windows backup tips manual
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
1/12
(http://whitsongordon.kinja.com)
MIGRATION (/TAG/
g 133,306(http://lifehacker.com
/5983652/how-to-
do-a-clean-install-
of-windows-without-losing-
your-files-settings-
and-tweaks)
L 77 (http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-
do-a-clean-install-
of-windows-without-losing-
your-files-settings-
and-tweaks#replies)
WHITSON GORDON (
HTTP://WHITSONGO
RDON.KINJA.COM)
2/12/13 8:00am(http://lifehacker.com
/5983652/how-to-
do-a-clean-install-
of-windows-without-losing-
your-files-settings-
and-tweaks)
How to Do a Clean Install of Windows WithouLosing Your Files, Settings, and Tweaks
(http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-without-losingyour-files-settings-and-tweaks)
There's nothing like a fresh install of Windows to clear your mind, but it
comes at a cost: you have to set everything up again, just the way you like
it. Here's how to reinstall Windows, migrate your important settings, and
leave the clutter behind.
You don't have to regularly reinstall Windows (http://lifehacker.com
/5435523/you-dont-need-to-regularly-reinstall-windows-heres-why) just to
keep things clean, but that doesn't mean you'll neverhave to do it again.
Maybe you just bought or built a new computer, or maybe you didn't take
care of your computer as well as you thought and you have to do a clean
install. Maybe you just want to wipe the slate clean for that new, fresh
feeling. A clean slate is nice, but it also means you're going to spend the
rest of the weekend setting up all your old programs, settings, and system
tweaks, half of which you've probably forgotten because you set them up
long ago. Here, we'll go through some tips on how to back up your most
important settings and tweaks, and restore them on your new system.
0 annotations Hid
Like 849
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
2/12
Part One: The Preparation
Before you reinstall Windows, you're going to want to go through all your
stuff and back up the programs, settings, and tweaks you want to take wi
you. Here's what we recommend.
Step One: Export a List of Your Programs
Before you do anything else, it's handy to have a list of all your currently
installed programs so you know what settings to back up, and which
programs you want to reinstall later on. The easiest way to do this is with
CCleaner (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner) (a program everyone should
have installed (http://lifehacker.com/5815256/what-kind-of-maintenance-
do-i-need-to-do-on-my-windows-pc)). Just open it up and export a list of
your programs:
Save the file in your Dropbox or on a USB stick so you have it after you do
your clean install.
Step Two: Back Up Your Windows Settings
Open up CCleaner (you can do this quickly by right-clicking the
Recycle Bin and choosing "Open CCleaner" from the menu).
Head to the "Tools" section in the left sidebar.
Click the "Save to text file" button in the bottom right-hand corner, a
choose where you want to save it.
1.
2.
3.
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
3/12
Next, you should back up any Windows settings you can so you don't have
to do too much tweaking after you reinstall. The best way to do this is with
Windows Easy Transfer, Windows' built-in migration program for just such
occasions. It can back up app settings too, but it's not very good at it, so we
aren't going to use it for that today.
To start it up, just open the Start menu (or screen) and type Windows Easy
Transfer. When it pops up, you'll get a description of what it can do. Click
Next and choose an external hard disk or USB flash drive for your files. Tell
it that tihs is your "old" PC, and it will scan your users for items to back up.
Click Customize to tweak the selection. In this case, we recommend
unchecking everything and just backing up "Windows Settings," though you
can use this to back up your documents and files too (see below).
Step Three: Back Up Your Documents and Files
Before you reinstall Windows, you'll obviously want to back up your
documents, music, movies, and other files just like you always would. I
usually just copy these to an external drive or move them with Windows
Easy Transfer as described above, though if you back up your computer
regularly (which you should), you can always just restore them from your
backup later on as well.
Step Four: Back Up Your Program Settings
Next, you'll want to back up all the settings you've worked so hard crafting
on each of those programs (at least the ones you plan to keep). Different
programs store their settings in different places, but here are the main
places you should look:
Your AppData Folder: This folder, located at
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
4/12
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
5/12
and scroll down to the program in questionin Fences' case, under
Stardock\Fences
. Right-click on the program's folder in the registry and choose Export to
back it up.
