Tuesday Tech: Starting Fresh, part one

I use my computer hard. Daily use includes the obvious email, browser, word processer, and music player programs, of course, but also programs such as those used for image, sound, and video editing, site-updating, time-tracking, finance-tracking, etc. Many of these programs are resource-hungry, and I surely have programs installed that I no longer use or need. Combine all this daily use with time, and the result is a sluggish machine. Toss in a few driver conflicts which cause the occasional blue screen of death, and it is enough to make a person want to run for the hills. Or at least pack it in and buy a brand-spanking new machine.

And oh! How I would love a new computer. While it would bring me much joy (I am such a nerd), I have to at least attempt to put some life back into my current machine. But how does one do that? How do you start fresh?

You re-format your hard drive, and start over. (Note: if you are going from Windows XP to Windows 7 — which is what I’m about to do — you have no choice but to go through this.) It is a long, arduous process, but one that results in a machine with more pep. A result that can buy you another year or two before your absolutely must get that new quad-core, hyper-threading, dish-washing (I wish), state-of-the-art new computer. My current machine is almost five years old — ancient by some standards — but with a little TLC can likely serve me well for another year or two. It has lasted me this long because I make it a habit to reformat the hard drive at least every 12-18 months. It’s giving me more trouble than usual right now because I am behind on my latest re-formatting by about a year as I was a little busy having twins! And then I wanted to wait until Windows 7 to came out. And then the holidays came. It’s always something…

Before I set out to re-format a computer, I always run through the following:

• Where is my data? We recently acquired a home server, so I’ve been in the process of moving all my data over to it. Next week, when I dive into the reformatting process, I won’t have to even bat an eye regarding the backing up of any of my media and work files, as they are all housed on a separate machine. I do have one or two programs, though, that store data on the local drive, so I always make it a habit to go through those and make the appropriate back-ups.
• Where are my applications? Some self-encompassed programs can be backed up just like data, but more often than not you need a disc or install file to re-install an application. I make a list of all the programs on my machine, determine which ones I want to keep, and then triple-check to make sure I have the install disc or file somewhere safe. Some programs only allow a certain number of licenses, so I will de-authorize a computer from use of a program in order to be able to use it on the fresh install.
• Note that some programs can always be acquired on the web (think Firefox, Chrome, Adobe Reader, Flash, Quicktime, etc.). I usually don’t bother downloading the install files for these types of programs until right when I’m ready to install them so I am assured to have the most recent version.
• I make special note of what security software I’m going to use. As a PC user, I know my machine is vulnerable, so before re-formatting, I always make sure I have a good security suite on-hand.

After I’ve triple-checked that I’m all ready, I unplug the machine from everything, including power, and open up the chassis to blow out any dust. I then plug back in only keyboard, mouse, monitor, and power, and start the re-formatting process. In many cases, re-formatting entails popping your OS disc into your CD drive and having your machine boot up from it. You then follow the prompts to do a new install (rather than repair a current one — I won’t go into all the details on the how), and then sit back while your machine wipes out all that was on it and starts a fresh install of your OS.

And then the real work begins.

Continued next week in part two…