Introduction
Divide to conquer
The operation
Digital Fail-Safe |
Digital Fail-Safe
Here are some tips for ensuring you don't lose any valuable data before, during or after the reinstallation process.
- If you've got some really important files you can't bear to lose, consider backing up their backups.
- Make sure any backup CDs you have are still readable. A free utility called CD Check lets you determine which files, if any, are corrupted.
- Before you back up e-mails, scan them with antivirus software.
- Don't forget to back up your Favorites.
- Check your Recycle Bin for any files you may have discarded accidentally.
- Use drive-cleaning disks for floppy, CD and DVD drives.
- Defragment your hard drive.
- Now that you've dashed all the digital dust bunnies, take your machine outside and blow out all the real dust with canned air, or even a leaf blower, if you have one.
- When reinstalling applications, read each prompt before you hit Enter.
- Once you've restored your data after the reinstall, check your files and folders for corruption.
If you realise you forgot a file or a folder you can't live without, don't enter any more information on the drive, and consider contacting a data-recovery service. They typically charge both a flat diagnostic fee as well as an hourly rate. In addition to recovering lost files, the recovery service may also be able to fix corrupted ones, depending on the operating system.
-- Nancy A. Feldman
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hensleys_1999@yahoo.com
20/01/2006 09:08 AM
what if you've done the system recovery a few times and there is still some sort of "virus" popping up and causing problems? can you actually completely wipe your hard drive clean so that even some obscure virus cant possible survive after recovery?
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Alan
08/12/2006 01:39 PM
if you get the answer to your question let me know cause im in the same boat
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paradiseliven@hawaiintel.net
14/02/2007 02:02 PM
haven't use my +laptop in a while and forgot admin password is there any to by pass to get on the comp
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downie
04/03/2007 12:08 AM
i bought my pc about a year ago an got windows me took out of my pc an in place i got windows xp pro installed an its a fake how do i wipe my hard drive to reinstall my windows me back in it
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Needs some computr heeelp
17/05/2007 10:31 AM
I need to reinstal W2000 (Windows 2000) but I need to erase all da udder operating systems. I tried a million ways and day wont go away. Thers only 6.42 gb on da hd so i nede 2 get rid of dem udderwise it will be slow ash heck. Pweese tell me hou 2 overrite all dee exsisting operating shistems wid a new 1. UUUUUUURGENT
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Guest
09/07/2007 10:47 PM
Guys Use Dariks Boot And Nuke (google it) Dowload it then copy to CD/DVD then Restart ya comoputer Witht he CD/DVD in it and the boot From CD/DVD rom And it will auto Run Type DOD The it will wipe yor hardrive 100% you wont be able recover anthing!!!!! then simply Reinstall You OS
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bobby2681
16/07/2007 03:59 AM
i have a dell dimension p100t and i need help. i need to wipe the drive but my os is already gone how do i do this
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stew00d
03/09/2007 09:56 PM
hmmmm
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smoothbill
03/11/2007 02:39 PM
cool
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lolcat
12/12/2007 04:36 AM
I love how people ask questions that were just answered in this article.
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tom5411
20/12/2007 06:12 AM
my hardrives is completely gone, the sound card is messed up, the validation code is'nt right so i can't download and install updates i need, can i buy a new hardrives, its a dell dimension 3100,a brand new one though not a second one
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daniel
27/12/2007 02:55 AM
you can unstill windows xp everybode bye formateing your computer or restill window xp with cd have you got vista send me it if good at it
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warren
25/01/2008 04:11 PM
i deleated all things that was on my flash drive now every time i reboot all the info goes on my desk top i have to delate the information all the time how do i clear off my computer
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little_shuey
27/02/2008 05:55 AM
i have the same problem as hensleys_1999. is there away that i could make it to were it's like my hard drive was never used before?
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Jerry
23/03/2008 04:12 PM
anyone know how t set a server that we can run wipe and install os from?
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olivern
02/04/2008 08:21 AM
There is also free software that you could use to clean your hard drive. You should try: http://dban.sourceforge.net/ You can also pay for similar software if you want like. http://data-eliminator.com/
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DINO
29/04/2008 02:37 PM
EXCELENT
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Xiahoudun32
14/07/2008 03:21 AM
So, I own a toshiba laptop, and I have save all my media and saved game files, etc. to an external hard drive. There is nothing necessary on the computer I need to keep... I have a vista "anytime upgrade disk" and the product key associated with it, along with 2 driver cds... my question is, what do I put in my cd drive first, the driver disk, which has the option to format the drive, or do I install vista followed by the drivers? (ps, I only have 1 internal hard drive)
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stan lott
19/08/2008 11:17 PM
one of the best willsee you again thank you
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