Reinstall windows 7 without losing data. How to reinstall Windows while keeping settings and installed programs

Consider a rearrangement of Windows 7 while maintaining all data and settings, without losing data. This is not a complete system installation with hard drive formatting, but an update to Windows 7 on an already installed system. With this installation method, all files and settings will remain intact and unchanged. This installation option is recommended only if all options for solving the problem with the OS have already been exhausted.

Step 1 - Starting the installation.

With the computer turned on and running, insert the installation disc into the drive, open it through the explorer (not through autoload), for this we go to My computer right-click on the shortcut of our disk and select from the menu Open... Find and run in the folder with the disk SETUP.EXE, click Install.

Note: setup.exe is best run with windows vista sp2 compatibility, otherwise the installer may swear that the current OS version is newer than the one the user wants to install and will stop updating.

Go to Start - Control Panel and select the item Recovery... Click on Advanced recovery methods

1 - Restoring the system from an image, if one was created using archiving
2 - Rearranging the system requiring an installation disc
If you run the update from the panel Archiving and restoring, Windows 7 will remind you to back up your files before installing. After the backup, the system will reboot and you will boot from the installation disk.

Step 2 - Installing Windows 7 Updates

During the installation process, there will be a dialog box with a proposal to install and download all available updates for Windows 7, if you have an Internet connection, then we can safely update the system.

Step 3 - choosing the type of Windows installation

As soon as the system downloads and installs the available updates, the computer will restart and the installation process will start. You will be able to choose 2 installation options.

Update- installation over an already installed system, all data will be saved, as well as all installed programs. The system parameters and services will be reset to their default state (brought to the standard form as with a new Windows installation).
Complete installation- completely clean installation followed by disk formatting or installation on another disk partition. With this method of reinstallation, data can be LOST, including all programs.
I recommend choosing the first option.

As you can see, when updating the system, the data and file transfer tool is used.

In the process of transferring files, user files, all folders in the profile (audio recordings, videos, images, etc.), user accounts and settings, program settings, favorites with your IE bookmarks, contacts and messages will be saved.

The transfer process takes time relative to the size of the files stored on the computer. All data will be transferred to the section where the OS is installed. After installation, temporary files will be removed. After all the procedures, you will be prompted to enter the key of your licensed Windows 7 in standard mode, set the language settings, and so on. In the end, we receive updates and a fully restored copy of Windows 7 with your accounts and installed programs.

If you decide to reinstall Windows 7 due to problems in the OS, I still recommend that you make a full backup of your precious data on another hard disk partition (or on an external media) and install the entire system completely from scratch. This will save you from old Windows problems.

If you need to reinstall Windows and save your data, photos, and so on, then all this must be copied to a safe place, which is another section of your logical. There are two options - your system is working now, or. Let's consider both. I do not consider the option of installing two Windows in one section - inexperienced users then have confusion and a pile of files.

Option 1:

The computer is running

1. We look at which disk Windows is installed (usually on C: \), that is, we look where there are folders "Windows", "Program Files". Let's say on C: \.
2. On another drive, for example D: \, create a rezerv folder. And in it there are robstol folders, bookmarks, programs. (If you have one disk in your system, then you can save everything to a USB flash drive, or you can.)
3. Copy all our files from the desktop to D: \ rezerv \ robstol.
4. If necessary, we copy our bookmarks from Internet Explorera. ... Copy everything from the C: \ Users \ admin \ Favorites folder to D: \ rezerv \ bookmarks (this is for Windows 7). For Windows XP from the folder C: \ Documents and Settings \ admin \ Favorites. Where admin is the name of your entry, you may have a different one. To save bookmarks from the mozilla, you need to use the Mozilla BackUp program or go to the menu - bookmarks - import and backup - backup and specify where to write the file.
5. And now with the programs. Here everyone has their own, some can be copied, others not. For example, for 1C, you only need to copy the base: at startup, a window pops up where the base is selected, and the path where it is located is indicated below. Now, if it is on a disk with Windows (we have it in C :), then it must be copied to disk D: /. Many programs have a backup option in the menu, and this should be used. Just note that Word and Excel do not need to be backed up.
6. We save all our documents from the My Documents folder, they are here C: \ Users \ admin \ My Documents for Win7 and C: \ Documents and Settings \ admin \ My Documents for Win XP is also on the D: \ rezerv \ drive.
7. Insert the Windows installation disc and follow the installation wizard to install a new Windows. Just put it on the same disk where it was (on our C drive), when asked to format the partition, select fast formatting in the NTFS system. The process takes from 25 to 50 minutes, we just carefully read the questions of the installation wizard.
8. After installation, we install the drivers we need (they are on the disk that was included with the computer), if they are not there, I recommend using them.
9. We install the programs you need and from our backup folders D: \ rezerv \ ... copy our saved data back to the appropriate folders. That's it, Windows was re-installed without data loss.

