backing up restoring computer fresh install Just fast question

[xxsicknessxx]

I have some issues I can't fix no matter what I do the main one being freezing, update errors and random restarts on top of lots of issues being reported in windows.

Nothing horrible but enough to bother me...

The straw to break the back will be this..

If I back up my computer (how do I do this) and then do a fresh factory install can I use the back up cds to put everything back on my computer? including programs (just wondering) Also will it put back my desktop and all that? or is this to much to hope in which case if I factory restore with saving all my info and it goes to a back up folder will it include programs or just files? Also will it all be usable or am I better off copying files to a flash drive or dvd cds?

Im just curious im super lazy I doubt I will do this but ... Clearly my computer won't play ball its going stay way it is unless I do this or just send it back and hope toshiba fixes it (which I know they wouldn't it has be windows error)

I been debating this for awhile now I honestly think some program or tweak or something must of really messed up a windows setting or maybe a power loss during update messed it up and I want some basic info before I even begain to think about doing this. I was also thinking of trying linux out but I think no matter what I need windows...

Just if I do reinstall I want it to be worth it also windows repair doesn't work ran it 10 times trying fix issue I don't get it it just keep updating same thing over and over

 

[blueSKY2013]

Back UP your personal files/Data. Pictures, Videos, Doc. any thing that is not a software. when your doing a factory install it should be like you bought it. How do you backup?? If you backup like this and then try to restore it won't do you any good. grab a USB stick and start coping your personal stuff and insert your factory Recovery DVD/CD and Restore your Computer.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

See comments in bold

If I back up my computer (how do I do this) and then do a fresh factory install can I use the back up cds to put everything back on my computer?
including programs (just wondering)

If you do a clean install, the backup will NOT restore your programs. Only your data. You will have to reinstall programs.

Back up your data to DVDs, to another drive, or to a USB drive. If you use another drive or a USB drive, you can just drag stuff with the mouse.



Also will it put back my desktop and all that?

A clean install will give you a standard Windows desktop, which may be different than what you have now or what you had when your Toshiba arrived.

I factory restore with saving all my info and it goes to a back up folder will it include programs or just files?

If you do a clean install, you should just backup your data. You will have to reinstall programs.

You could backup and restore Windows and your programs using an image, but that wouldn't do you any good. The restored installation would have all of the problems you now have.


Also will it all be usable or am I better off copying files to a flash drive or dvd cds?

A flash drive is better than DVDs. Faster and less likelihood of problems.


But understand this: if you have hardware problems, such as a bad hard drive, the clean installation will probably have the same problems. If your hardware is known to be OK, a clean installation should solve your problems.

 

[xxsicknessxx]

i guess i get mixed up clean install is downloading windows OEM from that website everyone keeps posting? The legit oem windows...

Factory reset is using the factory cds or using the preinstall backup installed on the hard drive (the one toshiba puts there) these are two different things right? and your saying clean install best?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

i guess i get mixed up clean install is downloading windows OEM from that website everyone keeps posting? The legit oem windows...

Factory reset is using the factory cds or using the preinstall backup installed on the hard drive (the one toshiba puts there) these are two different things right? and your saying clean install best?

You can get a clean install by downloading the ISO at mydigitallife.info. Activate it with your product key.

Yes, a factory reset uses the recovery partition on the hard drive OR the recovery CDs.

They are 2 different things.

A clean install gives you a fresh Windows, with nothing extra.

A factory reset gives you what your Toshiba had when you bought it: Windows, plus whatever other stuff Toshiba put on it.

Either may work OK for you.

You cannot do the factory reset unless you have the recovery partition or the recovery CDs.

 

[xxsicknessxx]

I have 3partions


System 1.4gigs
Main drive (one I use) 500gigs
and hdd recovery 14gigs


now back up will back them all up or just main drive? also if I oem install windows do I delete them all or save recovery or save system and recovery?

is back up of the recovery drive? I want to have something in case this goes wrong

i may just factory reinstall windows. I mean the problem can't be with the orginal windows has be problem that came in later like from a bad update or something.... so trying make srue I do this right?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

A factory reset using the "hdd recovery partition" or recovery CDs will restore all 3 partitions, since all 3 of those partitions were there from the factory.

A clean install of Windows will remove all partitions and create 2 new partitions: C for Windows and System Reserved.

Your problem may be a Windows problem because of something you did after getting the PC. Or you could have a hardware problem of some kind.

If you do a clean install, you will no longer be able to do a factory reset UNLESS you contact Toshiba and buy recovery CDs from them.

You may be able to make recovery CDs now from your recovery partition. The recovery partition and the recovery CDs have the same purpose. You don't need both of them.

 

[seavixen32]

To add to the above: the only difference between using a recovery partition as opposed to recovery discs is speed.

Using the recovery partition will recover your system to factory state far quicker than recovery discs will.

However, you should always create a set of recovery discs in case the recovery partition gets corrupted or damaged.

 

[xxsicknessxx]

I get the difference now thanks

 

[xxsicknessxx]

if i clean install windows oem then it won't have the toshiba drivers I need right?

instead just doing a factory reset.

just again making sure if im going do this I got all information first. Yes I have issues that A. Hardware (which I can't do much about)
b. WINDOWS malfunction which would be fixed if I clean install (though I don't like having to save data to disks sounds like pain in ass) not that I got much stuff anyway

Question though if I were to attempt this and doesn't work That would void warrenty correct?