Games: If you play any games, the above tricks should work, but we
recommend using a program like GameSave Manager(http://www.gamesave-manager.com/) to make the process infinitely more
simple. It'll search for games on your system, find where their save files are
stored, and back up everything for you.
Again, different programs will store settings in different places, so if you're
unsure, do a bit of research before you start. If a program has the ability to
"export" or "back up" its settings to a file, that can be handy as well.
Once you find the folder(s) in which a program stores its files, copy that
folder to your Dropbox or a USB stick. I also like to put a text file with that
folder indicating the path to where it was stored. For example, if I were to
back up Pidgin's settings, I'd back up the
.libpurple
folder in my AppData and the
Plugins
folder in Pidgin's Program Files. I'd then create a text folder that noted
where each of these two folders came from, so i know where to put them
when I restore them later on.
Repeat this process for each of your important programs, and you should
have everything you need to reinstall them later on without losing your
settings. This sounds like it'll take awhile, but it shouldn'tit only took me
a few minutes to back up all the important settings from my favorite
programs.
Step Five: Create .Reg Files For Your System Tweaks
If you're an intense tweaker, you've probably edited the Windows Registry
to enable some awesome under-the-hood power-ups (http://lifehacker.com
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
6/12
/5700084/top-10-registry-tweaks-that-power-up-windows), like hiding items
in Windows Explorer (http://lifehacker.com/5535350/hide-pre+populated-
items-in-windows-explorers-sidebar) or speeding up the Windows taskbar
(http://lifehacker.com/5571861/lose-the-taskbar-thumbnail-delay-
in-windows-7-with-a-registry-hack). The easiest way to back these up, says
Justin Garrison (http://1n73r.net/), is to save a .reg file for each tweak in
your Drobpox or USB stick. That way, whenever you reinstall Windows, you
can just double-click on your .reg files to install those tweaks instantly.
Most of your tweaks probably already have .reg scripts floating around the
net, so do some Googling to see if someone's already created one. If not,
you can always do a little research and create the file yourself
(http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/WindowsTips/WindowsNT
/RegistryTips/Registry/Understanding.REGfiles.html) too.
Part Two: The Restoration
Once you've got everything backed up, it's time to reinstall Windows. Insert
the Windows installation disc and boot up from it, or use Windows 8's Reset
option in the settings to start from scratch. Once you've got a freshinstallation of Windows, it's time to restore all your stuff.
Step Six: Restore Your Windows Settings
Before you do anything else, it's a good idea to restore those Windows
settings we backed up earlier. Reopen Windows Easy Transfer on your
fresh install, plug in your USB drive with your saved transfer files, and this
time choose "This Is My New Computer." It'll restore your Windows
settings and your user account that you backed up, along with your
Windows settings so you don't have to find them all again.
Step Seven: Reinstall Your Programs
Next, it's time to reinstall all your programs. This can take awhile, but you
can speed up the process with a few tools:
Ninite: Ninite (https://ninite.com/) is still one of our favorite tools for
installing programs quickly. It doesn't have every program out there, but
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
7/12
it's a great start. Just check off all the programs you want, and Ninite will
create an all-in-one package to install them in one fell swoop. Be sure to
check out the Lifehacker Pack for Windows (http://lifehacker.com/5924859
/lifehacker-pack-for-windows-our-list-of-the-best-windows-apps), too, which
has its own custom Ninite installer for our most recommended programs.
Chocolatey: If you're more of a command line geek, Chocolatey
(http://chocolatey.org/) is a handy utility that brings Linux-style package
management to Windows. With a few well-placed commands
(http://lifehacker.com/5942417/chocolatey-brings-lightning-quick-
linux+style-package-management-to-windows), you can install a ton of
programs at once, bypassing the need for all those separate installers.
Again, it doesn't have every program imaginable, but it does have quite a
few to get you started.
Portable Apps: If you're tired of downloading installers all the time, you
might want to try using portable apps instead. Portable apps essentially let
you carry all your programs and settings over to another computer with no
installation required. You'll still have to search out each app yourself, but
after you do it once, you'll never have to do it againevery clean install
from here on out will be much quicker because you'll already have half
your apps ready to go. Check out our guide to portable apps
(http://lifehacker.com/5890856/kick-windows-installers-to-the-curb-go-
portable-for-a-considerably-more-awesome-windows-experience) for more
information.