Option 2:

System does not work

The simple dumb way: remove the hard drive from the computer and insert it into another worker. Save all data as described above, insert the screw back and install Windows. If this does not suit you, then

you need to boot from a special disk that allows you to work with files on your computer when Windows is not working. I suggest downloading the Live CD from Dr. Web's site. It weighs only 180 MB and burn it to CD-R. There is also an option with a flash drive, but such a disk is needed on the farm. Having booted from it, you get a working computer with Linux - you can go online and work with files. To do this, launch Midnight Commander and ... nothing is clear, but where are our files ??? And they are in the directory win- there Linux stuffed all the goodness of Windows 😀 We copy all the files as in the first version - rob the table, documents, and so on. Only Mozila bookmarks can be found at C: \ Documents and Settings \ admin \ Application Data \ Mozilla \ Firefox \ Profiles \ 5w3u4xzh.default \ bookmarkbackups and copied if necessary. And then we install Windows, install drivers, programs, copy our data back.

This is how we reinstalled Windows no data loss . If you have a "genuine" problem at startup then here's a solution and a working activator.

Reinstallation (update) of Windows 7 is performed over the installed operating system without formatting the system partition. This saves user files and settings, as well as installed programs and their settings.

Attention! To reinstall the operating system, you must log in to it. You will need:

• installation disc
• product key
• free space on the system partition (no less than the Users folder in its root)

You can start reinstalling Windows 7 either directly from the installation disc or from the Control Panel item Archiving and restoring... At the bottom of the main window, click the link Restore system parameters or computer, then - Advanced recovery methods... These methods are:

• system recovery from an image previously created using the backup function
• reinstalling the system, while immediately indicating that an installation disc is required

System recovery from a pre-created image is described in the article Recovering data from backups and shadow copies in Windows 7. And here we will talk about reinstalling the system - in the Windows graphical interface, this process is called an update. The new Windows 7 is installed over the current OS from the installation disk without formatting the system partition. As a rule, this method is advised in cases where all other options for solving the problem have been exhausted, although this is a completely acceptable solution from a technical point of view.

If you run the update from a control panel item Archiving and restoring, Windows 7 will carefully remind you that you need to make a backup copy of your files before installation and will prompt you to do so. This is a good idea and shouldn't be abandoned. At the end of the backup, or in case of refusal, you will be prompted to insert the installation disc into the drive and reboot.

However, you can start the update in another way - just insert the installation disc and run setup.exe, and then in the window that opens, click the button Install.

In this case, Windows 7 will offer you to download the latest updates - it is logical to install the updated system. An internet connection is definitely required.

If you choose to download updates, the download process will be displayed in the next window.

After downloading the updates, the system will reboot and the installation process will begin. After accepting the license agreement, you will be able to choose its type.

• Update is an installation on top of an existing system. This saves user settings and files, as well as installed programs. All system parameters (for example, service configuration) are reset - they are returned to the default, as with a new installation of Windows.
• Complete installation- This is a clean installation with the formatting of the system partition, or installation on a different partition on the hard drive.

The update uses the data transfer tool.

With its help, the following are saved:

• custom files and folders
• audio, image and video files
• user accounts and settings
• program parameters
• Internet options and files in the Favorites folder
• email options
• contacts and messages

All files are saved to the same partition where the operating system is installed. During reinstallation, a number of folders are created, in one of which Data Transfer places the files. The figure below shows how user profiles are migrated.

