long and difficult slog. Let's hope that you won't have to do it again anytime soon.
Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector writes PCWorld's Answer Line column and blog.
How did things get this messed up? Windows has slowed to a crawl. Programs won't run. The free firewall you installed last year won't update or uninstall itself.
System Restore hasn't helped; neither have your assorted cleanup and antimalware programs. Only one option remains: Reinstall Windows and start from scratch.
I'm not going to lie to you--this is a scary and time-consuming job. Your PC may be unusable for a day or more. You could even lose all of your data.
And let's face it: You'd be wise to avoid this chore if at all possible. If someone in tech support tells you to do it, get a second opinion, and then a third.
If you have to reinstall--and sometimes it is necessary--here's how to make the process as safe and painless as possible.
Gather What You Need
You'll have to collect a few things before you can begin.First, you'll need your recovery tool. What's that? If you're using the version of Windows that came on your PC, it's probably in a hidden partition on the computer's hard drive. That partition contains the information necessary to restore the hard drive to its factory condition.
Obviously, a hard-drive partition is not something you have to gather. But if your PC is a few years old, the recovery tool may be on one or more CDs or DVDs instead. Find the discs that came with your PC and see if anything looks promising. Alternatively, check the PC's manual to learn what kind of recovery tool came with the machine, and, if it's on a partition, how to access it.
If you upgraded Windows since you bought the PC--for instance, going from XP or Vista to Windows 7--the upgrade disc is now your recovery tool.
If you can't find a recovery disc, and the PC has no hidden partition (or offers no workable way to access that partition), contact the system manufacturer to see what they can do for you. Read "How Do I Restore Windows If I've Lost My Restore CD?" for details.
After Windows installs, you'll have to reinstall all of your programs. Collect all the original discs or downloaded installation files, and all of your license numbers.
You'll want an empty external hard drive with a capacity at least as large as your existing hard drive. Another external hard drive will come in handy later. That one doesn't have to be empty; you'll need only a part of it.
Finally, you'll need time. The best-case scenario for a reinstall is a day. The worst case: three or four days. You'll be spending a lot of that time waiting, so get a good book, too.
Back Up Everything
Things could go horribly wrong, so you need to make a backup of your entire drive. That way, you can at least return to where you were before the reinstall.You also have to create a backup of your data, because the reinstall might destroy everything on your hard drive.
To manage both tasks, use cloning software to turn the empty external drive into an exact copy of your internal hard drive. I recommend EASEUS Todo Backup, which performs both image backups and cloning. For this job, I recommend the cloning because it will make the later job of restoring the data files easier. On the other hand, an image backup doesn't require an external drive all to itself (although it will require a large piece of one). Either option will work.
Be sure to create an emergency boot disc with EASEUS or whatever program you use to do the cloning. Without that, you may not be able to recover from a disaster.
Having a second backup of your data wouldn't hurt, especially since you're about to erase the original. If you don't already have another up-to-date backup, create one with whatever backup program you regularly use.
The Windows Reinstall
Exactly how you replace an old Windows installation with a new one depends on your recovery tool. If your PC came with a recovery partition on the hard drive, find the instructions for booting into the repair environment. Watch the screen as you turn on the computer; it might show a message such as 'Press F10 for Repair'. If it doesn't, check the manual or call technical support.If your recovery tool is a disc, boot the PC from it.
Either way, follow the prompts.
If your recovery tool is an actual Microsoft Windows disc, the tool will ask what kind of installation to perform. You want the kind that gives you a fresh version of Windows. For Windows 7 or Vista, when the wizard asks about the type of installation, select the Custom (advanced) option. For XP, at the 'Welcome to Setup' screen, press Enter to Continue, not R for Repair.
Setting Up Windows
Congratulations: You have a fresh Windows installation. Now the hard work starts.Remember that Windows will need updating. The patching will happen automatically, but if you want to get it out of the way, launch Windows Update and take care of it.
You'll have to reinstall at least some of your drivers. You can go back to the discs that came with your PC, printer, scanner, and so on, or you can download newer versions off the Internet. Alternatively, you can install the drivers off the clone you made before reinstalling.
If you reinstalled Windows from a vendor-supplied tool--one that returns your hard drive to its factory condition--you probably have a lot of junk on your computer. You'll have to uninstall the stuff you don't want.