Once you've installed the bulk of your favorite programs, you may need to
open up that text file we got from CCleaner earlier to pick up any
stragglers that aren't in Ninite. Install whatever you want, and when you're
done, move onto the next step.
Step Eight: Restore Your Documents and Program Settings
Once you've reinstalled your favorite programs, you should restore your
documents, music, movies, and other files (in case any of your programs
depend on themlike iTunes, for example). This should be pretty easy: just
restore them to the same place they were before (e.g., put your music back
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
8/12
in
C:\Users\yourusername\Music\iTunes\
, or wherever you had it located).
Do the same thing with the app settings you backed up earlier. Open that
folder and restore the folders to their original locations in
AppData
or
Program Files
(in the case of AppData, you should overwrite any files that are already
there). When you start that program, it should inherit all your old settings
and it will be like you never left!
Step Nine: Restore Your Registry Tweaks
Lastly, restore any registry tweaks you had. That means double-clicking on
your .reg files that had app settings or Windows tweaks stored inside, and
redoing any registry tweaks that you couldn't put into a .reg file.
Remember, you may need to restart the program in question (or restart
your computer altogether) for the registry tweaks to take effect.
It seems like a long and drawn-out process, but you'd be surprised. I had all
my settings copied over in a few minutes, and was up and running with
most of my favorite programs not too long after reinstallingit's much,
much faster than setting everything up from scratch. Of course, if you like
setting everything up from scratch, feel free to do that too. This is just a
great compromise between doing a fresh install and keeping all your
settings that you don't want to set up again.
Discuss
44 discussions displayed because an
author is participating or following a
participant.
2 additional replies awaiting review.
Author is participating
IrishCheerioLadd (http://i
What's the point of doing a fresh
install if you literally install
everything you had on it
previously? At least don't backup
the
registry
. 2/12/13 8:24am (http://lifehacker.com/whats-the-point-of-doing-a-fresh-install-if-you-literal-465273458)
Author is participating
Bassmaster22 (http://bas
Great article, Whitson. Will co
in handy for sure. I'll be build
PC soon, and I was wondering
you could help me with some
I want to build it all on my ow
component by component. Th
is, I just bought Windows 8 as
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
9/12
funonemanand 8 others...
kasakka (http://kasakka.
Agreed. I'd rather spend a few
hours setting up all the programs
so I know they're clean rather than
hauling around all the crap that
was in the machine
before
. 2/12/13 8:32am (http://lifehacker.com/agreed-id-rather-spend-a-few-hours-setting-up-all-the-465273462)
Whitson Gordon (http://w
As I said in the article, it depends.
Maybe you're moving it all to a
new computer. Maybe some old
programs are being wonky and are
still lying around, but you want to
take the important ones with you.
It's not always about being 100%
clean
. 2/12/13 8:34am (http://lifehacker.com/as-i-said-in-the-article-it-depends-maybe-youre-movin-465273468)
1
download, so I'm not sure how
manage to install it without
uninstalling it from my curren
first. Can I somehow get the I
burn it to a CD, installing it on
new PC, and just activating th
license later? I'm not sure how
works.
Thanks
! 2/12/13 8:16am (http://lifehacker.com/grea
Whitson Gordon (http://w
Honestly, I still haven't figure
out either. I think the best op
if you have a Windows 7 disc
around somewhere, install th
first and then upgrade to Win
8. I'm sure there's an easier w
but it would take long enoughme to find it that it ends up be
faster to just do the darn upg
At least that was my recent
experience. Maybe someone e
has
suggestions
. 2/12/13 8:35am (http://lifehacker.com/hone
wildmaiden (http://wildm
You can use the download to
bootable media, I used a 4GB
flash drive. The problem you'l
into is that you probably only
purchased an upgrade license
you won't be able to install it
clean hard drive. What worke
me was to install my OLD har
drive in the new computer, al
with the SSD I wanted to use
allowed the Windows installe
see that I had a previous
installation of windows, but it
let me choose the new SSD as
install location.
