Solved Should I Do a Clean Install?

[gregrocker]

Not tomorrow if you want me to walk you through install via phone then connect via Teamviewer to set it up, but Sunday afternoon and evening yes.

Are you able to back up your User folders to Onedrive before then? This is the best way to organize yourself and will help use quickly reimport your files if you have no other external storage like a flash stick or external hard drive that's big enough. It's OK if this is not how you want to have them, but I'm just saying that it makes it much easier to have everything sorted into Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, Favorites (IE Bookmarks), Downloads and Music, then just upload those to Onedrive.

You need to also put your wireless and ethernet adapters in the backup along with TeamViewer Download. Those adapter downloads are on the Support Downloads webpage for your model PC. Look in Device Manage under Network adapters to make sure you choose the right make/model.

At least three times before the reinstall you should sign into OneDrive to confirm all of your files are there.

 

[Jesse Williams]

I'm not really worried about anything like that. Most of my important documents are already on OneDrive. Yes, I will be free Sunday afternoon. The pictures, I can do without. Most of them are all on my phone and Facebook anyways.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Okay. How would I put the wireless and Ethernet adapters in the backup? I'm not one that backs up my data like I should. Do I back it up to OneDrive?

Also, will the product key that came with my computer work on the windows 7 installation?

 

[gregrocker]

Yeah make sure the Product Key is readable. You can take a picture of it with a smartphone under bright light, then blow it up to read it better. Or use a magnifying glass.

Decide where you want to put your backup that's big enough, then sort your files into the User folders I mentioned under your User account name, drag those files to the backup or upload them to Onedrive.

There are steps in the beginning of Clean Reinstall Windows 7 to make sure nothing is forgotten.

You need you to do all of this before Sunday if I am going to help you. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[gregrocker]

Since you're already using OneDrive, you can install the OneDrive app on your PC from https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/download/.

Then once you get all the files sorted into your User account's Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Downloads, Music,Favorites, etc. folders just drag those full folders to the One Drive folder so each of those folders appear in it. You'll then be able to monitor from the bottom right System Tray cloud icon how long it takes to upload them to the cloud.

Remember that once you copy the User folder into OneDrive folder, anything else you put in the Account's User folder must also be put in the OneDrive User folder as they do not sync unless you permanently move the User folders into One Drive as I explain in Sync, Backup and Store your Files to the Cloud with OneDrive. You can read over that tutorial to see if it's something you'd like, and if so I'll set it up for you when I connect to complete your reinstall.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Okay. Do you mind providing this to me in steps?

 

[gregrocker]

I thought I just did.

Download and install https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/download//.

Sort your loose data into one of the named User account folders: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Favorites. You can do this by dragging the files to the folder on the left-hand Explorer bar. Windows 7 - How to Drag and Drop to Move a Folder - YouTube

Once you've organized your data into the User folders, drag the User folders to the OneDrive folder.

Watch the progress by highlighting the bottom right System Tray cloud icon to make sure the files are uploaded completely to Onedrive, then rightclick to Go to Onedrive.Com, verify the files are there in the cloud by comparing their size to the original files.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Yes, you did. But, sometimes it takes a while for me to understand things. If it helps you better to understand me, I have a learning disorder. I am also Autistic. I am not dumb, people just have to explain things to me in a simple way. I hope you understand.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Okay. I think I might be understanding a little better now. My only worry, is how do I put my wireless and ethernet adapter in OneDrive? That's where I missed what you were saying. All of the other is not that important, I don't think.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Okay. I have moved all of my stuff to OneDrive. The problem is that it is not organized.

 

[gregrocker]

Type Device Manager in your Start button search box. Open Device Manager and look under Network Adapters for your wireless driver to confirm the Maker.

Download the wireless driver from that maker from Download Drivers and Manuals | Acer Official Site. Rightclick on it to Extract to the Downloads folder. Double click on the .exe file to make sure it opens and starts the install.

 

[gregrocker]

Okay. I have moved all of my stuff to OneDrive. The problem is that it is not organized.

I just gave you the steps above to sort your loose data into the User folders.

Download and install https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-us/download//.

Sort your loose data into one of the named User account folders: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Favorites. You can do this by dragging the files to the folder on the left-hand Explorer bar. Windows 7 - How to Drag and Drop to Move a Folder - YouTube

Once you've organized your data into the User folders, drag the User folders to the OneDrive folder.

Watch the progress by highlighting the bottom right System Tray cloud icon to make sure the files are uploaded completely to Onedrive, then rightclick to Go to Onedrive.Com, verify the files are there in the cloud by comparing their size to the original files.

Your User folders should be under C:/Users/Jesse

 

[Jesse Williams]

...and put the information in OneDrive. Right?

 

[Jesse Williams]

Yes, you did. But, naturally I got ahead of myself and put them in OneDrive without organizing anything.

 

[gregrocker]

As long as you know where to find them, and you confirm they are all there before we wipe the drive to reinstall.

The easiest way to get organized is to sort them into the User folders, that's all. It's not strictly required.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Okay. It's an Atheros AR8152/8158 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20) and a Qualcomm Atheros AR5B125 Wireless Network Adapter.

Do I need the Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter?

 

[gregrocker]

No.

Once install completes if it is not ready to connect to your wireless network, you'll need to install the Atheros, connect to your network, install TeamViewer Download if you want me to connect Sunday to finish up your install.

Do you know your wireless network's name and password/key?

 

[Jesse Williams]

Yes, I do.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Also, I already have TeamViewer downloaded to my system.

 

[Jesse Williams]

Do I put the TeamViewer download on OneDrive?