Hi everyone... so I have an HP computer running Win 7 SP 1, and I have found that lately it has been getting very slow, so I want to do a clean reinstall of it. I have never done this before and I am very scared that I will mess something up. Could someone please walk me, step-by-step, the process of backing up my files and drivers and everything? Thank you so much...
Bombaynoir
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Hi Bombaynoir,
HP usually provides the driver CDs when you purchase the computer. Do you have the driver CDs may I ask?
HP usually provides the driver CDs when you purchase the computer. Do you have the driver CDs may I ask?
Complete Model Number of the HP?
Did it come with 7 and are you wanting to reinstall the same copy?
Do you have a retail version of 7, a OEM disc, or the HP recovery?
Did it come with 7 and are you wanting to reinstall the same copy?
Do you have a retail version of 7, a OEM disc, or the HP recovery?
If it came with Win 7 then you can factory reset it to out of the box after backing up your personal files, but prior to doing that use the I'd like to identify any problems option first.
The factory reset will install your drivers for you, but you will need to uninstall the bloatware that OEM computers come with and you can use the trial pro version of Revo for that and uninstall it afterwards if you don't want to have to pay for it.
If you use your own choice of AV then you will need to uninstall any trial AV version that the computer comes with first.
After the reset has completed and you've dumped what bloatware you don't want as well as reinstalling your programs, Windows Updates and personal files - go Start type disk cleanup and right click on Disk Cleanup to Run as an administrator then follow the prompts and finally, finish up with a Defrag.
The factory reset will install your drivers for you, but you will need to uninstall the bloatware that OEM computers come with and you can use the trial pro version of Revo for that and uninstall it afterwards if you don't want to have to pay for it.
If you use your own choice of AV then you will need to uninstall any trial AV version that the computer comes with first.
After the reset has completed and you've dumped what bloatware you don't want as well as reinstalling your programs, Windows Updates and personal files - go Start type disk cleanup and right click on Disk Cleanup to Run as an administrator then follow the prompts and finally, finish up with a Defrag.
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Hello everyone, thank you for your prompt replies.
Thank you for that link, Corday! Unfortunately I don't have any discs with me.
I don't have the driver CDs, DBCooper. I don't recall ever getting one when I bought my computer.
Tyree, my computer is an HP Pavilion g4 Notebook PC. The product number is QG368PA#AB4. Yes, it came with Windows 7. I don't know what an OEM disc is. I don't have any discs with me.
Tomoken15, thanks, I'll try that as soon as I reformat my computer! I just want to make sure I have all the things required before I reinstall Windows 7.
dannpp2012, yes, I do have a D drive that says Recovery, and I don't know what to do with that. How am I going to reinstall Windows with that partition?
Thank you for that link, Corday! Unfortunately I don't have any discs with me.
I don't have the driver CDs, DBCooper. I don't recall ever getting one when I bought my computer.
Tyree, my computer is an HP Pavilion g4 Notebook PC. The product number is QG368PA#AB4. Yes, it came with Windows 7. I don't know what an OEM disc is. I don't have any discs with me.
Tomoken15, thanks, I'll try that as soon as I reformat my computer! I just want to make sure I have all the things required before I reinstall Windows 7.
dannpp2012, yes, I do have a D drive that says Recovery, and I don't know what to do with that. How am I going to reinstall Windows with that partition?
Don't reformat. The "D" drive is called a Recovery Partitiuon. That's where you'll be bringing your computer back from to its as recived condition in C:.
See:How to Use an HP Recovery Partition | eHow
See:How to Use an HP Recovery Partition | eHow
HP and all vendors (as far as I know) provide the means to restore your computer without having to format the HDD and clean installing the OS.
If you format then you will destroy the Recovery partition to use that means.
You have been given two methods in which to safely restore your computer without damaging any partitions and without the need of an install disk.
The link that I have provided gives instructions in how to use the Recovery Manager as well as running a health check, which may highlight other problems to address before or instead of a factory reset and clear instructions in how to back up your files.
Reading through the full article will show there is no need to format or clean install - unless the D: partition is corrupt or missing.
If you format then you will destroy the Recovery partition to use that means.
You have been given two methods in which to safely restore your computer without damaging any partitions and without the need of an install disk.
The link that I have provided gives instructions in how to use the Recovery Manager as well as running a health check, which may highlight other problems to address before or instead of a factory reset and clear instructions in how to back up your files.
Reading through the full article will show there is no need to format or clean install - unless the D: partition is corrupt or missing.
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