Complete PC recovery

halpad

New Member
Messages
6
It is my intention to completely wipe my hard drive, removing partitions, etc. Then re-install Window 8.1. I have 2 backups of my data/PC. Are there any concerns I should be aware of? I am fairly tech able but not a programmer. I can follow instructions well. Any advice would be appreciated. I have already tried refreshing 8.1 and PC is better but still not up to par. I think a factory reset is in order, PC came with Win 7(I upgraded to 8.1)
Thank you,
Hal
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Professional (x64) (build 9600)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Inspiron One 2305
    CPU
    2.80 gigahertz AMD Athlon II X2 240e
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0DPRF9 A00
    Memory
    7932 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell INSPIRON ONE [Monitor] (23.1"vis)
    Hard Drives
    1000.19 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    72 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Google, IE
    Antivirus
    Kasperskey
What method did you use to backup your data? or better yet What program did you use to create the backup?

Also no need to refresh windows 7 the upgrade to windows 8.1..

just download and create setup media for windows 8.1 and use your upgrade key to do a clean install of windows 8.1.. link in sig below..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Thanks KYHI,
That was my thinking, just wanted some input. Wasn't sure about the Win 7 thing. I use Dropbox and Backblaze for back ups. Tried to use external hard drive but it won't recognize the one I have. The enclosure is probably too old for 8.1.

Soo..If I completely wipe drive, the boot up info is still in BIOS, right?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Professional (x64) (build 9600)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Inspiron One 2305
    CPU
    2.80 gigahertz AMD Athlon II X2 240e
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0DPRF9 A00
    Memory
    7932 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell INSPIRON ONE [Monitor] (23.1"vis)
    Hard Drives
    1000.19 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    72 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Google, IE
    Antivirus
    Kasperskey
Just boot from setup media. remove every partition and select unallocated space to install to..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Thanks Kyhi,

Finally did the deed, complete clean install after deleting all partitions. Wow, I have a new computer(but not without problems). First problem was with display looking squashed. Checked with Dell. They say my Inspiron 2305 is not compatible with 8.1. More research found hundreds of people with this model upgrading to 8.1 with only minor problems. Eventually found AMD RS880GM/Park XT graphic driver on windows7 (64), ran in compatibility mode and presto display back to normal!

Next problem(unsolved); Cannot use DVD/CD drive. Insert a CD, it runs but does nothing. when I try to access it the computer locks up(only "this PC" menu). Everything else works OK, including browsers, etc. If I leave it, blue screen of death appears(around other windows). Other windows still work. The only way to get rid of it is to shut down with on/off button, restart and all else is good.

I tried uninstalling driver, downloaded and installed new driver(in compatible mode). Other suggestions included removing upfilters/downfilters in registry. I don't see them in mine.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Professional (x64) (build 9600)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Inspiron One 2305
    CPU
    2.80 gigahertz AMD Athlon II X2 240e
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0DPRF9 A00
    Memory
    7932 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell INSPIRON ONE [Monitor] (23.1"vis)
    Hard Drives
    1000.19 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    72 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Google, IE
    Antivirus
    Kasperskey
search by the dvd drive model number for windows 8.1 support or a firmware update..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Tried downloading new drivers, but windows insists the drivers are correct and will not allow me to install other ones. I could not find any ]firmware] updates. I have re-installed the CD driver several times. Win 8.1Pro now sees the drive but if I just hover for half a second the menu freezes. Everything else on the computer seems to be fine. Other windows work, browsers, etc. If I leave it several minutes it clears itself. If I pursue it and try to click it(R or L) or click it off, it goes to blue screen behind other windows. Open windows still work, but no menus to open more. Only fix is shut down with [manual] button and restart.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Professional (x64) (build 9600)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Inspiron One 2305
    CPU
    2.80 gigahertz AMD Athlon II X2 240e
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0DPRF9 A00
    Memory
    7932 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell INSPIRON ONE [Monitor] (23.1"vis)
    Hard Drives
    1000.19 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    72 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Google, IE
    Antivirus
    Kasperskey
purchase or try a newer drive - they are not that expensive

On a Windows 7 laptop that I had upgraded the wifi card was the issue - no compatibly win 8.1 drivers - I just replaced the card with one that was / or had windows 8.1 drivers
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
Does it work properly---

screenshot_250.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
Windows says it is working.
Screenshot 2015-03-01 08.30.48.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Professional (x64) (build 9600)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Inspiron One 2305
    CPU
    2.80 gigahertz AMD Athlon II X2 240e
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0DPRF9 A00
    Memory
    7932 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell INSPIRON ONE [Monitor] (23.1"vis)
    Hard Drives
    1000.19 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    72 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Google, IE
    Antivirus
    Kasperskey
UPDATE;
Today I tried again to access a CD(to install software). [I keep trying after every restart] The drive is in 'this PC menu'. When I try to access(R clk/dble clk) the Drive the menu still freezes, after a while it it clears but does nothing(sometimes says [not responding]. Once when I tried to close the window it went to blue screen(as above), but after a couple minutes returned to stable condition. This is so annoying, frustrating and time consuming. Can someone please help?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Professional (x64) (build 9600)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. Inspiron One 2305
    CPU
    2.80 gigahertz AMD Athlon II X2 240e
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0DPRF9 A00
    Memory
    7932 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell INSPIRON ONE [Monitor] (23.1"vis)
    Hard Drives
    1000.19 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    72 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Google, IE
    Antivirus
    Kasperskey
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