Reinstalling Vista question....

by cgarrity Apr 30, 2009 4:02AM PDT

Is it possible to reinstall Vista and KEEP all the previous data files? My Vista installation went "bye-bye" and now will not boot. I've tried the "repair" option several times without success.

Previous versions of Windows allowed either a computer reformat/install or install "over" option and I'm wondering if Vista has this same option? If so, I realize none of the previously installed programs will work due to path problems, but I don't care as long as I can read and copy some data files off of the hard drive.

This would be a onetime deal as Vista will FOREVER be in my rear view mirror. It just doesn't agree with my present hardware in its present state.

Discussion is locked

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No.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 30, 2009 9:17AM PDT

Just like prior versions the answer remains the same. Many of the moderators know the next line too well.

"We only lose what we didn't backup."

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My mom said to backup safely, but I hit the fireplug anyway.

by cgarrity Apr 30, 2009 10:47AM PDT

Yes, I know to backup. However, I just put a new hard drive in a few months ago and just hadn't gotten around to setting up my backup program. It's ON now however.

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For proof, keep reading the forums.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 30, 2009 11:08AM PDT

There are many that put files on external, internal drives and installed an OS (pick any?) and the drive contents vanished.

If you are expecting the OS install to never touch your files then you haven't lost it all enough times to learn why we must safe guard what we can't lose with multiple copies.

MULTIPLE COPIES. If you pare the number of copies down to ONE then there is no backup.
Bob

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Good point!...

by cgarrity Apr 30, 2009 1:53PM PDT

"If you pare the number of copies down to ONE then there is no backup."

I'm leery of online backups, but from now on, I'm backing up to both my 2 external drives plus the other 2 laptops on my network.

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Well...

by John.Wilkinson Apr 30, 2009 9:45AM PDT

1.) Your best option at this point is to connect the hard drive to another computer, take ownership of the files/folders, and back them up.

2.) Performing a clean install of Windows Vista will move the current files/folders into a folder called Windows.OLD in C:\. You can recover files from there, but you are strongly advised to back them up first, just in case.

Unfortunately, neither Windows Vista nor Windows 7 have the repair functionality Windows XP offered.

John

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A sliver of hope?

by cgarrity Apr 30, 2009 11:00AM PDT

Are you saying IF I do a Vista reinstall, ALL my old files will be put in a separate folder?

As to "ownership", I don't think that solution will work as I'm getting an error message something like "Delayed write" everytime I boot the computer with another HD and then try to access the failed HD.

Its strange that I had a stable Vista operation until SP1 came out. My computer will NOT install that update after numerous attempts. I should have turned off the automatic updates so that it wouldn't attempt the update any further.

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Answers...

by John.Wilkinson Apr 30, 2009 3:52PM PDT

Are you saying IF I do a Vista reinstall, ALL my old files will be put in a separate folder?
-> Should, but there are no guarantees, which is why we backup first.

I'm getting an error message something like "Delayed write" everytime I boot the computer with another HD and then try to access the failed HD.
-> The exact error message would help. Hard drive failure cannot be ruled out, though, which cannot be resolved by reinstalling Windows.

My computer will NOT install that update after numerous attempts.
-> Incompatible software/drivers as well as file corruption can cause that. Running System File Checker, closing/disabling unnecessary applications, and running Microsoft's compatibility checker can help with such issues.

John

Reinstalling Vista question....

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