I wasn't able to activate my c
online because I had installed
the old computer. I had to cal
phone number, but it was all
automated. You rattle off a se
Whitson Gordon (http://w
I'd argue no, because a phone is a
much simpler device than a
computer. But Windows does make
the process needlessly complicated
doing the same thing on OS X or
Linux would be a fair amount
easier, since all settings aregenerally stored in the same
place
. 2/12/13 8:33am (http://lifehacker.com/id-argue-no-because-a-phone-is-a-much-simpler-device-t-465273467
oneshot719 (http://onesh
That's true, I can agree to
that
. 2/12/13 8:53am (http://lifehacker.com/thats-true-i-can-agree-to-that-465273480)
Chip Skylark of Space
The Dude (http://the-dud
I hate iTunes, especially for this
reason. I always forget & have to
login and deauth all activated
computer(s
) 2/12/13 8:18am (http://lifehacker.com/i-hate-itunes-especially-for-this-reason-i-always-for-465273457)
Author is participating503 reading: Author is participating
oneshot719 (http://onesh
Is it bad that it's easier to wipe and
restore apps+data on an android
phone (non-rooted) than it is to do
the same on a windows
box
? 2/12/13 8:32am (http://lifehacker.com/is-it-bad-that-its-easier-to-wipe-and-restore-apps-data-465273461)
Author is participating
Moon (http://keithb1.kinj
If it helps at all, I never did th
of steps, but I read about it, a
I've always trusted FL's judge
about these and other Window
matters. I was a subscriber of
newsletters for a long
time
. 2/15/13 2:53pm (http://lifehacker.com/if-it-
ament001 (http://ament0
Something to also remember is to
deactivate software in your old
install before taking the plunge. If
you forget to deactivate something
like iTunes the previous install will
count against your activation
total
. 2/12/13 8:12am (http://lifehacker.com/something-to-also-remember-is-to-deactivate-software-in-465273450
Jamie (http://wolfcrane.k
Do you have a guide to windo
or does this pretty much appl
also?
What about creating a window
update disc with the service pon it?
unfortunately, my Toshiba Sa
laptop didn't come with a rein
disc, I think it is on a separate
partition, and I did create a re
disc when I first bought it.
5/24/13 7:07am (http://lifehacker.com/do-yo
Whitson Gordon (http://w
VERY good point! Thanks for the
tip
. 2/12/13 8:33am (http://lifehacker.com/very-good-point-thanks-for-the-tip-465273466)
Whitson Gordon (http://w
This guide should work fine w
Windows 7. To add the servic
packs, look up
"slipstreaming.
" 5/24/13 7:11am (http://li fehacker.com/this-
Author is participating
Whitson Gordon (http://w
Thanks
! 2/12/13 9:26am (http://lifehacker.com/thanks-465273493)
TruthRainsAgain (http://tr
" The easiest way to do this is with
*CClearner* (a program everyone
should have installed)." *TYPO
its
CCleaner
* 2/12/13 8:52am (http://lifehacker.com/the-easiest-way-to-do-this-is-with-cclearner-a-pro-465273477)
nukeboy (http://nukeboy.
Ermahgerd...CClearner
! 2/12/13 9:01am (http://lifehacker.com/ermahgerd-cclearner-465273483)
2 participants
fierce134 (http://raiderbo
Has anyone here ever tried F
Langa's non-destructive reins
method? My parents' comput
desperately in need of a fresh
start, but if this method work
that'd be great cause they ha
much junk to back up. Anyone
this with success?
https://windowssecrets.com
/top-story/win7s-no-reformat-
nondestructive-
reinstall
/ 2/12/13 9:37am (http://lifehacker.com/has-
BerniceJenkins (http://be
All that is talking about is the
"repair install". Its nothing ne
all. But yes they do work for t
most part. But its not a fresh
install. its a repair
instal
l 2/12/13 5:17pm (http://lifehacker.com/all-th
SBM_from_LA (http://sb
If you create image backups... then
it would be a smart idea to create a
backup right after you perform a
clean/new install of Windows. What
you should do is first install all
your drivers and key programs..
then do the backup. Over years,
I've noticed some programs will
NOT install properly on a fresh
install or after installing a bunch of
updates in a row.
