Reinstalling Windows and Keeping Data Safe

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of reinstalling Windows while ensuring data safety during the process. Participants explore various methods to back up data before performing a fresh installation, including using alternative drives and software tools.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their experience with a failed hard drive and the need to reinstall Windows on a secondary drive while preserving data.
  • Another participant suggests resizing the partition to install Windows on empty space, but notes that this depends on available data space.
  • Options for data backup are proposed, including burning data onto CD-Rs using Knoppix or transferring data to another computer.
  • Questions arise regarding the specifics of the hard drive failure, with one participant seeking clarification on what "died" means and whether connecting it as a slave would help.
  • Concerns about data loss during partitioning are expressed, particularly regarding the participant's valuable music files.
  • A later reply indicates that the participant successfully transferred their data to another computer, but invites further suggestions for future reference.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method for data backup, as multiple approaches are discussed without agreement on a single solution. The discussion remains open-ended regarding the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the technical aspects of partitioning and data recovery, indicating a need for further clarification on procedures to avoid data loss.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals facing similar challenges with hard drive failures, data backup, and Windows reinstallation processes.

Smurf
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My hard drive died, luckily I have a second one (much younger and bigger), which I replaced it with, so now I only have 1 HD. Windows was installed on the HD that died, so now I've reinstalled it on my secondary, without fragmenting it. Thankfully most of my data on the secondary was saved.

Now I'm trying to figure out a way to keep all my data from my secondary HD so I can frag it and re-install windows again properly.
Any suggestions?

I'm on a network with at least 1 other computer with enough space to hold it, I'm going to ask the admin of that computer to allow me access as soon as she gets here.
 
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How much data do you have? If you don't want to get another drive there are a few options:

1. Resize the partition and install windows on the empty space. If data is taking up too much room this won't work.
2. Burn the data onto CD-R with the help of a Knoppix cd.
3. Copy the data to another computer with the help of a Knoppix cd.

http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=44
 
Last edited by a moderator:
When you say that your hard drive died exactly what do you mean? Did you try to hook up the one that "died" as a slave?
 
exequor said:
When you say that your hard drive died exactly what do you mean? Did you try to hook up the one that "died" as a slave?
I havn't tried that, would it make a difference? By died I mean in BIOS it showed it as undetected, I tried a bunch of stuff and it just doesn't want to work.
 
dduardo said:
1. Resize the partition and install windows on the empty space. If data is taking up too much room this won't work.
I hadn't thought of that, there should be enough room for it. I'm only somewhat familiar with partitioning drives, I'm using a WinXP professional CD, any thing in paticular I should do to ensure I don't lose my data accidently?
2. Burn the data onto CD-R with the help of a Knoppix cd.
3. Copy the data to another computer with the help of a Knoppix cd.
I've got 9mb of music I am not willing to let go at any cost, but would like to keep 20+ gb if possible. Knoppix website says it can hold up to 2gb? I don't have enough CDs. Admin to the other computer isn't back yet.
 
S'ok, I transferred it over to the other computer and it's all working out.
But if anyone else has some knowledge I'd like to hear it, for future reference.
 

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