Format & Reinstall Steps

[ATTech]

No it doesn't

Yes, it does.

my customers value their data

As do a good amount of mine, but that doesn't mean that it can't be backed up and transferred without "minimal fuss and drama." It's a wonder, all the technology out there that we, as computer technicians, don't use.

and value my ability to be able to repair their computer

Again, as do mine. We're not talking about repairs here, we're talking about restores.

Many of my customers have bespoke & custom installs, nuke 'n' pave would be an expensive and lengthy option for them with bespoke system developers wanting hundreds of £s to reinstall software and systems.

That's the thing, it doesn't have to be. It's your lack of knowledge and utilization of the tools which make it such an easy thing to do, that causes it to be "lengthy and expensive."

 

[iptech]

That's the thing, it doesn't have to be. It's your lack of knowledge and utilization of the tools which make it such an easy thing to do, that causes it to be "lengthy and expensive."

Please don't patronize me with your idiocy.

 

[ATTech]

Please don't patronize me with your idiocy.

So you do know of the tools that accomplish this and just choose not to use them? Otherwise, How is this patronizing? I simply am stating that it wouldn't be, as you sated, "lengthy and expensive," if you knew about these tools and used them. Of course, if all else fails, call someone an idiot, right?

 

[Elemdee]

PEOPLE! Can we just quit it here? What I've seen too much of lately, and getting sick of (the amusement has long gone...) is this: A new member with very few posts creates a new forum with a limited question/comment which has been recycled/hashed out/not pre-searched/debated endlessly many many times before, replies are given, the OP NEVER comes back to CLARIFY his remarks when responders need more information/clarification, and then the forum itself becomes pages and pages of hash slinging of members back and forth about this and that, integrity questioning this and that, none of it becomes helpful in the very least. There are at least 4 active threads going on in the last 2 days like this, some of which happen because the OP wasn't clear in his question, or his English wasn't very good to start with, or because he didn't come back to restate or give further information to HELP us to HELP him. (I hate that phrase btw but it fit here.)

/end rant.

 

[DarDar]

Is there a way to easily restore it if necessary? I can imagine loading it into a virtual machine, and using clonezilla to create an image, then transferring that image to an external but that sounds like too much work.

Is there the equivalent vhd2disk?

Not sure really. Acronis have a tool to convert tib to vhd so they might have something to do the reverse or to restore directly from the vhd. i have only ever need to copy out files which i have done from a virtual machine. I've never yet gone back to the previous installation but it does pose a question that i might research i.e. google

 

[norm1320]

No it doesn't, my customers value their data and value my ability to be able to repair their computer with minimal fuss or drama. Many of my customers have bespoke & custom installs, nuke 'n' pave would be an expensive and lengthy option for them with bespoke system developers wanting hundreds of £s to reinstall software and systems.

To some extent this depends a great deal on whether you deal mainly with business or residential.
If it's a business then obviously they are going to have valuable data on the system and simply restoring the system with N&P is something to be avoided when possible.
However, it is not at all uncommon for a residential computer to have little or no valuable data to lose and so the client will sometimes just decide that he/she wants to have it restored occasionally. For this I just go with the old "customer is always right" adage, and if they ask me to do a N&P that is exactly what I will do. It doesn't happen all that often, but I'm not going to waste time arguing with them about it when it does.

 

[amckinzie]

i believe the question was how to reload an operating system?

lets do this with out any scripts etc, you should already know where the data files are located any how.
OK lets assume were working with a dell.
-copy off of the old hard drive the dell and drivers folders off of the root of c:
-go to documents and settings and select the appropriate user directory
-show hidden files and delete the contents of local setting temp and temporary internet files.
copy off the profile.
-look for any odd ball programs or data files not contained in their usual location.
if you feel it necessary due to a virus etc.. wipe the drive with something such as kill disk or any other data erasing software.
now get a dell os restore cd, not anything else unless there is an extra coa on the box that does not say dell, any dell xp cd will install on any dell system you don't need the key.
-when the os has loaded I use a program called offline update, it basically creates a windows update disk and if you have a slow internet connection it really helps.
now reinstall programs and google where the left their data and go back to the files you copied off.
a couple of things
only install the dell os cd, it will keep less clutter
you may want to grab keycodes before you start by whatever means you normally use.
you can do this with an hp or compaq system as well, however you will need to enter the keycode from the coa on the box, and the drivers are contained in swsetup. of course you will need a hp os restore cd.
This is of course just a rough out line and there are a bunch of other post install steps such as installing flash etc... but it should get you started. Note however that you should only use legal os media and run windows update to pass the the windows validation.

