Before you format your Windows machine

If you ever want to format and reinstall the OS (Windoze), for any one of the reasons like

• PC is slow
• Windoze has coma
• Want to install dual boot
• FFS

Be sure of these: (Always backup to external HDD/USB/CD/DVD)

If you don’t know how, read Win XP backup made easy from MicroSoft.

• Backup ‘Bookmarks/Favourites’ from browsers;
• Backup ‘My Documents’ folder if you leave it in default location and other data files in the PC;
• Backup Any files you just stash on desktop;
• Backup ‘emails, calendar, contacts’ if you use OE/MS Outlook and use default location and don’t use webmail;
• Backup of the RSS reader subscriptions, if you don’t use Google Reader;
• Backup your GPG keys, if you use default settings;
• Backup encrypted files / folders if you use encryption (un-encrypt & backup) and its passphrases;
• ISP, Email, website & other login details / passwords (people still put them in txt files);
• Windoze original CD;
• Motherboard driver CD;
• Other driver CDs, if you’ve installed other hardware;
• Installation files of programmes, licence keys & tweaks to customize your PC just so;
• Antivirus, AntiSpyware & Firewall installation files and latest updates;
• Many other things, I’m sure to have missed and you are going to miss after formatting.
• :-D

updated 04 Jul 2010

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