Question about creating windows 7 backup

[Pepper73]

I apologize for the newbie question, but a couple of years ago I bought a Lenovo desktop with Windows 7 installed. They no longer include a backup and I was told that I would have to create one myself. I figured 'how hard could that be'?? Well I googled how to do it and there is so much info out there, I'm completely lost

If someone could give me a simple walkthrough regarding this matter would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Please clarify.

Which of these things would you want to do:

1: The ability to do a clean reinstall of Windows 7, whatever version it is that you have, without any of the stuff (good or bad) that Lenovo may have included.

2: A restoration of the Windows installation to the state it was in when the PC was manufactured, along with whatever stuff (good or bad) that Lenovo may have included.

3: A restoration of your Windows installation to the state it is in today.

4: A "backup" of your personal data files, but not the Windows installation.

5: More than one of the above.

6: Something else.

 

[Pepper73]

My computer is running slow, and I feel I have a lot of useless crap on it, and/or viruses etc. I was hoping to get it like new again when I purchased it. I'm worried that if I do a clean reinstall I would lose Microsoft office (which I paid $100 for)

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Referring to my list, are you choosing 2?

 

[Pepper73]

yes #2 please and thank you for your help

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I have no Lenovo-specific info, but the major OEMs like Dell, Lenovo, Acer, etc should have similar policies.

Any "recovery" would take you back to factory specs as the PC was when it left the factory, with whatever applications and configuration Lenovo included.

You probably have several choices, such as:

1: Contacting Lenovo and requesting "recovery disks" for your PC. They may be free or there may be a charge. You'd then run these discs from your DVD drive.

2: Making your own recovery disks by using certain menus and applications already on your PC. You'd need to have a burner and some blank CDs or maybe DVDs.

3: Recovery using a probably hidden "recovery partition" placed on your hard drive by Lenovo at the factory.

All 3 of these would accomplish the same thing.

I don't know which of those choices you have, but it's a 99% certainty you can do at least one of them. Someone with Lenovo specific knowledge will have to help you. Most likely it's a fairly simple procedure involving knowing where to look---which menus, which of your applications, your Windows Control Panel, etc.

You would lose any personal data if you don't back it up separately.

You would lose any changes made to the system since you bought it. For instance, any programs you've installed since purchase. You'd have to reinstall them.

Your PC should have a sticker on it somewhere, placed there by Lenovo, that contains a 25 character "Product Key". If you can find this, you can always do a "clean install" of Windows, which some people prefer, but which would NOT include Office or anything additional.

Do you have the Office install discs? Did you just get a trial version or a full unrestricted version?

I should add: I would NOT assume that this procedure will solve whatever slowness issues you are having.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Your Lenovo should have "Lenovo One Key recovery" You should have the user manual on your hdd in .pdf format, there is a chapter on restoring to factory new condition.

You need to write down the "key" for MS Office then you can activate after reinstalling. You should have all software lic keys written down and stored a safe location and also off site.

 

[bigmck]

My computer is running slow, and I feel I have a lot of useless crap on it, and/or viruses etc. I was hoping to get it like new again when I purchased it. I'm worried that if I do a clean reinstall I would lose Microsoft office (which I paid $100 for)

If you get your PC " I was hoping to get it like new again when I purchased it", you will still have to reinstall your MS Office. It was not there when you bought the PC. That is not a problem though. Just put the disk in and it will be reinstalled. There is a Product Key on the disk that you would enter after the install.

 

[Pepper73]

My computer is running slow, and I feel I have a lot of useless crap on it, and/or viruses etc. I was hoping to get it like new again when I purchased it. I'm worried that if I do a clean reinstall I would lose Microsoft office (which I paid $100 for)

If you get your PC " I was hoping to get it like new again when I purchased it", you will still have to reinstall your MS Office. It was not there when you bought the PC. That is not a problem though. Just put the disk in and it will be reinstalled. There is a Product Key on the disk that you would enter after the install.

I have MS Office that has 1 product key but can be used up to 3x, so if I get my pc like new again, will I use up another MS Office key but reinstalling it?

 

[bigmck]

I have MS Office that has 1 product key but can be used up to 3x, so if I get my pc like new again, will I use up another MS Office key but reinstalling it?

That means you can use it on three different PC's in your house. You can install as many times as you want.