If you were going to Format your computer....tomorrow...?
 

What would you do?

What steps would u take?


What would u back up?

I ask...because I need to re-format and install Windows and I don't wanna skip something or do something stoopit.

format c: on my pc
or
rm -R * on my server

Back up My Docs folder, and other folders where you may keep your site designs, templates, etc. Go into C: drive, go into folder options and enable view hidden files and folders if not already. Grab Favorites folder, go into identities and grab all Outlook/Outlook Express files, address book. Grab any data from programs. Reformat drive, install windows, Windows updates, Service pack 2, more updates, install all CD Roms again. Done.

First I would backup my most important stuff to DVD.

then I would go buy a new hard drive, use it as the master and install windows on it.

Then hook up the old one as a slave and copy the files I need.

i got backup of everything important twice on 2 300 gig external hdds

making updates every week

backup my desktop on dvd, save the program settings that need to be set, and format

never did a format in my life (at least I don't remember it anymore)

Been thinking of getting a few ext HD's... insted of having 100000 CD's all over the place...

Outlook back up is a must!!!

I don't keep anything on my C for this very reason.

All documents for sure
and make a list of the programs i currently have installed

The really important things are you back up your documents.

My Docs Folder
Work Folder
Filezilla Folder
Visual Basic Project Folder
Unified Stats/Statsremote
Roboform
Firefox Favorites
Gallery Submit Program Database
Content
E-mails
ICQ-logs

And my Music, Movie folders.

:upsidedow

But you have reinstalled Windows, right?
Or maybe you just buy a new computer when your old box starts getting slow. :winkwink:

It's gonna get ya, sooner or later. I never did a format in 10 years either until a HD went south on me. Ever since I use Super Duper (Mac) and Ghost (Win). Back up, dude, before it is too late.

mirror the drive, then format and then restore whatever i need... i keed the mirror for at least a 2-3 months

Try using this for your back-ups:

www.goodsync.com

Don't forget to backup your FireFox profile, especially bookmarks and saved passwords, if any.

People sometime used to have their temp work on desktop, so give it a look too.

Wow, GoodSync looks similar to Allway Sync

http://www.allwaysync.com

I just reformatted 2 days ago, got a new cpu (E6600) and mb (asrock) and cpu fan (zalman) here's a few things I picked up that made everything smooth.

First I use thunderbird and firefox, so I grabbed MozBackup, and that made quick work of backing up my 2gb of e-mails. Also all my FireFox bookmarks, even filled forms..

I have a fast small HD as my OS (36gb raptor), so it's easy to just move things to other drives (2 of them) and then reformat. Drag desktop into a directory, find the settings I need from program files, and yeah pretty painless.

vista isn't as scary as I thought yet either, seems pretty nice. bright.

bakc up C: for sure...drivers and hardwares are on another hd in case

i format every 8 to 12 months..backup everything and remember you will always forget something

only keep my important shit on USB hard drive, my drive is completly recoverable...

That was true up until v4. Starting in April, V6 is entirely homegrown.

1. backup everything
2. format c

acronis true image - make an image of the c drive and store it somewhere.

do a windows REPAIR installation and see if everything works as it should. if so u can skip a format/install.

if repair fails or sucks then format and install windows. install acronis and mount your previous image. copy over files as needed.

Just buy a new computer and transfer your files.

first i will try to repair Windows.............if nothing work out...............back up all necessary files in another HDD and format c

I would run

format c: -autotest

This immediately formats your computer without any yes/?no?/are-you-sure? questions. It's kinda secret parameter. Be careful. Btw it doesnt work in Win2k.

I have to reformat today ... My main station sticks at " Windows is starting ..."
FixBoot , fixmbr , nothing works ( not even safe mode ).

Easy way:put a new hd in your computer, disconnect original C drive and install... Then I can go and scavenge for files on the original C drive ....

Hasn't been reformatted for 2 years +

I'd prepare all the necessary stuffs needed for format.
then, I'll partition my harddrive into two or three, then put the important files on the other partitions or burn it. then thats it...

1) Backup everything to CD/DVD and/or 2nd drive
2) Recheck that I got everything I want backed up, including exporting the mailboxes in Outlook
3) Check the burned discs on the other computer that they work
4) Pop in the XP disk, reformat the drive, install

no worry for me....i have 2 partitions on my hard drive...saved all the important docs in my non-OS partition...

Basically, I will just delete the partition with Operating system...and my other partition remains unchanged...

After the new OS installation, i will be able to retrieve whatever docs i had b4...