Then all this data is restored to the installed system, and the temporary folders are deleted. But before you see the desktop, you will need to go through the standard customization process called OOBE (Out of Box Experience) - enter the product key, set the language and regional settings, etc. After the update, you will have a completely restored system that saved your files, user preferences and settings of installed programs.

When you install Windows, then you format the C drive, after this operation, you should copy the data to other hard drives so that you can then return everything to its place. Or if you have a lot of memory or other media, then it is worth zipping the entire disk and moving the archive to a safe place.

When will you install Windows 7, do everything as you did, and at the end of the installation, when you are asked Leave a copy of windows in the windows folder .old click - yes.

So you save the data of past windows, which will be in the Windows.old folder.

As stated above, you need to have two or more hard disk partitions, but if they are not there, then download the Acronics disc program, divide it into partitions and transfer all files to a new, clean partition and calmly demolish Windows

If you are concerned about the question of whether, then just copy the information you need from drive C to a USB flash drive or external hard drive. You can also transfer the data you need to drive E or D, because when you reinstall Windows, only drive C is changed. In extreme cases, after installing a new OS, you will have the windows.old folder, in which all data from the previous operating system will be saved. Lost information can be recovered.

To save the data when reinstalling Windows 7, you need to copy all the necessary files from the C drive (when reinstalling, all data from it will be erased) to the D drive (since reinstalling the system does not affect it). Namely from these places: important files for you from the desktop (if any). It should be borne in mind that on the desktop there can be both files and shortcuts that link to files (shortcuts have an arrow in the lower left corner of the icon). Copying the shortcut does not copy the file, so if the shortcut refers to an important file on the C drive, you should click on the shortcut properties and on the Shortcut tab; click on the name - File location. After clicking, the file itself will appear to which the shortcut refers, it should be copied to disk D.

Now we transfer browser bookmarks(if there's). In the browser, in the bookmarks option, select: save bookmarks or export bookmarks (depending on the browser) and save them in some folder on disk D.

Now let's go here: Start - open the folder of your account (usually, when installing Windows, users do not call their name) and copy the contents of the folders to disk D: My Documentsquot ;, Downloadsquot ;, Imagesquot ;, My Videosquot ;, My musicquot ;, Saved gamesquot ;.

That's it, now you can reinstall the system, but before these, it is advisable to download fresh drivers for the chipset, video card, sound card and network (network driver), so that everything is at hand and immediately ready for installation on fresh Windows. And of course the antivirus.

Important! During the installation of Windows 7, you must select Full installation; and format drive C.

Before reinstalling Windows 7, in order for all the data to be preserved, you need to write all important data to hard drive D, since this dix is ​​usually not involved in reinstallation in any way.

But in order to be calm at all, you need to duplicate the data recording to the USB flash drive.

After reinstalling Windows 7, you need to check the safety of your data on the D drive and then only clear the memory of the flash drive.

But personally, I had difficulty with some purchased programs, despite saving, they had to be reinstalled, since they have certain keys.



We insert the disc into the drive, go to My Computer, click on the shortcut of the Windows 7 disc and the Open item, run setup.exe and Install.

The system will offer two recovery options, we need to recover using the Windows installation disc.

Windows will back up the system files and the installation will start.

A window should appear where you must select the option to install Windows Update while saving the settings.

All system settings will be reset, but settings and program files will be retained.

All user settings and files are moved to temporary folders, and then they are restored to their places.

A source.

Always have 2 disk partitions in the system. As a rule, these are drive C and drive D, OS = always put on drive C, save your work and files on drive D. When you rearrange the OS, drive D will remain intact.

To preserve data when reinstalling Windows, usually two partitions on the hard disk are created in advance, C and D. The system is usually installed on C, and the D disk is used to store data. In this case when reinstalling Windows affects only the C drive, and the data remains unchanged.

If the disks were not partitioned, then when reinstalling the system, problems often arose, so the question, how to save data when reinstalling Windows, habitually arises every time you have to do it.

