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I keep running into problems that make me reformat your computer and re-install Windows. After that I have to install all my software and reset my preferences. This is boring work. Is there a way to back up my software and user settings that will let me restore them with one click instead of installing them one by one? That would be a lot better!

gmnelson2009
2012-04-27 17:34:52
there are several freeware imaging programs available also, once you have your base program/user and preferences set up, make an image back-up of the entire system as a 'golden' reset. as for imaging programs I use 'macrium reflect free'.
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Oron Joffe
2012-04-18 19:46:00
I'd suggest a disk-imaging package. Commercial ones include Acronis True Image and various solutions from Paragon Software. Paragon also offer a free version called Backup & Recovery 2012 Free or you could use the free Drive XML.They do require a little bit of settting up, but once the intial set up is done you can restore the entire hard disc very easily.
Dave Feland
2012-04-18 00:41:00
Almost one click... when you set up Windows for the first time, it asks you if you want to make a restore disk.  DO IT.  Put it away somwhere.  Using it later will put everything back.  (Combine this with one of the many freeware driver backup programs, and save that file on disk too.)
jhpot
2012-04-17 22:25:00
I'd highly recommend backing up a complete image of your Windows installation and restoring it later. Create the image after you've installed all your software and configured things the way you like and you're golden. Commercial programs such as Norton Ghost can do this for you, but I like Redo Backup. It isn't exactly one click, and you're going to need an external hard drive or networked computer to back up to, but it's the simplest tool I know of for the job. Because I'm a writer for MakeUseOf, and you're currently at MakeUseOf, I'm going to plug my extremely relevant article. It's egotistical, sure, but it's also my job. Check it out:http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/entire-hard-drive-redo-backup-recovery/
ha14
2012-04-17 07:14:00
there are some backup software as freeware and shareware.DataGrabhttps://sites.google.com/a/obxcompguy.com/foolish-it/vb6-projects/datagrabFbackup freewarehttp://www.fbackup.com/OOps!Backup sharewarehttp://www.altaro.com/home-pc-backup/
Susendeep Dutta
2012-04-17 04:25:00
Windows has System Restore utility which is usually buried deep within the OS.If you need a shortcut for this then visit the link below on how to create it so that you can access it easily and create restore points -http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/make-a-shortcut-icon-to-create-a-system-restore-point-in-windows-vista/