 

[16k_zx81]

I really dont get this thing of people copying old drivers and putting them on a new machine/install.

Old drivers are usually outdated, and have been superceded by numerous revisions. Its like customers using their install cds from like 3 or 4 years ago to set up their printer. A roll of the dice - might work great ... or not.

Serious question to the backers-up of drivers: why dont you put updated drivers on when you reinstall?

 

[MobileTechie]

I really dont get this thing of people copying old drivers and putting them on a new machine/install.

Old drivers are usually outdated, and have been superceded by numerous revisions. Its like customers using their install cds from like 3 or 4 years ago to set up their printer. A roll of the dice - might work great ... or not.

Serious question to the backers-up of drivers: why dont you put updated drivers on when you reinstall?

Mainly because it can be very hard to find the drivers for some items and because it just take technician time to do it. Whereas if you back up the drivers and restore them, the machine goes back to where it was before it developed a problem. You can always update the drivers later. It's not like the drivers were outdated like old disks - you know they worked.

For instance I've just spent hours looking for a driver for some old ASUS desktop's video chip. I had to use the Ven/Dev codes but that only found the chipset and the drivers that were supposed to work didn't. ASUS don't have them on their site. Windows doesn't have them at all. Eventually I got them from Driverpacks. I didn't get to back them up but had this been a N&P job I'd have been kicking myself big time.

With dell machines you have to look up the machine on their site, d/l the drivers, expand them into the dell folder and install each one etc. That's time I don't want to spend when a backup/restore app would do it with a couple of clicks or a script with no clicks at all.

 

[rboverman]

I agree with you Elemdee... I know I am new and maybe contributing to some of this, but I have been trying to spend more time reading and searching instead of just starting a post/thread that I could find myself. There is so much information available on this forum and I am trying to digest as much as I can. There are some really great folks on here and some that seem to be looking to start/continue a disagreement about what is being said. It makes it difficult for new members to determine the best course of action to follow. I also encourage new members to make use of all the available resources BEFORE they ask a question AND make sure that there is enough information included for those that are willing to help to provide the help. In a free flowing forum it is difficult to take into consideration the skill level of a person, their ability to state a question properly and trying to read between the lines of a question; however, if everyone would agree that there are multiple paths to the same destination and refrain from accusations that leave everyone feeling uncomfortable. Thanks for all the information that is being shared... I just hope I can retain enough of it to get me through some sticky situations.

PEOPLE! Can we just quit it here? What I've seen too much of lately, and getting sick of (the amusement has long gone...) is this: A new member with very few posts creates a new forum with a limited question/comment which has been recycled/hashed out/not pre-searched/debated endlessly many many times before, replies are given, the OP NEVER comes back to CLARIFY his remarks when responders need more information/clarification, and then the forum itself becomes pages and pages of hash slinging of members back and forth about this and that, integrity questioning this and that, none of it becomes helpful in the very least. There are at least 4 active threads going on in the last 2 days like this, some of which happen because the OP wasn't clear in his question, or his English wasn't very good to start with, or because he didn't come back to restate or give further information to HELP us to HELP him. (I hate that phrase btw but it fit here.)

/end rant.

 

[iptech]

So you do know of the tools that accomplish this and just choose not to use them? Otherwise, How is this patronizing? I simply am stating that it wouldn't be, as you sated, "lengthy and expensive," if you knew about these tools and used them. Of course, if all else fails, call someone an idiot, right?

I didn't call you an idiot, you imply your own idiocy with your haughtiness.

I notice a lot of your posts appear to be "poking the bear" to inflame and incite protracted threads. Take time to reflect on how you are communicating your message and interpreting others if you want to be taken seriously.

 

[16k_zx81]

Any chance you guys could take your spat elsewhere?

No one wants to read this stuff.

 

[NeutronTech]

No it doesn't, my customers value their data and value my ability to be able to repair their computer with minimal fuss or drama. Many of my customers have bespoke & custom installs, nuke 'n' pave would be an expensive and lengthy option for them with bespoke system developers wanting hundreds of £s to reinstall software and systems.

I hate doing restores. For me, anyways, it sucks up more time on my bench than just fixing it. Plus I don't have to deal with backing up and restoring data. Then deal with the customer because their programs aren't installed. But, if the customer specifically asks me to do it, I do it. Other than that, I don't. The sad thing is that most of my new customers that bring in their computer, expect it to be wiped and restored. When they get it back and it hasn't been, they are shocked and extremely happy.