 

[xxsicknessxx]

on side note if a fresh instsall how does microsoft essiteials bundled with malware sound? is that enough or do you need a back up anti virus?" or instead all that just like a bundle software like addware alone or comando pack..

I trying think free options. Again I prob won't do it I always say im going to end up being to lazy but I dunno the computer keeps random resseting and loosnig my network card its odd the driver . network card just are gone for a secound then restart and come back,

Worries me though sounds more like a hardware issue then a windows issue

 

[xxsicknessxx]

i guess i just dont know which is better. I think I would rather do factory because less chance of a screw up, however even if a clean install goes wrong if I have factory cds (back up cds) I can always do that right? The cds mean I don't need anything else right they put all three partions back on the hd no matter what? lol just being carefull

 

[ignatzatsonic]

i guess i just dont know which is better. I think I would rather do factory because less chance of a screw up, however even if a clean install goes wrong if I have factory cds (back up cds) I can always do that right? The cds mean I don't need anything else right they put all three partions back on the hd no matter what? lol just being carefull

If you do a clean install, you will not have the Toshiba drivers, but you can download them from Toshiba before you start. You may not need them anyway. The clean install of Windows will give you new drivers and that may be all you need.

Maybe you got a drivers disc with the Toshiba?

Microsoft Security Essential and Malwarebytes is a good combination, but NOTHING you do will be perfect protection.

As long as you have factory recovery CDs that work, you can always go back to a factory state, even if you try a clean install first.

I don’t know what Toshiba will say about your warranty if you do a clean install. How would they know? If you have recovery CDs, you can always return to factory reset and your warranty should be OK.

If you don’t have recovery CDs, you should make them today.

 

[xxsicknessxx]

Oh well its just someone said might be mother board and should try return to toshiba, but I had two places try fix it and they bolth said different things... guess everyone got opion Seeing how computer seems good on safe mode I got feeling its just windows error, but I dunno dam thing might me possesed

 

[xxsicknessxx]

one last question for the best results should I back up to a dvd/usb or make a seperet partion and back up to that? Thanks

(so there is not automated backup that back ups everything for you then once your done installing windows you run it and just reinstalls everything? have pick and choose right?)
I don't have much I guess I just want to know if I have download all my drivers/installs like guide says or if there another option thanks

 

[xxsicknessxx]

ok ok ... soo Im hoping if I do this I won't be posting 15 times a day with problems... though I still have hesitation.

Question if I do this is there a chance my labtop will need something that comes with it that a clean install would not have? I have restore cds just in case so its not a big deal... also what doesn't come with this? Like my labtop came with some helpfull programs does this mean windows only? No word program? no anti virus? no nothing?

I assume this is where the good comes in?
the faster speed? sorry just again as much info as I can get is wanted thanks before I do this or not because a working computer is better then a not working on I could still factory reinstall the orginal set up to fix this windows problem... Dunno..

will I see a huge preformace gain from this? Because I have all the bloatware turned off anyway I mean its the same windows right? just no bloatware? sorry for so many questions I think I need a windows 7 class lol

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Don’t back up to the hard drive in the Toshiba. Back up to an external hard drive, USB, or DVDs. You don’t have to partition anything.

Backup your personal files manually, not automated. Pick and choose what you want to back up—email, bookmarks, pictures, videos, etc.

Your laptop came with Windows plus the Toshiba stuff. A clean install will NOT include the Toshiba stuff. A factory reset will include the Toshiba stuff.

A factory reset or a clean install should perform about the same. The advantage of the clean install is that less space is used and you don’t have unneeded applications cluttering the drive. Also, you can probably find free programs that work better than most of the Toshiba programs that were included.

I have no idea what programs were included with the Toshiba. A clean install will include Wordpad, but not Word. You would have to supply your own antivirus, such as MSE.

I would try a factory reset with the recovery partition or recovery disks. If that does not work, try a clean install.

 

[xxsicknessxx]

thanks for info the way people said it I thought a clean install would be super faster, I guess when say faster they mean the software it came with won't be bogging it down right? Well seeing how my issue is random restarts and update issues either one will help, but I think a clean install prob be faster and a factory restart prob be better choice the first time. I get you point to try factory first then try clean install... kinda like level 1 then level 2 :0 Thanks for being patient with me I appreciat it

 

[xxsicknessxx]

ok ok i swear last question if I save all my data to back up file will this NEGITIVLY effect my computer? if I do factory defaults or should I just start off fresh? I just remember in old days when tried save data it came out corrupt and stuff? Dunno if windows 7 better

 

[ignatzatsonic]

ok ok i swear last question if I save all my data to back up file will this NEGITIVLY effect my computer? if I do factory defaults or should I just start off fresh? I just remember in old days when tried save data it came out corrupt and stuff? Dunno if windows 7 better

I don't see how saving your data to a backup drive could possibly have a negative effect unless you somehow don't do the backup correctly.

You should always have your data backed up, even if you are not doing a factory reset or a clean install.

If you are going to do a factory reset or a clean install and want to save your data, you have to do a backup---you don't have a choice.

Backup the data and do a factory reset. If the reset works, move your data back to the new installation.

If the factory reset still has problems, do a clean install.

If you still have problems after a clean install, it's probably a hardware issue.

The very first thing you should do is make factory recovery disks.