However, the operating system Windows 7 just different in that when you reinstall the system, the data files are not affected, but are added to the windows.old folder.

Moreover, Windows 7 lets you reinstall your system with the possibility of recovery, that is, the ability to save data is almost guaranteed.

I do not store working files on the system disk. My browser Maxton, all tabs, passwords, and much that can be added to it additionally, is stored in the cloud. Mail client, I take out passwords from it Portable Multi Password Recovery. He is still able to extract passwords from many browsers. Basic programs in the form of installations on the working disk. Reinstalling the OS will not be difficult for me. When the system starts to slow down, I prefer to reinstall than spoil my nerves when freezing ..

Before reinstalling, copy or move important data to another partition on your hard drive. If there is no place for important information, flash drives and external hard drives will help.

Before proceeding with the reinstallation of Windows, you must save all the necessary information from the system disk (by default: drive C). It is very important not to forget to do this, because when formatting, all data from the disk C will disappear irrevocably.
We consider a situation when our operating system is in a healthy state and we can save the necessary data on our own. Otherwise, you will have to copy the information using a LiveCD or by connecting our hard drive to another computer.

We save information

1. Save important documents, photos, movies, music to external media or another logical drive (not the one on which the new system will be installed).

Many users store their files in the “ My documents”And on Desktop... In fact, you shouldn't do that. By default, these folders are located under the path C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username. Those. if the files that are in them cannot be transferred, then when you reinstall Windows, they will be irretrievably lost.

By the way, my advice to you: if you can't get rid of the habit of throwing everything into the “My Documents” folder, just change the default location for it. To do this, on the desktop, right-click on the "My Documents" folder - select "Properties" - the "Destination folder" tab. In the "Folder" field, enter the path to the new location (for example: enter D: \ Mine) and click “OK”. If such a folder does not exist, the “Create folder” window will appear - click “Yes” in it. In the next “Move Documents” window, also click “Yes” to move the documents to a new location. Now everything that you save in “My Documents” will be in the “My” folder on your local drive D.

2. Go to C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username \ Application Data... In the folder Application Data the settings of the installed programs are stored (if you do not see this folder, then select in the menu bar "Tools" - "Folder Options" - "View" - put a marker opposite the item "Show hidden files and folders" - click "OK").

If you have games installed on your computer and you do not want to lose your saves in them, then look in the Application Data for a folder with the name of the game and copy its contents to another logical drive (saves along with profiles can also be located in the folder with the installed game).

for Internet Explorer: go to C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username - save the Favorites folder;
for Google chrome: go to C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username \ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Google \ Chrome \ User Data \ Default - save the Bookmarks file;
for Mozilla Firefox: go to C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username \ Application Data \ Mozilla \ Firefox \ Profiles \ profile name - save the bookmarks.html file;
for Opera: go to C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username \ Application Data \ Opera \ Opera - save the bookmarks.adr file

You can also save bookmarks in another way - use the export function available in browsers. For example, in Mozilla Firefox you can do it like this: in the menu bar, go to “Bookmarks” - “Show all bookmarks” - “Import and backup” - “Export bookmarks to HTML file” - save the file, for example, to a USB flash drive. After reinstalling Windows: install Mozilla Firefox - go along the same path - select "Import bookmarks from HTML file" - open our file on the USB flash drive.

4. If you work with e-mail through a web interface, then the following information will not be of interest to you. If you use a mail program Outlook Express, then it will be useful for you to know that all messages received and sent through it are stored here: C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username \ Local Settings \ Application Data \ Identities \ (a set of letters and numbers) \ Microsoft \ Outlook Express.

You also need to keep your email accounts. They store the settings necessary for receiving and sending messages (login, password, SMTP and POP3 server). To do this, in the Outlook Express menu, go to "Tools" - "Accounts" - select an account - "Export" - save the file with any name. After reinstalling the system, we will have to go in the program along the same path, select “Import” and specify our saved file.

