Will a back up and restore fix my Windows 7 problems?

CrazySteeve · 04 Jan 2013

I recently put together a new computer and used my old hard drive in it. Ever since then I get random crashes, blue screens, windows errors, and hard drive failures. I want to know if I wiped the HD and reinstalled win7, then put all my programs, folders, and settings back on via restore from my external hard drive will it fix those problems,or will the restore make them come back. Also if this is not a windows problem, my HD might be going bad but I dont think its that.

marsmimar · 04 Jan 2013

CrazySteeve said:

I recently put together a new computer and used my old hard drive in it. Ever since then I get random crashes, blue screens, windows errors, and hard drive failures. I want to know if I wiped the HD and reinstalled win7, then put all my programs, folders, and settings back on via restore from my external hard drive will it fix those problems,or will the restore make them come back. Also if this is not a windows problem, my HD might be going bad but I dont think its that.

Hello CS and welcome to Seven Forums.

1. If the old hard drive is failing, no matter how many times you reinstall Windows 7 and/or your programs, you will probably continue to have BSODs, crashes, etc.
2. If the old hard drive is not failing, then a clean reinstall of Windows 7 should give you a stable platform. But this does not rule out the possibility that you have other hardware issues like bad RAM, CPU, GPU, etc or that these components were not properly installed.
3. If the old hard drive is good, and if all other hardware is good, there is still the possibility that programs, folders, files, etc currently stored on your external hard drive are corrupted or damaged in some way. If that's the case, restoring them to your new build could be the cause of those BSODs, crashes, etc. I'd try to use the original install media rather than relying on untested backups.

One of the Forum experts prepared this troubleshooting guide that may help. It also includes hardware diagnostic checks. I'd start with this.

Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

bigmck · 04 Jan 2013

CrazySteeve said:

I recently put together a new computer and used my old hard drive in it. Ever since then I get random crashes, blue screens, windows errors, and hard drive failures. I want to know if I wiped the HD and reinstalled win7, then put all my programs, folders, and settings back on via restore from my external hard drive will it fix those problems,or will the restore make them come back. Also if this is not a windows problem, my HD might be going bad but I dont think its that.

If you built a new PC and just put your old HD back in it, you have many drivers that do not fit the new hardware. As was said above, do not restore anything and think it will help. The only way is to do a Clean Install Windows 7 and install your programs again. You can't restore them as you said in your post. It does not work. We wish you luck.