How to save hard drive data

[chakka35]

My wife's laptop uses Windows 7 which is unfamiliar to me since I use Windows XL.

Because of a problem, she has been advised to use the Recovery facility to return the laptop to its factory condition, but presumably this means she will first have to save all the programs and data she has put on her hard drive over the year she has owned the machine.

How does she do this, and how does she re-install the programs and data after she has completed the Recovery?

[follyfancier]

copy everything that you need to keep onto cds , then when you get it back you just load the cds and copy to your new hard drive

[VHG]

Before taking the drastic step of doing a full recorvery get a second opinion on wherether it needs to be done.

I have worked in IT for many years, and the answer for lazy support people is to say "you need to reinstall Windows".

But there are very few times when you DO have to do a full Windows reinstall.

Maybe you can let us know what the problem is to see if we can help.

[VHG]

If you DO eventually need to do a full recorvery then you need to:

Copy all personal files to an external hard disk, or CD/DVD (or both) to make sure you have everything backed up. Personal files include documents, photos, music, vidoes and anything else she has created since she had the laptop.

Most of these personal files should be on the C drive, and she needs to copy them to an external hard drive (which may be the G drive or H drive for example). Also use a program like Nero or Roxio to copy these files to a CD or DVD.

Also save all her browser favorites, and also any email settings.

Also make a note of any userids and passwords she needs to log on to web sites and so on.

You cant "copy" or "save" programs to external hard disk in the same way. What you need to do is make sure you have a copy of every program you have installed so you can reinstall them after a Windows reinstall.

Perhaps make a note of every program she currently has installed so it is easier to know what to install afterwards.

[galeck1947]

I agree with VHG we need to know what your problem is because a lot of the times a repair is all that is needed . Windows 7 has an excellant backup and restore program and you can backup everything including a system image to an external hard drive.You should have created system repair discs when you first got the computer and also a system rescue disc which is also part of Windows 7.

[chakka35]

Thanks to you all.
galeck says that 'Windows 7 has an excellent backup and restore program' but how do I find it? I have had no success so far. Forgive my inadequacy. Cheers.

[edinburgh2014]

you can externally connect or backup your all data into another HDD and the you can format or reinstall OS into your own HDD.

http://www.edinburgh-datarecovery.co.uk/

[DanielGachara]

hey, i was once in a similar situation an this is how i got out of it
Step 1. In Search Windows box type control panel and open it.

Step 2. Click on "Recovery" and then "Open System Restore".

Step 3. Select "Next" and then click then "Show more restore points" check box to view a list of previous restore points.

Step 4. Select a restore point before the program you want to recover was uninstalled and then select "Scan for affected programs" to see what other programs would be affected if you perform the restore.

Step 5. Select "Close" and then select "Next" if you agree with the changes that the system restore will make to your system.

Step 6. Save and close any programs that are open and then select "Finish."

Step 7. Select "Yes" to initialize the system restore process and recover the uninstalled program and data. A message stating that the system restore completed successfully is displayed after a reboot to confirm that the operation was a success.
if your data is completely lost https://node.africa/ can help you recover it.

[bhg481]

follyfancier recommends copying to CDs - depending on the amount of data you've got you might need dozens of them. DVDs would be better but the most sensible option is to get an external hard drive and copy ALL your data to that REGULARLY.

[bhg481]

If you do buy an external hdd you can create a copy of your system image on it.
Control panel > backup and restore . create a system image.

That way, if you have future problems you can restore your system, programs and all, from that image.