Ten things you should do before and after re-installing your OS
This is a guest post written by Ashish Mohta. He blogs at TechnoSpot.net where he writes about Technology, Tips and Software. If you want to receive regular updates, then subscribe to his blog.
Re installing Operating system Is one of the nightmares faced as people always tend to loss data, forget to take backups and they almost go blank after they re installing. I have faced similar situation when I was new but If we plan our reinstallation well I can bet you will never tend to loose your data.
In this DIY ( Do it yourself ) article we will learn how to manage things before and after , So if you are at the point to reinstall your OS in near future , Read It First!!
#1 Backing up files
If you have a habit of saving all the files in My Documents, This is your first step. Check out all possible folders like My Pictures, My Music and copy whichever is required to some other folder. You will loose data as they are in same drive where you will install the OS.
#2 Saving your configuration and profile files
In most of the software’s the facility to backup profiles or software configuration is present. Now in case you are going to install the software after re installation, You ,must do it so that you don’t loose your optimized settings and save time.
#3 Saving all your download folders and files
By default all softwares and settings are made to save files somewhere in C directory. Now lets say you downloaded a complete setup of itunes which is around 50 MB and saved in C:\download, If you don’t back it up you will have to re download that which will be ultimate waste of time.
So in case you have any thing like this save it.
#4 Re think on Partition Size.
Now lets say You have re installed as you don’t have much space left and You decided to reinstall everything and install only the required once to save space. Since you are going to re install its a better idea to increase the size of you partition . You might need some professional help or somebody who knows how to do this, but it will help you in long run.
#5 Note down things you need to install after this
Now since we have backed up everything and its ready to go . This one step you must follow.
Make a list of things you will be installing after reinstallation is over. Here is QUICK LIST
- DRIVERS
- Antivirus and Spywares
- Browsers and addons.
- Office Suites
- Media Players and updates.
- Rest of the things.
It gives you an idea of general things, You can change the list according to your need
Steps after reinstallation
#6 Follow the list
We made this in 5th point. This will make you more organized and aware what you did. You will also not forget to install some important things.
#7 Time to use the backup and get organized.
In The first step we were backing up all the things right! In case you need to follow the steps every time you reinstall its not good. So lets see a way were can organize things
- Divide things into category e.g 1. Pictures 2. Music. 3. Documents and more if you require.
- Create Folders in any other drive except C ( where your windows is installed ) and has more space.
- Now sort the files which we backed up in first step and put them into their respective folder.
Moreover from now on you should save all your files in these folders and not in My documents. Trust me this will not only save your time but data and make searches easy.
#8 Re configure your software profiles and settings
This step use all the configuration files to get back your default settings of the software you used like Free download manager, firs fox and IE. Look for import utility in those softwares
#9 Creating a restore point
If you are using windows, use Restore facility to create a restore point. This will help you out in case your system does not work after installing some software or is not working for some unknown reason.
#10 Double Check everything
This last step is for your assurance. Double check all the things and backed up files, If you are done with them and sure you did not miss any of them, Delete the backed up folders and files. Keep the list in some good place which will help you next time.
With my experience I have followed the list from a long time now. It really helps in saving my time and data all the time. I seen this problem being faced ny lot of computer users and hope it helps and save a lot of time.
Have Your Say ?
Do you have any tips which you use in this situation? If yes do tell us in comments so we all can share and save things.
Manav
February 11th, 2008 at 1:14 pm #
#1 Backing up files, should include that “the backup of files on desktop should also be taken”.
Josh Proxy
February 11th, 2008 at 5:30 pm #
Thanks for the tips. I was about to reinstall my XP.
Nirmal
February 12th, 2008 at 4:07 am #
Ya, I agree with Manav, desktop is one place where we save many items. Nice article.
Make Money Blogging
February 12th, 2008 at 6:01 am #
This is a great post. A few years ago i used to reformat one machine or another at elast every 3 months and alsways forgot to back up one thing or anohter.
Hand list to keep ;o)
Hezron
February 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am #
I’ve also posted on my blog about programs that i install on my machine after i reinstall XP. You can see the post HERE
Ashish Mohta
February 12th, 2008 at 9:46 pm #
Manav Thanks for pointing that out. I forgot to mention for sure.
Ashish Mohta
February 12th, 2008 at 9:47 pm #
Thanks Nirmal, This had been a long due thing I wanted to write but used to always forget
Magie
February 13th, 2008 at 2:43 am #
I plan to change my OS to windows Vista…So, this article is very proper for me at this moment. Having something lost during the OS re-installing is really annoying. Thanks for the advice.
Ashish Mohta
February 13th, 2008 at 7:44 am #
Great Magie, Do tell us your experience using this list and if you find something interesting and something which can be added to this list we will do when you tell us.
Loves Flash Games
February 14th, 2008 at 6:00 pm #
The big one here is to remember what drivers you need. I’ve screwed myself several times by not checking brands and models of hardware and then starting the OS reinstall and then not having a way to get online and download what I need.
Magie
February 15th, 2008 at 10:39 am #
Hi Ashish,
I think we should also
- note the software setting, such as the period of automatic update for the antivirus, or the display setting in windows control panel, etc.
- preparing driver that maybe needed. My soundcard driver was not available in the OS so I had to browse in the internet.
K.Thenmozhi
February 18th, 2008 at 6:59 am #
The ten points, may look unimportant in the beginning during casual look but are highly essential ones especially for those who had problems during and after installing their OS. I myself went through such hardships for not following those important steps during the OS installations. Worth reading.
pelarge
February 19th, 2008 at 9:23 am #
As for backing up, have any one tried Norton ghost before? If so what’s your feedback on it?
Techblissonline Dot Com
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:49 am #
very good checklist…Magie’s experience was also helpful…gues he had very few hiccups in his transition to vista…
Ashish Mohta
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm #
I have used it long time back. Its the best you can make a backup with. After you finish off the installation just make a backup right away and use it next time
Ashish Mohta
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm #
Hi Maggie,
You can include but then there are lot of settings which will be needed to take care of like even taking backup of your Browsers settings. If any body can go that level its great
Wilhelm H
February 25th, 2008 at 6:40 pm #
As the good Murphy said: “If something can go wrong, it will.” No matter how thorough you are, you are bound to forget something - such as first de-registering your copy of Dreamweaver with Adobe before re-installing it with the same key.
With hard drives being so inexpensive I firmly believe in either cloning my current installation to an old scrapped drive - or (preferably) buy a new drive for the new installation. This way you can always go back and get that one thing you forgot.