Backing up computer in order to reset to factory state

[ObliviousFreak]

Okay, so sorry, im a total newb at this.

I seem to be bad luck for any computer I touch. I just got a new laptop at the end of last summer, and since then I have been having a bunch of problems. I have been able to solve them all up until now. I have no clue what's wrong, and stupid me, I never backed it up :banghead: so anyway, currently my computer won't go on the internet (doesn't think it has a wifi card installed) won't play audio (doesn't think it has speakers--haunt tried plugging in external ones, but my guess is it would work fine) won't open any Microsoft office programs or files (no clue why) won't recognize my external hard drive, or flash drive, or any USB device. And the list goes on. Basically, I'm giving up and wanna just wipe the whole thing, restore it to factory state, and start over. Oh yea, and did I mention that it been partitioned like 7 times because I gave it to my friend to install linux, and when it wasn't working, he just kept trying and ended up installing ubuntu over and over again in a new partition. Yea.

So anyway I really wanna back up all my stuff, but how can I do that 1: in a way that won't transfer the problem whatever it is, and 2:that I can do with only CDs. I'm running windows seven home premium 64bit

Any help on the backup, and any tips in general would be really appreciated. I am at the end of my role here and about to go crazy.

Sorry for the weird long crazy post. I'm just like about to lose it

 

[ObliviousFreak]

Now I'm trying to back up my whole system using windows backup or whatever it is onto a disk, but it's been stuck on 25% backed up for 45 mins

 

[marsmimar]

Hello ObliviousFreak and welcome to Seven Forums.

If I understand your situation correctly, you want to backup "all your stuff". I'm guessing you want to back up your photos, documents, videos, music, etc and do the back up "...in a way that won't transfer the problem whatever it is..." But in your second post you indicate you're trying to back up your "whole system".

Just to clarify a couple of things, when you say you're trying to back up your whole system, are you also trying to back up your operating system as well as everything else on the hard drive? If so, that's more like making a system image rather than just backing up files and folders. A system image takes a snapshot of your entire hard drive including any problems, viruses, other malware, etc that may be on the hard drive. Also, if that's what you're trying to do, the built in Windows 7 imaging tool seems to have issues backing up to discs. It much prefers an external hard drive. And if you're trying to back up your entire hard drive to CDs, you'll probably need a bunch of them. Each CD holds about 650MB. If you have 65GB of data on your computer's hard drive, you might need 10 CDs.

If you don't want to back up your computer's problems, I think it might be safer to manually copy your data rather than use the built in backup or imaging tools. If your computer's system files have been damaged in some way you have no guarantee the various Windows tools will work properly.

 

[whs]

Your system is apparently useless. So best is to reinstall it. But first backup your data manually as marsmimar recommended. Using any windows tools just gets you into more trouble.

Once you have a new clean system, make weekly images - e.g. with this easy program: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I Then you can bail yourself out in less than 30 minutes in case of more trouble.