Most customers want to avoid reinstalling Windows because the end result is that everything will be reset to it's original new condition. All changes that you've made to the computer since you first bought the computer will be erased. Programs and hardware attachments must be reinstalled, settings must be reset, and so forth. There may or may not be extra costs as well (as described on the previous page). But sometimes reinstalling Windows is unfortunately the only remedy, most practical or best remedy. Here are the most common examples of situations that require or likely require a reinstallation of Windows:
1. Damaged or failing hard drive. (This is the most common reason for the need to reinstall Windows)
2. Some viruses or combinations of viruses can cause insidious damage to Windows, the registry, etc. The act of simply removing viruses can render a system unbootable or essentially "damaged beyond repair". There are less virus cleaning tools and less Windows system damage repair tools available for Windows 7 and 64-bit systems, so these PC's are more difficult to repair.
3. A failed Windows update may leave a system too damaged to fix using the various repair methods.
4. Years of inherit registry changes may slow a computer beyond repair, or to the point that it is just more practical to reinstall Windows.
5. Use of bad registry cleaners or improper use of registry cleaners may cause more harm than good.
6. Login failure loop (Windows logs off immediately after entering the password). Statistically this seems to only be repairable about 50% of the time. When repair methods fail, Windows must be reinstalled.
7. System file checker, "repair install", registry restore, manual registry editing and other methods fail to repair the system.
8. Customer must be absolutely 100% sure that all viruses are removed from the computer. While PCR is confident that its thorough use of software, techniques and tests will rid your machine of viruses, hackers are constantly trying to design new viruses to evade detection.
Work performed as part of a reinstallation of Windows may include some or all of the following as needed, as requested, and when possible. Some items below cost extra (as described on the previous page):
Plan out the repair based on your unique computer needs
WORK TIME: This depends largely on whether or not you have personal data to migrate and / or settings to reconfigure. If you have none, then work can sometimes be completed same day. If you have personal data to migrate then typical turn around time is 24 hours. Unforeseen problems such as failed hardware can cause further delay, especially if parts need to be ordered.
Before deciding to reinstall Windows, your computer situation must be carefully evaluated. Here's things to take into consideration...
Has your computer been running slow for a long time? If so a reinstall may be the best cure for a cluttered registry, virus damage, and other issues. Just how much virus damage exists on your computer? Sometimes it's the only viable fix.
Software programs cannot be "backed up" or "migrated" to a new computer or reinstallation. With that in mind, were any of your programs installed after you bought the computer? Do you have your installation discs for non-freeware applications (such as TurboTax, Office, PhotoShop, peripheral printer drivers, etc) along with product keys? NOTE: PCR can recover most product keys off of a bootable computer.
How much data do you have to migrate? Documents, photos, MP3's, MPEG movie files can be easily backed up and migrated.
Do you have "secure" data, such as encrypted files and folders, Internet Explorer passwords, certificates? This data must be migrated along with a special "key" in order for it to open after a reinstall of Windows. If you have secure data, it is highly recommended that you leave your "old" C drive untouched (to keep as a safety backup), then reinstall Windows on a new C drive.
Do various users log on the the computer under separate user accounts? Do you have "user settings" that you just can't live without? PCR can migrate some of these settings if the old computer is bootable and healthy enough to export these settings. Otherwise these multiple logon user accounts must be recreated and reconfigured.
Do you use WiFi to connect your computer to connect wirelessly to a local area network or to the Internet? The standard repair price does not officially cover reconfiguration of wireless connectivity or reconfiguration of a LAN.
QUESTION: I have many
software programs installed on my unbootable computer and I've LOST all
of my original software program CD's (such as TurboTax, PhotoShop, MicroSoft
Office). I don't want to lose these software programs as a result of reformatting and reinstalling
Windows. Can you "back up" my software programs?
Or
can you use the "cloning" method to save all or part of my C drive instead of
doing the complete Windows reinstallation method? My program files are installed on
the same volume (C drive) as Windows.
NOTE: PCR
will make a good faith effort to protect your data. Protecting your data is
priority one. However neither Palisades Computer Repair nor it’s repair
tech will be liable for any loss of data, time, business or anticipatory
profits, special or consequential damages by accepting any item for data backup, repair or alteration / enhancement. Customer is fully responsible to backup any important
data. Data
includes any and all contents found on your hard drive(s) including but not
limited to programs, drivers, documents, settings, configurations, passwords, encryption keys and
other keys, certificates, software product ID numbers, photos, movies, audio content, emails, etc.