The process of reinstalling Windows on your computer is simpler than you might think.
The
very idea can often induce a mild sense of panic, but the benefits of
reinstalling Windows far outweigh any perceived risks, particularly as
you can eliminate those dangers simply by making sure you back things up
as you go.
Reinstalling Windows offers a number of
benefits. It can revive a sluggish system by clearing out all the
clutter and letting you start from scratch.
You'll be
amazed at how quick your PC suddenly feels, and it'll be more stable
too, with corrupt files and problematic programs removed from the
equation. In many circumstances it can also clean your computer of
malware, although it's important to note that this isn't guaranteed.
There
are three different levels of reinstalling you can perform depending on
how far you want to go, and in this feature we'll cover them all – from
a quick over-the-top reinstall to try and fix minor problems to a
full-blown reorganisation of your hard drive, complete with formatting
and fresh installation.
Whatever ails your computer, there's a reinstall solution to help fix it.
If you're reinstalling Windows because you think your system
needs a quick refresh, then a repair installation is worth considering.
The whole process takes less than an hour, and basically installs a
fresh copy of Windows over the top of your existing, jaded copy, so that
programs, settings and data remain intact.
There are
two ways to perform a repair install: if your copy of Windows was
pre-loaded by your manufacturer, follow its instructions for a system
recovery, choosing 'non-destructive' when prompted. This may involve
recovery discs, but in most cases can be done by rebooting and before
Windows loads, pressing the key to access recovery options.
Not all manufacturers provide a non-destructive option – if the only
options you can see involve partitioning, formatting or wiping your
existing installation, you'll have to jump to the next section and
perform a full-blown reinstall instead.
If you installed
Windows from an installation disc, then the process is a little more
complicated. If you've installed any Service Packs since Windows was
first installed, then these will need to be removed as the installation
disc will detect a 'newer' version of Windows and refuse to install over
the top of it. If you're unable to remove the Service Pack or you're
unable to boot into Windows at all, then you'll need to perform a full
reinstall instead. NOTE: Commenter
badvok66 rightly points out that if you have apps that require
authorisation or authentication (such as iTunes, some anti-virus
programs or Adobe Creative Suite) then you ought to deactivate these
before reinstalling your system to prevent any problems when
reactivating.
Perform the installation
The
step-by-step guide below reveals how to perform a repair installation
in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Windows XP users do things differently:
start by rebooting with the Windows XP CD inserted.
Press
any key when prompted – if you get a message about Windows not being
able to recognise your drive, you'll need SATA drivers on a floppy disk
(check the manufacturer's site for a make-disk utility). Then restart
the process, pressing F2 when prompted to load the drivers.
When
the Welcome screen appears, don't press R – instead, press Return to
set up Windows as directed. Press F8 and Windows will scan for your
existing installation. Make sure it's selected and then press R to
repair it.
Windows XP will now delete all system files
and copy replacements from the installation disc. Setup will then
initialise and save your configuration, then reboot. Ignore any request
to boot from CD.
When prompted for your language
settings click Customize – set both options to English (United Kingdom),
then switch to the Advanced tab and do the same. Click OK > Details.
If it's present, select English (United Kingdom) – United Kingdom from
the menu or click Add to pick it from the list.
Once
done, pick the US entry and click Remove followed by Apply, then click
OK twice. Click Next, then enter your product key – you should find this
with your installation disc. Then click Next.
Once
complete, Windows XP will restart – click Next at the first screen, opt
whether or not to register and click Next again followed by Finish.
Post repair steps
Once
the repair process is complete, you should find yourself back at your
desktop. Your programs, files and user settings should be intact,
although some things, such as System Restore points, will be lost. Some
programs may also stop working – try installing the program over the top
of itself to resolve these lingering problems.
All
that's left to do is to bring your PC back up to date. Open Windows
Update to check for and install updates – you may have to repeat the
process a few times, rebooting Windows when prompted, before it finally
tells you everything is current. A repair install can resolve many
niggling stability issues, but if the problems continue it's time to
perform a complete reinstallation.
Repair installation: Get a new PC in 30 minutes! (Win Vista/7)
1. Remove service packs
If
you've installed a Service Pack after Windows was first installed or
loaded on to your computer, you'll need to remove it first. Open the
Programs and Features Control Panel and select View installed updates.
Scroll down, select Service Pack for Windows and click Uninstall to
remove it. 2. Start repair process
The
repair installation process must be run from Windows itself – boot into
Safe mode if necessary to start it. Pop your Windows disc into the
drive and if the Autoplay dialogue box appears, click Run setup.exe. If it doesn't appear, click Start > Computer and double-click the DVD drive icon. 3. Get updates
Click
Yes followed by Install Now to start the process. When prompted, click
Go online to get the latest updates for installation (recommended) and
wait for them to be downloaded. Once done, the process will
automatically restart. 4. Choose upgrade installation
Read
the licence, then tick I accept the license terms before clicking Next.
Windows Vista will ask for your product key (Windows 7 will skip this
step), then at the next screen choose Upgrade. Now wait while the
compatibility check is performed. 5. Make a cup of tea
Once
complete, Windows will install over the top of itself, following a
similar – but not identical – process to a fresh install. It will
restart several times during the process, but can be safely left to its
own devices. Expect this to take half an hour or so. 6. Complete repair process
When
prompted, enter your product key and click Next. Choose Use Recommended
Settings, then work your way through the rest of the set-up wizard
verifying your time zone and network settings – click Skip to ignore any
irrelevant parts.
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