The uninstallers that come with Windows applications are notoriously sloppy, leaving all sorts of remnants behind. I recommend either Revo Uninstaller or Total Uninstall. These programs run the application's own uninstaller, and then clean up the remaining mess.
The difference? Revo is free, but Total does a better job with uninstalls that require a reboot. Also, Revo doesn't work with 64-bit programs, while Total does.
Now that you've cleaned Windows of unwanted applications, you have to reinstall the programs you do want. Start with your security tools, and go from there. Don't try to install two programs at the same time, and if an installation requires a reboot, don't put that reboot off. Just do it.
Once everything is installed, take some time to make Windows your own. Pick your wallpaper, change your power and screensaver settings, and so on.
One More Backup
You just spent a lot of time taking a fresh Windows installation and customizing it. If you ever have to reinstall Windows again, wouldn't you like to skip that step?Use image-backup software and an external hard drive to create an image of your hard drive in its current everything-but-data state. Should you have to reinstall again, you can use this backup as your recovery tool and simplify the process.
Again, I recommend EASEUS Todo Backup, although you can find other good programs that will do this job.
Whatever program you use, make sure to create an emergency boot disc with it.
Restore Your Data
Now it's time to bring back your data. If you used an actual Windows 7 retail or upgrade DVD, the data is in a folder called C:\Windows.old. If you used a manufacturer's recovery tool, your files might be in a special folder off the root, perhaps called C:\Backup. Otherwise, your data is no longer on your hard drive.Aren't you glad you made that backup?
If such a folder exists on your hard drive, open it in Windows Explorer and navigate to its User folder (Windows 7 or Vista) or 'Documents and Settings' folder (XP).
If the folder doesn't exist, you'll have to get it off of the clone or image backup. Create a folder on the internal drive called
Backup
(it should be C:\Backup). Plug in the external drive with the clone,
and copy the contents of that drive's User folder (Windows 7 or Vista)
or 'Documents and Settings' folder (XP) to C:\Backup. Once the copying
is done, remove the external drive (properly, of course, through the
system tray's removal tool). Leave Windows Explorer open to the
C:\Backup folder.Whether you needed to copy the data from the external drive or not, you should now have a Windows Explorer window open and displaying multiple folders--one for each user logon. For convenience's sake, I'm going to call this window the Backup Location.
Open a second Windows Explorer window, and navigate to C:\Users (Windows 7 or Vista) or C:\Documents and Settings (XP). I'll call this window the Proper Location, because it's where your data should be--and eventually will be.
Do the following for each user:
Open the user's folders in both the Backup and Proper Locations. You will see additional folders, mostly the same ones, inside each. Drag some of the folders from Backup to Proper.
Which folders should you move? The obvious ones are Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. Their names may or may not be prefaced with My. XP users needn't worry about the lack of Music, Pictures, and Videos folders--they're inside Documents.
You should absolutely not move AppData (Windows 7 and Vista) or 'Application Data and Local Settings' (XP). These folders are hidden, so it's likely you won't see them, anyway.
Use your own judgment about other folders. Just remember that the folders you don't move aren't going away immediately, so you can always correct that mistake.
You'll get several error messages as you move the folders. If Windows asks, yes, you do want to merge folders. Replacing a file with one that has the same name is also probably safe, but use your own judgment.
That process will take care of your documents, spreadsheets, pictures, music, and so on. Application data (Firefox settings, Outlook data files, and the like) is more complicated. Each application has its own way of handling the task, so I can give you no general instructions.
Just remember that you still have this data in your Backup Location, and you can restore it when you need it. You'll find it in the AppData folder for Windows 7 and Vista, and the Application Data and Location Settings\Application Data folders in XP. All of these folders are hidden, visible only if you tell Windows Explorer to display hidden files. See "Back Up, Restore, and Migrate Firefox" and "Back Up and Restore Outlook" for instructions involving two popular programs.
Eventually you'll be able to delete your Backup or Windows.old folder. But don't rush. Wait a few months until you're sure it has nothing that you'll need again.
Well, that was a long and difficult slog. Let's hope that you won't have to do it again anytime soon.
Contributing Editor Lincoln Spector writes PCWorld's Answer Line column and blog.
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