In addition to the AppData folder,
don't forget to also include
ProgramData. Also remember that
some programs will not work with
this type of backup. If you copy
over the hidden files, programs like
Rosetta Stone will give you an
error message.
Here is another great tip/hint for
keeping your backups simple.
Install your Program Files and
Games onto a separate partition.
On my computer, I created a folder
on another hard drive that I callProgram Files. I install all my
games there and programs that
don't require the speed of my SSD.
By doing this, I keep my main
windows partition small and that
allows my backups to usually take
less than 5 minutes. It also
preserves my data in the event my
O/S partition crashes or fails to
boot. If I need to reinstallWindows... most programs that
were installed on a different
partition will still work... all you
have to do is create another
shortcut to the program... and copy
back your appdata/programdata
files.
I also use a program called Vista
Game Explorer Editor that allows
me to use my own Box Art for all
1 participant
escapefrmyonker (http://
if you need a
professional(geeksquad?) to d
clean install, your probably h
no idea what lifehacker, howt
and any of the normal link he
. 3/04/13 7:18pm (http://lifehacker.com/if-yo
S e
CareyB (http://careyb.kin
Not even nearly complete, an
really is the hard way, but thi
good article to demonstrate w
you should have a pro do it. A
don't expect it ALL to come b
That's so time consuming it's
cheaper to buy another comp
As an aside, the current Easy
Transfer tool built into the sy
(download for XP) does a pret
good job. Here are the steps.
1. Make the backup file with
Transfer on the old computer,
put it on some removable me
some kind
2. Do the fresh install, and ins
the programs you need on the
computer
3. Connect/insert the media y
previously created, and doubl
click the Easy Transfer file yo
created previously. Follow the
instructions.
NOTE: If it doesn't work how
expected, blow back the comp
to a virgin state again, and re
HINT: Stop tweaking. Learn t
way the OS wants to do thing
stick with that, unless it's eas
back up, and reinstall the
tweak
. 2/14/13 5:44am (http://lifehacker.com/not-e
Five Best Airlines for
noti (http://noti.kinja.co
Several people are 'justifiably'
griping that this should not be
necessary. And though there is a
tiny mention of using 'Windows 8
Reset', I am not sure at all that this
refers to the easiest way which has
been incorporated into Windows 8
that allows you to 'Refresh' your
PC and restore it to the original
installed glory without removing
Metro apps or changing basic
settings and folder associations.
Rather than explain it all myself,
I'll just post the link to a 'Dummies'
article on the New Windows 8
Refresh feature.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to
/content...
(http://www.dummies.com/how-to
/content/how-to-refresh-
your-computer-running-windows-
8.html)
Basically, though, it is only about
four mouse-clicks to get your
Windows 8 OS
refreshed
. 2/12/13 1:22pm (http://l ifehacker.com/several-people-are-justifiably-griping-that-this-should-465273518)
Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
10/12
HotBBQand 2 others...
of like 70 characters (no joke) and
then the robot on the phone asks
you how many computers you
installed that copy of Windows on.
Say "ONE!" and you're good to
go
. 2/12/13 9:15am (http://lifehacker.com/you-can-use-the-download-to-create-bootable-media-i-us-46527
my games since windows does not
have any way of changing box art
images... and yes, it works on
Windows 7 and it's free,
too
. 2/14/13 6:59pm (http://lifehacker.com/if-you-create-image-backups-then-it-would-be-a-smart-465273575)
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
f 12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
11/12
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins
f 12 06/23/2013 08
-
7/28/2019 Windows Backup Tips Manual
12/12
About (http://lifehacker.kinja.com/5732066/about-lifehacker) Help (http://help.gawker.com/)
Terms of Use (http://legal.kinja.com/kinja-terms-of-use-90161644) Privacy (http://legal.kinja.com/privacy-policy-90190742)
Content Guidelines (http://legal.kinja.com/content-guidelines-90185358) RSS (http://feeds.gawker.com/lifehacker/full)
Jobs (http://jobs.kinja.com/open-positions-at-gawker-media-477561225) Gawker Media 2013
503 reading: Five Best Airlines for S e Lo
w to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Yo... http://lifehacker.com/5983652/how-to-do-a-clean-ins