Solved Will reinstalling Windows delete all my data?

[MisterL]

Let's say that system repair (cant repair my computer), system recovery (no image to recover from) and system restore (my only restore point is corrupted or deleted) aren't working and I'm not sure if I have a Windows partition on my hard drive.I can't even get as far at the log in screen because of a blue screen and Process1_initialization_failed. I haven't ever backed up my data and I really don't wanna lose all 250+ GBs of data on my laptop. Can I use a bootable USB with Windows 7 to reinstall Windows and somehow keep all my data? Or is installing (upgrading to) Windows 8 or 10 the only way to preserve all my files?

 

[billmcct]

Do a repair install with your Windows Boot USB. Doesn't touch the data.

Repair Install

 

[MisterL]

I have my usb with Windows 7 on but I can't run setup.exe since I haven't even been able to get as far as logging in to my user account. And Safe Mode doesn't work either

 

[SIW2]

depends how much space you have.

You can install win7 without formatting the target partition and it will move the existing installation into a folder called windows.old.

 

[flavallee]

I haven't ever backed up my data and I really don't wanna lose all 250+ GBs of data on my laptop.

What would you have done if your laptop's storage drive had failed or if your laptop had been stolen?

Personal data that's important should be backed up on a regular basis to reliable external media and then kept in a safe place.

 

[file3456]

Your error might be related to the bootcat.cache file. So rather then pulling out an axe, try this fix from Microsoft first. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...b-process1-initialization-failed-error-messag

You could also just boot puppy Linux or even Damn Small Linux (DSL), or Hirens Boot CD and navigate to the bootcat.cache file and delete it.

Where's the path to the bootcat.cache file? Why, it's in C:\Windows\System32\CodeIntegrity

This may or may not be the issue, but worth a try before you try a reinstall. If you do have Service Pack 1 installed, then this may not be your issue.

 

[file3456]

If this doesn't work you should have a factory recovery partition. Download your manual here and go to page 29.

If this was me I'd clone that disk now or at least use Hirens Boot CD and start copy/pasting your data to an external HDD.

To clone your had drive, download AOMEI Backupper (there is a free version) and install. Now create a Linux boot CD from withen AOMEI Backupper. You can opt for a blank USB stick or CD.

Once that is done you need a hard drive that is equal to or larger than your laptop's hard drive for the clone. Plug the external USB HDD in and boot the AOMEI Backupper USB or CD like you would a Windows OS install CD/USB. When AOMEI Backupper boots just chose the source which will be your laptop's internal HDD and the destination which will be your external USB HDD. If your internal laptop HDD is a SSD, chose the align partition option when making the clone. You don't need the sector by sector option unless you have corrupt data on your drive that you'd like to preserve. I'm thinking a sector by sector will also clone the same size of the internal drive to the external drive. So if your laptop drive is 250 GB in size, the clone will be 250 GB in size. But if you don't use sector by sector I'm thinking if you have only used some 50 GB of the laptop's HDD and clone, then the external HDD that receives the clone will only be 50 GB in size.

 

[file3456]

Do a repair install with your Windows Boot USB. Doesn't touch the data.

Repair Install

Off topic, but did you know Pale Moon or Blue Moon beer was created here in Colorado? I think either at Coors Field its self or the great beer festival what ever it's called in Denver. They serve this beer at Coors Field. I won a contest back in '94 to visit Coors Field and meet the Colorado Rockies, tour the stadium and have my ugly mug shown live on the big screen LOL! Was the best Summer I ever had. At the time I had a full time Summer job at the ripe old age of 15, made some $1200 bucks, and had my own ATM card.

 

[billmcct]

Off topic, but did you know Pale Moon or Blue Moon beer was created here in Colorado? I think either at Coors Field its self or the great beer festival what ever it's called in Denver. They serve this beer at Coors Field. I won a contest back in '94 to visit Coors Field and meet the Colorado Rockies, tour the stadium and have my ugly mug shown live on the big screen LOL! Was the best Summer I ever had. At the time I had a full time Summer job at the ripe old age of 15, made some $1200 bucks, and had my own ATM card.

OFF TOPIC:
Coors, (which is now owned by South African Brewing Co. along with Miller) does own the Blue Moon brand.
I drank Pale Moon beer for many years here in Georgia til Coors changed the formula and started calling it "Pale Ale". I can no longer find any Blue Moon brand here.
Story | Blue Moon

 

[file3456]

I can get Blue Moon here in Colorado. Send me at least tree fiddy via Bitcoin or Monero and I'll said you some.

Actually, is it illegal to ship liquor?


Products matching 'Blue Moon' - World Beverage

I don't care for beer that much, but I used to buy Blue Moon if I wanted beer as that was my preference. I find the micro brewery beers to be pretty damn good. There's a restaurant here called Rock Bottom that brews there own beer and that is where I had the best damn fall ale I ever had. I'm more into a Jack & coke or rum & coke. Always liked the hard stuff, but never got all stupid drunk and crap. Just became REALLY talkative and social. LOL in vino veritas.

 

[billmcct]

LOL,
I have family there, in Denver. Way back in the days when Coors didn't sell East of the Mississippi river I would bring back 15 / 20 cases every time I would visit. That was when Coors actually used Rocky Mountain spring water.

 

[file3456]

LOL,
I have family there, in Denver. Way back in the days when Coors didn't sell East of the Mississippi river I would bring back 15 / 20 cases every time I would visit. That was when Coors actually used Rocky Mountain spring water.

My dad did that in the '70s and made a fortune! LOL

I think Coors is packing up and heading east. Unreal.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

I guess I've already exceeded the statute of limitations, , ,

On my last trip from Ill. to Denver, years ago, I went home with 250 cases of Coors beer in the back of my long-body Chevy van. I'm sure glad I didn't get stopped by the constabulary.


I heard recently, that the Coors family sold out to other brewers. Coors Lite is still my beer of choice.


And yes, just installing Windows to a hard drive will usually wipe out any data that was there.
That's the nice thing about doing a RE-Install....you get to do a fresh start.


I'd just back up my data first. Then you don't have to worry about it.
In fact, I just backed up all my data today, to a 128GB Flash Drive, just before I cloned my SSD to a 2TB spinner.


"The only bad backup, is the one you decided NOT to make".


Cheers Mates, and Merry Christmas!

TM

 

[file3456]

LMAO! Looks like every beer drinking American did the same thing in the '70s.


"The only bad backup, is the one you decided NOT to make".


El correcto (or something like that). The only bad backup is the one you didn't test! LOL