need an advice ...

[kak2a2]

as you all know i just did a clean install ... like always
when anything goes wrong in my laptop i just reinstall ... which is a headache

so i just wanna know if anything goes wrong in the laptop ... at that moment what should i already have ? to prevent the reinstall ? backup .... ?

 

[zigzag3143]

as you all know i just did a clean install ... like always
when anything goes wrong in my laptop i just reinstall ... which is a headache

so i just wanna know if anything goes wrong in the laptop ... at that moment what should i already have ? to prevent the reinstall ? backup .... ?

You should have several things


1-a win 7 dvd

2-a back up either from within win 7 (and if so a restore point) or by a third party app like Acronis (which I use).

3- If 3rd party app a bootible dvd for that app.

4-some tools like a dvd full of partitioning tools etc


Ken

 

[Brink]

Hello Kak2a2,

In addition, creating a restore point before making any changes to your system will allow you to be able to do a quick system restore back to that restore point should that change mess up your system.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[gregrocker]

Follow zigzag's advice to save externally a backup image when you have Win7 setup exactly as you want, so that you never have to reinstall again - just reimage using the DVD or Repair CD to "Recover Using an Image" in 15 minutes.

I use Win7 backup imaging which has never failed for me. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

Maybe something about the way you are setting up is messing things up to cause constant reinstalls:

Install programs slowly over time to gauge performance changes. Don't let programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup besides AV and gadgets as they become freeloaders on your CPU/RAM at all times and can spy on you.

Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials with the Windows Firewall.

Learn to troubleshoot issues rather than reinstalling/reimaging as solution. Google repeat errors in Device Manager>Admin View to see how others have solved them. Study also Performance log on Advanced Tools page accessed by clicking WEI score link at Computer>Properties. Look for cued issues at top of Tools page, Generate a System Health Report.

Clean and order your HD perfectly using state-of-the-art free CCleaner and Auslogics Disk and Registry defraggers monthly.

As Brink says set System Restore points at key times so you can return to when things worked correctly before having to reimage. I have a Sleep issue on one machine here where troubleshooting takes hours, but I can Sys Restore to my "Sleep works" restore point in 5 minutes. You can Configure space for more SysRestore points at Computer>Properties>SysProtection.

 

[A Guy]

Hard to improve on the advice already given. But I might add, if you tend to try things, applications and "tweaks" and such, then you might be well served to check out a sandbox program such as Sandboxie.

Sandboxie

Using Sandboxie

I used my last PC almost 7 years, and never did a reinstall. Always had backup images to rescue me from anything stupid I did, or anything odd that befell me. It's great piece of mind, and far preferable to constantly reinstalling. You can make an image of your fresh install with all the then current windows updates, your security products and any "always must have" programs. Then you will have a great head start should you want to go back to a fresh image. Then backup regularly to have current backups with all your changes and "tweaks" that worked.

A 2nd hard drive, external or internal is a must, this will also protect you from a C:\ drive failure. A new drive, imaged with your backup, and you will be right back where you were. A Guy

 

[kak2a2]

did all what you say but i have two things
1- "Acronis" and "Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup" ... they do the same job ? i mean i should do one of them or both ?
2- CCleaner ... everyone seems to recommend it to me but i'm afraid to use because i think that it may played a part in ruining my registry files the before reinstalling
now here's how i use it :
*under "windows explorer" i uncheck the box next to "thumbnail cache" ... i don't wanna lose them
** i uncheck everything related to firefox ... i don't wanna lose my passwords and preferences
then i click on "analyz"e ... then "run cleaner"
so is this the right way to use the program ? nothing could go wrong ?

 

[mw2]

Have same sort of problem and mainly i just reinstall the whole of windows. But it is such a waste of time so I just did a windows back up and that saves so much time. Just get a USB-HDD and back up your work!

Hope it helps...

 

[whs]

2- CCleaner ... everyone seems to recommend it to me but i'm afraid to use because i think that it may played a part in ruining my registry files

Although CCleaner seems to be relatively safe, you should never tamper with the registry. That is going to get you into trouble one way or the other. The temporary file cleaning function of CCleaner is OK - I use that all the time without problems.

 

[gregrocker]

did all what you say but i have two things
1- "Acronis" and "Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup" ... they do the same job ? i mean i should do one of them or both ??

If you have Acronis I would use it as it has more options. Otherwise use built-in Win7 Backup imaging to save externally a backup image so you never have to reinstall.

2- CCleaner ... everyone seems to recommend it to me but i'm afraid to use because i think that it may played a part in ruining my registry files the before reinstalling
now here's how i use it :
*under "windows explorer" i uncheck the box next to "thumbnail cache" ... i don't wanna lose them
** i uncheck everything related to firefox ... i don't wanna lose my passwords and preferences
then i click on "analyz"e ... then "run cleaner"
so is this the right way to use the program ? nothing could go wrong ?

I would use CCleaner "Run Cleaner" at defaults. It is optimal set that way. I uncheck cookies sometimes if I dont' want to have to sign in again everywhere.

If you have worries about registry, then when using the "Registry" tab backup the changes when offered so you can "merge" them back in if issues arise. But I have never had an issue with CCleaner in hundreds of installs over 10 years.