More Computer Follies

[RayMac]

So I have this Acer Veriton desktop that runs Windows 7 Pro. It's been a good performer for a couple of years but yesterday it got some Windows Updates, failed to install them and kept rebooting. Then the wallpaper disappeared and I got a black screen. When I checked the error number for the failure, it informed me that Windows 7 thought it was now a pirate copy. Using the validation tool from Microsoft I got the result that I better buy a new copy right now - or else.
I called Microsoft authentication support and they told me that they couldn't give me a new key since the one I had was an OEM licence. I then talked to Acer and they told me that I couldn't even get the key as it was hard coded into the BIOS of the machine. Right.
The only answer was the obvious one:


Nuke and repave. I had my data backed up, but it still took me a day to reinstall all the applications and configure them. Then there was the small matter of recopying 50GB of photos back to the reformatted hard drive. While doing this I had my wife at my ear wondering why this happened. if I knew that, maybe I could have prevented it in the first place. I tried a system restore before going back to factory defaults with no success.
I'm typing this post on a Linux machine. I wonder why.

[Martin]

Just an idea, put data on a NAS, especially photo's. And make a Disc image after a clean install. Windows machines run perfect after a clean install, but tend to clog up after too many updates and installed and uninstalled apps

[Seriously]

Just an idea, put data on a NAS, especially photo's. And make a Disc image after a clean install. Windows machines run perfect after a clean install, but tend to clog up after too many updates and installed and uninstalled apps

Surely it would make sense to do the image after the updates? (but still before you added your own 'stuff')

[Martin]

Yes, do a clean install of windows, apply all Windows updates up till that point. Install your basic applications, like office, favorite email client etc. Then make an image for safe keeping.