Matter of fact, I only had one customer ask me to do a restore since I went into business. That's also the only restore I've done. He just got the computer from his dad who passed away, so he wanted it wiped so they can start over and use it themselves.

If I had to do a nuke, I never back up the drivers. I haven't come across one driver in my 15 years of working on computers, that I couldn't locate. I don't trust backed up drivers anyways. Never know if there is a rootkit hiding.

That being said, I'm not saying nukes don't have their place, because they do. I just chose not to do them unless it's an absolute necessity.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

If I had to do a nuke, I never back up the drivers. I haven't come across one driver in my 15 years of working on computers, that I couldn't locate. I don't trust backed up drivers anyways. Never know if there is a rootkit hiding.

same here

sometimes those pesky SM Bus drivers can be hard to find though

 

[amckinzie]

Yes newer drivers are better, perhaps i should add when running windows update be sure to select the updated drivers, and before you start download all of the relevent drivers and put them on a thumb drive. I always copy the driver folder because i like to use the pc i'm working on to download it's own drivers and i have a really slow dsl connection.

 

[16k_zx81]

Yes newer drivers are better, perhaps i should add when running windows update be sure to select the updated drivers, and before you start download all of the relevent drivers and put them on a thumb drive. I always copy the driver folder because i like to use the pc i'm working on to download it's own drivers and i have a really slow dsl connection.

You could probably save yourself a lot of time by using Driverpacks then

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

don't forget to avoid Windows Updates' XP graphics drivers at all costs!

 

[MobileTechie]

If you're repairing quite a few machines in a day, trawling the net to find drivers isn't a sensible use of time IMO. I don't think that the risk of a rootkit is worth worrying about unless you think that is actually likely - as in you had to do the reinstall because of the rootkit.

ATtech's system sounds very smart to me and I'm going to have a think about how I could do something similar. I'm not sure how I'd go about doing the image + HAL thing off the top of the my head but clearly it's a good way to do it. I feel I could do with automating a lot more of my standard work tasks leaving me more time to focus on the trickier problems and get in more business.

The N&P-or-not debate isn't relevant here. The thread is about HOW best to do it, not IF. If I could make good money from N&Ping every PC I ever got in I would, especially if it was automated. Not that anyone has suggested that before anyone starts.

The OP was trying to start a discussion about the best practice for this process to ensure the best quality end result.

 

[ATTech]

I didn't call you an idiot, you imply your own idiocy with your haughtiness.

Haughty? I can't help it if you incorrectly read my statements as haughty. After all, they were intended to be read by how I wrote them, not by how you interpreted them.

I notice a lot of your posts appear to be "poking the bear" to inflame and incite protracted threads. Take time to reflect on how you are communicating your message and interpreting others if you want to be taken seriously.

Wait, really? You really just posted that? You?

Hello Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Black:

Irony at its very best. Good luck with that policy.

..and Joe Black

I cannot think of any circumstance where a professional technician would spend 2hrs trying to format a 2Gb USB memory stick, it's just not viable business-wise and the diagnostics should have been done in minutes.

..and Jane Black

I guess it's a secret only known to those who randomly throw scanning software at an infected computer will know.

C'est la vie

..etc...

No it's not, it's generally thought of as an idiot's idea of computer repair.

Learn how an operating system should work and you will fix it in half the time it takes you to nuke and pave. Mr Bryce will sleep easy knowing he's not encouraged you in your tardiness and that his script might have missed the one product key your client really needs.

In your intro you wrote...


Grasshopper,

Until you learn the art of nuke'n'pave Sony USB 2Gb, the cut'n'paste of 'Certified Microsoft Professional' logo, bought the business kit, download torrent some video, have nice logo and business card, you are not yet wise computer technician. Make ebook or advise of SEO success and you will become Grand Master of computer repair in less time than it takes a fish to blink.

Keep it real.

Master Po.

P.S. Go gentle in the wardrobe K.

You sure you didn't click on your post history by accident?

 

[NeutronTech]

I know this isn't relative to the restore+driver discussion, but when it comes to drivers on machines I'm not going to restore, I tend to follow the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy.

If everything is working as it should with no problems at all, I see no point in updating the drivers and risk breaking a system. There's nothing really wrong with updating drivers, and I do it on occasion, but I generally don't update them unless something isn't working properly or unless updating them is going to improve performance.

However, if I'm going to reload the system, I just download new drivers. It really isn't that time consuming to do so, except on a rare occasion. See, the old load wasn't working so I really don't want any part of the old files on my new load unless they are data files.