How can i clean up my laptop without loosing windows?

[TechniclSupport]

Hi!

I am a coder also a photoshop user. I work on about 50 projects a day and i have a ton of softwares and files. My computer started getting slower because of my memory. is it possible to format the while PC or delete all the files i have without deleting windows?

Thanks!

 

[himnextdoor]

If you format the C: drive you will lose your Windows installation.

If you do this you should make sure that you have all the drivers you will need on hand in order to get your system running.

And a Working Windows installation disk of course.

Of course, you may be able to restore your machine to factory setting by pressing F11 (usually) or something at boot-up in order to start the recovery process.

This will return your drivers and operating system to the state they were in when you first got the computer.

You'll also have the rubbish they included as well.

But this is the closest thing you'll get to a 'format while retaining the Windows installation and drivers for your system'.

 

[TechniclSupport]

Have you ever created an image of your hard drive before filling it up? That would be the ideal way since you could simply revert back to that state by restoring Windows from the image.

If you haven't, you should format it now, install all the updates, all the drivers, all the software that you plan on using and then create that image.

The not so ideal option is to go to add/remove programs and uninstall everything then go through each directory and start deleting everything you don't want file by file.

Another easy option: buy an external USB hard drive. This would be ideal if you have USB 3.0 as the process will be much faster. Use it to dump all the files you don't need onto or use it to create the image backup.

I have no idea why but i tried to make a copy of windows as any computer or laptop can do. I believe you can do it only once. I have never done it before and the option to take a copy of my windows 7 is blocked :/

 

[TechniclSupport]

If you format the C: drive you will lose your Windows installation.

If you do this you should make sure that you have all the drivers you will need on hand in order to get your system running.

And a Working Windows installation disk of course.

Of course, you may be able to restore your machine to factory setting by pressing F11 (usually) or something at boot-up in order to start the recovery process.

This will return your drivers and operating system to the state they were in when you first got the computer.

You'll also have the rubbish they included as well.

But this is the closest thing you'll get to a 'format while retaining the Windows installation and drivers for your system'.

I think to restore it to factory settings you need to have a copy of windows 7 which i dont have. But i tried doing that and I believe it is a good idea too.

 

[himnextdoor]

I think to restore it to factory settings you need to have a copy of windows 7 which i dont have. But i tried doing that and I believe it is a good idea too.

Not necessarily.

What is the name and model of your PC?

 

[TechniclSupport]

Not necessarily.

What is the name and model of your PC?[/quotemsg]

HP Pavilion dm4 Windows 7 Home premium notebook

 

[TechniclSupport]

I found the option "Restore your computer or reinstall windows" and apparently it formats the computer to factory settings. If anyone knows about this option, Can you restore the computer to factory settings more than once?

 

[himnextdoor]

I found the option "Restore your computer or reinstall windows" and apparently it formats the computer to factory settings. If anyone knows about this option, Can you restore the computer to factory settings more than once?

Yes, absolutely.