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Question

Factory reset. If I backup installed programs...

Feb 20, 2015 7:38AM PST

Hello, I just purchased a new alienware laptop and am having issues with it already... ($2500 well spent...)

So I am looking to do a factory reset on it, hoping it will help, but I am worried that I will lose all of the programs I have installed (purchased programs), and not only that I have download many games from steam (And I dont exactly have unlimited downloading with my ISP).

So I was wondering if I backup the install files, etc, to a seperate hard drive, can I seamlessly transfer over back to my laptop and have them operate functionaly?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I can answer steam.
Feb 20, 2015 7:44AM PST
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Answer
programs will have to be reinstalled
Feb 20, 2015 8:14AM PST

you will have to reinstall all programs other than, as mentioned in a previous post, the steam ones. Most install programs are installed in more than one location and require registry entries for them to operate properly.

Not sure why you have to do a factory reset but if there is an issue, maybe someone can help so you will not have to do one if you post the problem.

Once you get everything line out, you should create a drive image file so you will not have to go through the install process again.