Best way to reinstall windows but keep data

[sazrocks]

Hi, so I've come to the conclusion that I need to reinstall windows to fix some issues I'm having. What is the best way to go about this? I have about 700GB of data that I want to keep. I was planing to get a USB 3.0 1TB external hard drive (Backup NAS isn't built yet :( ), format my drives (120GB boot ssd and 1TB HDD, but both have programs which will be affected by a reinstall), reinstall, then reinstall programs, and pull data as I need it from the external drive.

[Guest]

There is an option in settings to reinstall just windows.

[Gikero]

Keep your data on the secondary drive and have it disconnected when you re-install Windows. My user profile folders (music, documents, etc) and all mapped to my E:\ drive. C:\ is OS and D:\ is applications. For an automated way to to pull info (including Steam games) and put back I use an application called Fab's Autobackup Pro. It is also able to pull your web browser profiles.

[Ryujin2003]

12 minutes ago, sazrocks said:

Hi, so I've come to the conclusion that I need to reinstall windows to fix some issues I'm having. What is the best way to go about this? I have about 700GB of data that I want to keep. I was planing to get a USB 3.0 1TB external hard drive (Backup NAS isn't built yet ), format my drives (120GB boot ssd and 1TB HDD, but both have programs which will be affected by a reinstall), reinstall, then reinstall programs, and pull data as I need it from the external drive.

Assuming Windows 10 or 8.1/8, hold shift when you click restart. Then there is an option to reset this PC. One option is full reset and the other is keep data.

[LabRat]

slip the windows disc in and do a repair on start up. when the option comes up to format or leave the current file system intact, choose that one.............. or it will just do the repair. follow instructions on screen in front of you and read ( READ ) what's there. you might have to reinstall your serial number and re register windows. don't remember any more.

[Ryujin2003]

Just now, LabRat said:

slip the windows disc in and do a repair on start up. when the option comes up to format or leave the current file system intact, choose that one.............. or it will just do the repair. follow instructions on screen in front of you and read ( READ ) what's there. you might have to reinstall your serial number and re register windows. don't remember any more.

What do you mean by read?

[sazrocks]

13 minutes ago, Abyss Gaming said:

There is an option in settings to reinstall just windows.

 

4 minutes ago, Ryujin2003 said:

Assuming Windows 10 or 8.1/8, hold shift when you click restart. Then there is an option to reset this PC. One option is full reset and the other is keep data.

 

3 minutes ago, LabRat said:

slip the windows disc in and do a repair on start up. when the option comes up to format or leave the current file system intact, choose that one.............. or it will just do the repair. follow instructions on screen in front of you and read ( READ ) what's there. you might have to reinstall your serial number and re register windows. don't remember any more.

But won't that cause issues with drivers/installed programs that have screwed with the registry? I'd rather not have spooky problems like that any more.

[Ryujin2003]

1 minute ago, sazrocks said:

 

 

But won't that cause issues with drivers/installed programs that have screwed with the registry? I'd rather not have spooky problems like that any more.

Np, you'll lose all of your programs and drivers. It reinstall the OS to default, but moves your data for retention, and puts it back. You lose everything else. I do this nearly every day on clients PCs with no issues.

[sazrocks]

15 minutes ago, Ryujin2003 said:

Np, you'll lose all of your programs and drivers. It reinstall the OS to default, but moves your data for retention, and puts it back. You lose everything else. I do this nearly every day on clients PCs with no issues.

Alright, I'll try that then. What method of backup would you recommend?

[LabRat]

18 minutes ago, sazrocks said:

 

 

But won't that cause issues with drivers/installed programs that have screwed with the registry? I'd rather not have spooky problems like that any more.

if you choose to leave current file system intact it won't have an adverse effect on your drivers and whatnot.

READ............ means there will be information displayed on the screen in front of you as you proceed to do the repair. READ the information so you don't fuck yourself up................ otherwise bite the bullet and reinstall the operating system  and lose everything.

[Ryujin2003]

17 hours ago, sazrocks said:

Alright, I'll try that then. What method of backup would you recommend?

If you use tht option, you dont need to backup your information.

 

 

What do I recommend? Having an SSD for the OS and a large HDD for stprage. That way if you ever have to reinstall the OS, your data isn't touched.