5. If you are using the program uTorrent, you distribute the downloaded and the rating on torrent trackers is important to you, then you probably want to save all the settings of this program. Save the folder located in this path: C: \ Documents and Settings \ Username \ Application Data \ uTorrent. After installing the operating system, copy this folder to where you took it from. Also, if the folder with the downloaded files is located on your system drive, do not forget to transfer it.

We save the network and Internet settings

Go to "Start" - "Control Panel" - "Network Connections". Right click on the network connection - select Properties. On the "General" tab in the "Components used by this connection" field, we find the line "Internet Protocol (TCP / IP)". We stand on it and press the "Properties" button. If you have one computer and it is not on the local network, then it is likely that in the window that appears, the switch will be in the “Obtain an IP address automatically” position and no other parameters will be filled in here. In this case, just close this window. If the switch is in the “Use the following IP address” position and the fields below are filled with numbers, then be sure to write down all these parameters on the sheet (IP address, subnet mask, gateway and DNS server, if any). Also, if you know for sure that your PC is on the local network, write it down name and working group name... To do this, right-click on the “My Computer” - “Properties” - “Computer Name” tab. Click the "Change" button. This is where you can change the name of the computer (under which it will be visible on the network) and the name of the workgroup. But you don't need to change anything: just write the parameters on a sheet and close this window.

We save the drivers

Before reinstalling Windows, take care of whether you have disks with drivers for all devices on your computer. If there are none, then, in principle, it is not scary - the drivers can also be downloaded on the Internet from the manufacturers' official websites. It just takes too long.

In such a situation, it is easier to use special software for saving drivers... Such programs are able to automatically scan the system, identify all devices, identify all the drivers corresponding to them, and then save them in a separate folder. Earlier, for these purposes, I used the program DriverMax... Unfortunately, it didn't always work flawlessly, so I found a great replacement for it -.

Completely free of charge, we can work with it for 15 days: then we will have to either delete it or buy it. We are quite satisfied with this option, tk. We can install Driver Magician just before reinstalling Windows: we will make a backup copy of the drivers, and we will no longer need it.

Download the program from the official site (select “Download” from above, and then click on the link “Click Here”). Run the installation file - click “Next” everywhere - then “Install” - “Finish”. A window will appear reminding you that this is a trial version - click “ Register Later”.

The program will start, which will immediately show us all the detected drivers not from Microsoft (i.e. those that are not in the operating system distribution kit). We can select with checkboxes either all drivers, or only those disks with which we do not have. Just in case, I select everything (by clicking on the bottom right of the button “ Select All”).

Then we press the button “ Start Backup”.
We indicate the folder in which the drivers will be saved. Remember that this folder must not be on the system drive, otherwise it will be deleted when you reinstall Windows. Therefore, select either a USB flash drive or another logical drive. I select “Local disk (D :)” and press “OK”. We are waiting for some time while the process of saving is in progress. At the end of it, in the place that we indicated, a folder will appear Drivers Backup... If you open it, you will see something like this:
That's it: we made a copy of the drivers.

After reinstalling the system, we no longer need to install Driver Magician again. You need to right-click on “My Computer” - “Properties” - “Hardware” - “Device Manager”. Find the device for which you need to install the driver (it will have a yellow exclamation mark).
In my case, the problematic device was the webcam:
I find it, right-click on it - “ Update driver”. In the window that appears, put the marker in the position “ No, not this time"-" Next "- choose" Install from a specified location" - "Further". Then I put a daw in front of “ Include next search location"- I press" Overview”And I find on the disk D folder Driver Backup, and in it the folder iLook 300(that's the name of my webcam) - press "OK" - "Next".
Everything! The driver was successfully installed and my webcam was detected in the “Device Manager”.

In the same way, we will install the driver, for example, when installing a printer. After we connect the device, “ New Hardware Wizard”(If it does not start, go to“ Start ”-“ Control Panel ”-“ Hardware Installation ”). In it, select "Install from a specified location" - "Include the following search location" - "Browse" - we find our folder with the Driver Backup drivers, and in it the folder with the name of the printer. That's all.

Now the preparation is considered complete. We have saved everything we need, now you can proceed to reinstall the operating system.